Thanksgiving offers characters an appropriate moment to give thanks and reflect on significant events from previous seasons. This often means reflecting on an entire season, if not entire lives. From Friends to Orange Is The New Black, Thanksgiving has been featured in sitcoms, dramas, and mockumentaries.
Sitcoms usually follow large chunks of their main characters' lives throughout the years, which means viewers are privy to birthday, Christmas, and New Year's Eve episodes. Some of the funniest, most wholesome sitcom episodes center on Thanksgiving. At times like these, there's nothing better than tuning in to a binge-worthy show, especially together with the family.
Updated on November 21, 2022, by Mayra García: As the holiday season approaches, it's the perfec ttime to remember the many TV shows that focus on Thanksgiving Day. Whether it's to remind the audience to be thankful or to help them laugh at how difficult this time can be, sitcoms are the perfect Thanksgiving watch.
10 Thank You Sees Eric In A Pickle
Season 5, Episode 8 – That '70s Show
During "Thank You," all the main characters in That '70s Show reunite at the Forman's house to celebrate Thanksgiving. As per usual, everyone has their own agenda. Eric wants his father to think he's serious about his future, so he can confess that he and Donna are engaged. Unfortunately, Kelso brings their Math teacher as a date, so Eric has a hard time hiding that he's also failing the class.
"Thank You" is a great episode to get a good laugh with the whole family. This episode focuses on the dysfunctional dynamics between the cast, but always keeps in mind the strong relations between them. There's nothing like laughing at others' love-hate relationships to celebrate the holidays.
9 In Turkey Shoot, The Rose Family Starts To Mingle With The Townies
Season 1, Episode 7 – Schitt’s Creek
"Turkey Shoot," from Schitt's Creek directed by Paul Fox, centers on the Rose family as they experience the Schitt's Creek thanksgiving vibe for the first time. David joins Stevie on Roland's annual Turkey Shoot, but of course, he's not ready for the carnage. As Alexis grows closer to Ted, Moira has a girl's day with Jocelyn.
Since "Turkey Shoot" is only the seventh episode of Schitt's Creek, the Rose family are still having a hard time adjusting to life in Schitt's Creek. After Jocelyn reminds Moira that they may be stuck in the town for a while, Moira reflects on this terrible news, but she and he family start to notice Schitt's Creek's people actually want to help them. "Turkey Shoot" isn't one of the deepest episodes of the show, but it's a wholesome watch on the holidays that offers the Rose family some necessary development.
8 Dwight Crowns Himself In WUPHF.com
Season 7, Episode 9 – The Office
The unofficial Thanksgiving episode of The Office, "WUPHF.com" puts Michael's economy in trouble when Ryan convinces him to fund his new website. At the same time, Dwight puts a hay festival together in the parking lot and appoints himself Hay Festival King to make up for all those years he wasn't elected when he was a kid. While he's busy with this, Angela meets the State Senator with whom she eventually begins a relationship.
Contrary to other sitcoms, The Office doesn't have a recurrent Thanksgiving episode across the seasons, with "WUPHF.com" being the closest one. This episode is a milestone for Dwight and Angela's relationship, as they end their contract to have a baby together. "WUPHF.com" is definitely one of the show's most iconic episodes.
7 No One Does Thanksgiving Like Charles In Thanksgiving
Season 1, Episode 10 – Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Brooklyn Nine-Nine focuses on the detectives at Brooklyn's 99th police precinct: Jake, Amy, Rosa, Terry, Charles, Scully, Hitchcock, and Captain Holt. As the eccentric Charles Boyle enters the precinct of Thanksgiving, he wishes everyone a 'happy turkey day,' leading the group to reveal their Thanksgiving game of 'Boyle Bingo' – whoever gets the most 'Boyle-isms' wins. Amy invites her colleagues to her house to enjoy a thoroughly-organized, forced-fun Thanksgiving meal.
Jake swears by his anti-Thanksgiving approach to life, but despite a few hurdles, "Thanksgiving" ends with the team sitting at Amy's table, toasting the things they're grateful for. As with most Brooklyn Nine-Nine episodes, "Thanksgiving" closes on a wholesome note, but it isn't serious at all. It's full of hilarious jokes that will definitely raise the mood in any household.
6 The Three Turkeys Shows How Dysfunctional Yet Wholesome Modern Family's Characters Are
Season 6, Episode 8 – Modern Family
In Modern Family's 11 seasons, fans are grateful for 7 hilarious and heartstring-pulling Thanksgiving episodes. "The Three Turkeys" shows Phil in charge of Thanksgiving – hosting, cooking, and entertaining. Claire cooks a separate turkey just in case Phil's dinner fails. As she accidentally trips the power, they decide to host Thanksgiving at Jay's while he and Gloria are on vacation in Mexico.
Since Jay and Gloria's trip was actually canceled last minute (they decided not to tell anyone), Jay and Gloria must hide themselves and their cooking, so no one finds out. In yet another furiously funny episode of Modern Family, writers have developed intricate storylines with ease – Modern Family often operates several plot lines at once, but the episodes always end on a wholesome note, full of lessons for the audiences.
5 Slapsgiving Has Become A Cultural Staple
Season 3, Episode 9 – How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother's "Slapsgiving" shows Lily and Marshall's first-hosted Thanksgiving as a married couple. With Lily nervously awaiting hosting, Ted and Robin having slept together the night before, and Marshall threatening Barney with a long-awaited slap as part of their ongoing slap bet, their Thanksgiving is filled with tension and angst.
Incredibly well-written, viewers love watching the How I Met Your Mother gang weave their intricate plotlines and inside jokes. What's more, fans love to see how the five characters have become a family of their own. "Slapsgiving" definitely delivers in both areas.
4 The Gang Squashes Their Beefs Shows The Gang's Best Side
Season 9, Episode 10 – It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia is a sitcom focusing on 5 bizarre and eccentric friends: Sweet Dee, Frank, Dennis, Mac, and Charlie. Notoriously selfish and realistically bad people, it's no surprise that the gang isn't on great terms with everybody. Their bad blood with others and ongoing feuds nearly wreck their Thanksgiving plans. So in an attempt to build bridges and be thankful, It's Always Sunny's main characters invite their enemies to their thanksgiving dinner for one of its most memorable episodes.
It's Always Sunny consistently gets better as the seasons go on. Despite the characters' off-beat and egotistical personalities, the writers have created a profoundly likable cast. Ramping up to a great season finale, "The Gang Squashes Their Beefs" shows a rare side of compassion and humanity to the group – but it's not completely out of character for fan's beloved narcissists, ultimately serving their own needs before others in what becomes a disastrous dinner for everyone but the gang.
3 The One With All The Thanksgivings Relives Some Of Friends' Biggest Moments
Season 5, Episode 8 – Friends
Friends is one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. Running from 1994-2004, fans adored the 10 Thanksgiving episodes that aired across 10 seasons. "The One With All The Thanksgivings" showed Ross, Joey, Phoebe, Chandler, Rachel, and Monica reflecting on their childhood experiences. After Ross complains that he's having the worst Thanksgiving ever, his best friends challenge him.
Chandler tells the story of his parents' divorce. Joey describes the time when he got a turkey stuck on his head. Monica explains how she once overheard Chandler, who was at her family home as he and Ross returned from college, calling her overweight. Phoebe recalls how one Thanksgiving, her arm was blown off (this recollection wasn't allowed by the group, since Phoebe claimed it was from her past life). The One With All The Thanksgivings includes both important moments for viewers' favorite friend group in their present and their past.
2 Harvest Festival Marks Lil' Sebastian's Debut
Season 3, Episode 7 – Parks & Recreation
"Harvest Festival," the seventh episode of the third season of Parks and Recreation, follows the Parks Department as they try to organize a Harvest Festival for Pawnee. Leslie has to face the chief of the local Wamapoke tribe, Ken Hotate, who wants to move the location of the festival because it's currently on the side of a Wamapoke massacre. Leslie also tries to win everyone over in Pawnee by booking Li'l Sebastian. At the same time, April deals with her feelings about Andy.
"Harvest Festival" isn't exactly a Thanksgiving episode, but it still has the right community-oriented autumn vibe. Besides, it's the debut of Li'l Sebastian, everyone's favorite miniature horse. This episode is a watershed in April and Andy's relationship, which will become one of the most wholesome couples in sitcoms.
1 The Mom & Pop Store Is All About New York's Thanksgiving
Season 6, Episode 8 – Seinfeld
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When Elaine, George, and Kramer get invited to a Thanksgiving party without Jerry, the comedian can't let this go. Before the party – where everything that can go wrong goes wrong – Elaine tries to win a radio contest for her boss, Mr. Pete, who wants to hold the Woody Wood Pecker balloon at Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.
"The Mom and Pop Store" follows the Seinfeld friends' adventures at Thanksgiving while also serving as a window to this holiday in New York. As always, the absurdity makes for a very entertaining half-hour. What's more, this episode introduces Bryan Cranston as Tim Whatley for the first time.