My Top Ten Thanksgiving Television Episodes:

While there isn’t a very large cinematic history of Thanksgiving films (off the top of my head I can think of zero Thanksgiving themed movies) some of my favorite television shows depict the quintessentially American holiday in regular intervals.  Because I won’t actually be in America for Thanksgiving this year (and because I haven’t really posted anything film or television related on this site yet), I’ve assembled my list of the Top 10 Thanksgiving TV episodes from recent years.

10) The Magnificent Archibalds (Gossip Girl Season 2)

Thanksgiving seems to have a special place in the world of Gossip Girl, and by the time the second season Turkey Day episode comes around, tensions are clearly at a high.  Blair hates Cyrus, Chuck and Vanessa must work together, Bart’s secret files are uncovered, and it all ends up giving the audience what they want by bringing Rufus and Lily together for another Thanksgiving.

9) Slapsgiving (How I Met Your Mother, Season 3)

After unveiling a website before the third season that counted down the time until Marshall utilized his second slap, the HIMYM writers set the stage for an epic Thanksgiving celebration.  While the old Bob gag was kind of silly, I loved when Robin and Ted realize that they are still friends.  Marshall’s post-slap closing song is also a thing of beauty.

8) The One With All The Thanksgivings (Friends, Season 5)

I’ve seen nearly every episode of Friends in syndication, and I’m pretty sure they had a Thanksgiving episode in every season of the show.  The fifth season episode is one of the best as it features outstanding flashbacks of Ross, Chandler, Rachel, and Monica in the late 1980s.  Joey also puts a Turkey on his head.

7) The Cold Turkey (The OC, Season 4)

Summer returns from college and isn’t herself.  Taylor returns from France and starts to become the great character that made the fourth season excellent.  Sandy helps Volchok turn himself in, and a group of homeless people have dinner at the Cohen’s.  This episode not only essentially wrapped up the Marissa-died story arc, but it is also notable as the last time that Ryan got into a fight.

6) Belly Full of Turkey (How I Met Your Mother, Season 1)

One of the classic early season episodes of How I Met Your Mother features Ted and Robin trying to do some good at a soup kitchen—and discover that Barney works there regularly.  All is right in the end, however, with the three enjoying Thanksgiving at a strip club.  In Minnesota, Lily meets the Eriksons, and thinks she’s pregnant.

5) Blair Waldorf Must Pie (Gossip Girl, Season 1)

The first Gossip Girl Thanksgiving episode brings Lily and family to the Humphrey’s for Thanksgiving where the kids finally find out about their parents’ past.   This causes Rufus to make a choice, and he annoyingly chooses the wife that looks like E.T.  The great thing about this episode, however, is the use of excellent flashbacks to the previous year’s thanksgiving that show how much each of the characters changed.

4) Thanksgiving (Home Improvement, Season 7)

Tim Taylor goes to the Lions game for Thanksgiving . . . and accidentally turns off the lights.  Oh, and Rodney Dangerfield.

3) The One With Chandler in a Box (Friends, Season 4)

Joey puts Chandler in a box for the entire meal after finding out that he kissed his girlfriend.  I don’t really remember what else happened in the episode, but the box punishment is one of the best gags I’ve seen in sitcoms and comes to a heartfelt conclusion by the end.

2) Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap (How I Met Your Mother, Season 5)

While I’m a bit disappointed that the fourth slap didn’t come out of nowhere, this episode was a prime example of what HIMYM is when at the top of its game.  Not only did every character have something critical to do, but every character actually had their own funny moments in the episode.  Barney’s fear of the slap was excellent, and his speech to build up Robin’s anger was classic.  Ted and Robin’s arguments throughout were the best interaction they have had in almost a year (since Benefits), and Lily and Marshall actually had some real emotional moments.  The commercial at the end topped it all off, and continued the outstanding stretch of HIMYM side gags.

1) The Homecoming (The OC, Season 1)

I love television episodes that give every main character conflict, and these episodes are only heightened when the conflicts overlap and intertwine themselves together.  This episode does that to perfection.  While Seth is caught between two girls (Anna and Summer) in Newport, Ryan is also caught between two girls (Theresa and Marrissa) and a jailed brother in Chino.  Meanwhile, tensions are high amongst the adults when Caleb and Julie invite themselves over to the Thanksgiving that Sandy and Kirsten were using to set up Rachel and Jimmy.  With everything going crazy, the turkey burns and we get an early glimpse of Kirsten’s future alcoholism.  This episode is simply one of the best of the series run.