5 Thanksgiving Turkey TV Episodes

Gobble Your Way Through Favorite TV Hits

The taste of Thanksgiving is approaching. Turkey legs, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and…pie. Be it a Friendsgiving or a family gathering, we can all enjoy some TV classics while celebrating turkey and the spirit of thankfulness.

Here are 5 TV episodes and specials worth chewing over during the Thanksgiving holiday.

1. A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING

An all-time favorite classic, "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" is a 30-minute animated TV short based on the well-known comic strip, "Peanuts" by Charles M. Schulz. Originally aired on November 30, 1973, "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" is beloved by many and rewatched over and over again, as tradition during Thanksgiving. 

The Emmy-award winning episode begins with Peppermint Patty (voiced by Christopher DeFaria) as she invites herself and her friends to Charlie Brown's (voiced by Todd Barbee) house for a really big turkey party. But disaster occurs and Linus, Snoopy and Woodstock chip in to save the day. 

Of course, one of our favorite parts is enjoying the creative spread that Snoopy lays out for himself and his friends: popcorn, jellybeans, slices of buttered toast, pretzel sticks, and ice cream sundae. What's not to love about Snoopy, Charlie Brown and his friends? Enjoy this heartfelt TV show this Thanksgiving.

Charlie Brown Peppermint Patty - Thanksgiving
Charlie Brown (voiced by Todd Barbee) and Peppermint Patty (voiced by Christopher DeFaria) at the Thanksgiving dinner table in "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving."

Where to Watch: 

2. FRIENDS

We just celebrated 25 years of "Friends" earlier this year and we couldn't be more excited to continue the celebration.

Friends - The One With All The Thanksgivings
Chandler (Matthew Perry), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Ross (David Schwimmer) and Monica (Courteney Cox) as high schoolers in the episode, "The One With All The Thanksgivings."

There are ten fantastic Thanksgiving episodes in the "Friends" series... but we'll highlight one, just to give you a taste: "The One With All The Thanksgivings" from Season 5 (Episode 8).

The One With All The Thanksgivings - Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrov
Joey (Matt LeBlanc) with Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) in a Thanksgiving flashback on "The One With All The Thanksgivings" episode.

In this iconic episode, Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Chandler (Matthew Perry), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Monica (Courteney Cox), Ross (David Schwimmer), and Joey (Matt LeBlanc) reminisce about their worst Thanksgiving experiences. It's also where we get to see Joey and Monica each with a turkey on their heads and where Chandler tells Monica that he loves her.

The One With All The Thanksgivings - Turkey
Chandler (Matthew Perry) with Monica (Courteney Cox) in "The One With All The Thanksgivings."

Catch turkey-themed episodes from the show's 10 seasons on your local listings.

Where to Watch:

  • New York – WPIX – PIX11: Sunday, November 24, 1-5 p.m.; Wednesday, November 27 at 12 a.m.; and 12 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day
  • Los Angeles – KTLA: Thanksgiving Day, 10-6 p.m.
  • Chicago – WGN 9: Thanksgiving Day, 1-6 p.m.
  • Philadelphia – WPHL – PHL17: Thanksgiving Day, 12-5 p.m.
  • Dallas – KDAF – CW33: Thanksgiving Day, 12-5 p.m.
  • Washington, D.C. – WDCW – DCW50: Thanksgiving Day, 12-5 p.m.
  • Houston – KIAH – CW39: Thanksgiving Day, 12-5 p.m.
  • San Francisco – KBCW 44 – cable 12: Saturday, November 23, 5-10 p.m.
  • Boston – WSBK – TV38: Thanksgiving Day, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
  • Atlanta – WPCH – Peachtree TV: Thanksgiving Day, 12-5 p.m.
  • Own "Friends" today
  • Friendsgiving Fathom Events: Watch eight turkey-themed episodes in select theaters this November 24 and 25

3. GILMORE GIRLS

"A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving," stars Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore and Alexis Bedel as Rory Gilmore in the hit-series, "Gilmore Girls," a show revolving around the premises of a mother-daughter relationship in their small town, Stars Hollow and the life and relationships they have over the years.  

A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving - Gilmore Girls
Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bedel) and Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) run from party-to-party in "A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving" episode of "Gilmore Girls."

We can't leave out this very important episode of "Gilmore Girls" with their tofurkey and fried turkey during Season 3 (Episode 9). The fact that Lorelai and Rory get invited to numerous Thanksgiving parties and adventure in spacing out their meals at party after party. It gives a whole new meaning to "stuffing."

A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving - Gilmore Girls - Lauren Graham, Alexis Bedel
Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bedel) and Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) enjoy some time with Lorelai's best friend, Sookie, played by Melissa McCarthy in "Gilmore Girls."

Or perhaps it’s the twist that Lorelai finds out that Rory has applied to other colleges besides Harvard, or that Lane (Keiko Agena) has her first kiss with her band member. And what's Stars Hollow without legendary Kirk (Sean Gunn) and his adventures, this time with a cat.

A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving - Gilmore Girls - Jackson
Jackson Belleville (Jackson Douglas) succeeds in frying a whole turkey in "Gilmore Girls."

One of our favorite scenes has to be Jackson's successful attempt at deep frying an entire turkey. Doesn't it inspire you to do the same?

A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving - Gilmore Girls - Jackson, Melissa McCarthy, Lauren Graham, Alexis Bedel
Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) groans as her husband, Jackson (Jackson Douglas) fries a turkey for their friends and family in the episode of "Gilmore Girls."

Keep up with the Gilmores during festivities and enjoy Lorelai's house and the town of Stars Hollow decked out in Christmas lights on the WB Tour from December 21 to January 5, 2020. Enjoy some of Lorelai's favorite foods including Pop-Tarts®, pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs and not forgetting…coffee. Tickets can be purchased at www.wbstudiotour.com.

And just because, here is a compilation of all 62 of Kirk Gleason’s jobs throughout the series:

Where to Watch:

4. BIG BANG THEORY

Another one of our favorite TV episodes is "The Big Bang Theory" episode, "The Thanksgiving Decoupling," where Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Penny (Kaley Cuoco), Howard (Simon Helberg), Raj (Kunal Nayyar), Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) spend Thanksgiving at Mrs. Wolowitz's (Carol Ann Susi) house.

The Thanksgiving Decoupling - The Big Bang Theory
Amy (Mayim Bialik), Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) in episode 9, Season 5 of "The Big Bang Theory."

In the 9th episode of Season 5, "The Thanksgiving Decoupling," Sheldon protests when the gang drags him to dinner as Howard tries to connect with his father-in-law and Penny tries to rectify a mistake she made in the past. Meanwhile, Raj saves the day to cook the Thanksgiving dinner.

The Thanksgiving Decoupling - The Big Bang Theory, Kitchen
Raj (Kunal Nayyar), Bernadette (Melissa Rauch), Howard (Simon Helberg) and Amy (Mayim Bialik) in "The Big Bang Theory."

This is a Thanksgiving episode not to be missed, filled with great laughs and ingenious dialogue.

The Thanksgiving Decoupling - The Big Bang Theory
 Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg), Mr. Rostenkowski (Casey Sander), Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) in "The Big Bang Theory."

Can't get enough of "The Big Bang Theory"? You can now own the complete series on digital or Blu-ray. Or even better, visit Stage 48 and experience the set of Apartment 4A and more on WB Tours.

Where to Watch:

5. FULL HOUSE

Another classic, "The Miracle of Thanksgiving" features how the Tanner family (Dave Coulier, John Stamos, Jodie Sweetin, Bob Saget, Candace Cameron and Mary-Kate/Ashley Olsen) gets together after the tragic event of the loss of mother, wife and sister, Pam Tanner (Christie Mossman) in "Full House." In this 9th episode of Season 1’s "Full House," the family teams up to prepare the feast but the results aren't exactly worth eating.

Full House Season 1 - Cast
Joey Gladstone (Dave Coulier), Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos), Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin), Danny (Bob Saget), Donna Jo (Candace Cameron), Michelle Elizabeth (Mary-Kate/Ashley Olsen) in "Full House."

In this episode, we witness how the family deals with loss on this holiday, through the light-hearted but meaningful dialogue. We get to see how each family member helps one another through the grief and the adjustment of new family Thanksgiving traditions.

Full house S1 - Guys
Daniel Tanner (Bob Saget), Joseph Gladstone (Dave Coulier), and Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos) in "Full House."

Where to Watch:

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Enjoy this Thanksgiving with our 5 Turkey TV episodes choices. Happy Thanksgiving!