Thanksgiving television specials are the limbo of holiday programming. You haven’t been up early enough for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since puberty hit, and ABC Family’s “25 Days of Christmas” is still far off. Spending time with family is a nightmare, so what’s a poor coed to do for entertainment? Luckily, we’ve assembled the best Thanksgiving specials to get you feeling festive for Thursday.
“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” (1973)
This Charlie Brown special doesn’t possess the existentialism of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” or “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” but it is nonetheless adorable. Charlie finds himself in a pickle when Peppermint Patty, Marcie and Franklin invite themselves over for Thanksgiving dinner; with the help of Linus, Snoopy and Woodstock he figures out how to improvise. Like all Charlie Brown specials, it packs some serious emotional punch. The oldest kids in the Peanuts gang are maybe 8 years old, and when you stop to consider that three of them have nowhere to go on Thanksgiving — Peppermint Patty outright says that her dad is out of town, and in the comic strip she tells Marcie that she doesn’t have a mother — it’s heartbreaking.
“Seinfeld” — “The Mom & Pop Store” (1994)
Jerry has to figure out whether or not he’s invited to dentist Tim Whatley’s (Bryan Cranston) Thanksgiving party, while Elaine wins a radio quiz for Mr. Pitt, allowing him to hold the Woody Woodpecker balloon in the parade. Shenanigans abound, including Jon Voight biting Kramer’s arm and an episode-wide parody of “Midnight Cowboy.” Enjoy this classic episode from the greatest sitcom of all time.
“Aqua Teen Hunger Force” — “The Dressing” (2003)
Shake, Frylock and Meatwad are having Thanksgiving at their house with Carl when Turkatron, a turkey robot from the year 9595, shows up to save the turkey the guys have already cooked (think “Terminator” on acid). ATHF is bizarre, ridiculous and silly, and will have you doubled over laughing in no time. At one point Turkatron utters the phrase “anti-taco legislation, disestablishmentarianism.” Solid-gold television programming right here.
“Hey Arnold!” — “Arnold’s Thanksgiving” (1998)
Arnold is unhappy with the Thanksgiving celebration at the boarding house. Grandma always thinks it’s the Fourth of July, so they grill hot dogs on the roof and shoot off fireworks; meanwhile Helga hates the inattentiveness of her family. The two find themselves walking around the city together, trying to figure out how to make the most of their less than ideal situations. The boarders make the episode — Arnold’s grandparents are a riot, and Oskar Kokoschka has a few killer lines.
“Bob’s Burgers” — “An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal” (2012)
Mr. Fischoeder, the Belchers’ landlord, offers them a deal they can’t refuse: Linda, Tina, Gene and Louise pose as the Fischoeder family for Thanksgiving dinner in exchange for five months’ rent. Bob has to cook the meal and copes with his ruined holiday by getting well-acquainted with absinthe. “Bob’s Burgers” is a godsend for people who come from working-class, dysfunctional families, and the show is absolutely hilarious. At one point, Gene refers to a turducken as “like ‘Inception’ with meats.” What’s not to love?