Thanksgiving Viewing Guide: 17 Shows, Movies and Specials to Feast Your Eyes On

From “Bob’s Burgers” and “Modern Family’s” dinner disasters to classic movies revolving around Turkey Day – there’s something delicious for everyone to watch

bob's burgers taylor swift charlie brown anchorman planes trains and automobiles steve martin john candy

Television fans will have a cornucopia of programming to look forward to this Thanksgiving with channel guides getting stuffed with holiday-themed episodes and specials.

From Turkey Day staples like the “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” and “The National Dog Show,” to sitcom families coming together for an expectedly disastrous dinner, networks and cable channel alike are celebrating the holiday this year. Some big names are coming to dinner in 2014 too, including Taylor Swift, Cameron Diaz and Will Ferrell.

TheWrap has compiled a comprehensive viewing guide to help you navigate the tube this Thanksgiving. So put on your drawstring eating pants and prepare to feast on quality TV. Find everything you need to know (and watch) below.

THE COMEDIES

casey wilson
NBC

“Marry Me,” NBC
“Thank Me” – The festivities are getting an early start for Casey Wilson and Ken Marino. Annie (Wilson) wants to host her own Thanksgiving but Jake’s (Marino) mom isn’t exactly OK with that.
“Marry Me” airs Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC

ABC
ABC

“The Middle,” ABC
“Thanksgiving VI” – With their kitchen at home in shambles, Frankie suggests the Hecks spend this Thanksgiving eating out at a restaurant buffet. Things don’t go as planned after all three kids bring a significant other to dinner.
“The Middle” airs Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC

ABC
ABC

“The Goldbergs,” on ABC
“A Goldberg Thanksgiving” – Erica decides to boycott Thanksgiving dinner, leaving Beverly trying to find a way to win her daughter back to celebrate the holiday with the family.
“The Goldbergs” airs Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC

ABC
ABC

“Modern Family,” ABC
“Three Turkeys” – Phil is cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year and Claire has no faith in him pulling the meal off. Meanwhile, Jay and Gloria plan to spend the holiday away but their trip gets canceled. The couple then tries to keep it a secret from the rest of the family that they’re staying in town, which backfires when Thanksgiving dinner gets moved to their house.
“Modern Family” airs Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC

Getty Images
Getty Images

“Saturday Night Live,” NBC
Cameron Diaz will host the Thanksgiving episode with Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars set as musical guests.
“SNL” airs Saturday, Nov. 22 at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC

Fox
Fox

“Bob’s Burgers,” Fox
“Dawn of the Peck” – The Belchers battle against a hoard of ferocious poultry while preparing for their Thanksgiving meal.
“Bob’s Burgers” airs Sunday, Nov. 23 at 9:30 p.m. ET on Fox

“Anger Management,” FX
“Charlie & the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Thanksgiving” – Charlie nearly destroys Ed’s marriage while Jordan hits on Nolan.
“Anger Management” airs Monday, Nov. 24 at 10 p.m. ET on FX

Fox
Fox

“New Girl,” Fox
“Thanksgiving IV” – With the entire gang still single, Schmidt initiates a “Bangs-giving”-themed Thanksgiving dinner party, to which everyone must bring someone compatible for someone else.
“New Girl” airs Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 9 p.m. on Fox

NBC
NBC

“Friends,” TBS

If you become sick of spending time with your family this Thanksgiving, head on over to TBS and hang out with your favorite “Friends.” The third-annual “Thanksgiving with Friends” marathon will feature 14 episodes of the NBC sitcom including all 10 Thanksgiving episodes.

“Friends” marathon begins Thursday, Nov. 27 at 10 a.m. on TBS

“Seinfeld,” TBS

The comedy  continues on TBS with a “Seinfeld for the Holidays” marathon, featuring three hours of fan-favorite episodes, all culminating with the legendary Festivus episode.

“Seinfeld” airs Thursday, Nov. 27 at 5 p.m. on TBS

CBS
CBS

“The McCarthys,” CBS
“Thanks A Lot, Ronny” – The McCarthy family works together to get Gerard to break up with his offensive girlfriend during Thanksgiving dinner.
“The McCarthys” airs Thursday, Nov. 27 at 9:30 p.m. on CBS

THE SPECIALS

“Today’s” Cranksgiving Nationwide Bike Ride/Food Drive
Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Natalie Morales, Tamron Hall, Lester Holt and Erica Hill are all hitting the road for the 15th annual Cranksgiving Bike Ride and Food Drive.
Highlights from their journey will air on “Today” Monday, November 24 on NBC.

ABC
ABC

“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,” ABC
Charlie Brown’s holiday dinner for the rest of the Peanuts turns into a disaster.
“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” airs Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. on ABC

“When Turkeys Attack,” Destination America
This year, be thankful that your Thanksgiving turkey is coming out of the oven rather than charging at you at full speed. This special proves that these holiday birds are both vicious and delicious.
“When Turkeys Attack” airs Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 10 p.m. on Destination America

Getty Images
Getty Images

“The 88th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” CBS and NBC
New York’s long-standing holiday tradition will be featured on two networks. Tune in to CBS for performances from Taylor Swift and Broadway’s “Matilda” and “Pippin.” “Entertainment Tonight’s” Kevin Frazier and “The Insider’s” Thea Andrews will host the event on the Eye network. Over on NBC, Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie of “Today” are hosting the festivities with appearances from Lucy Hale, Nick Jonas, Idina Menzel and Meghan Trainor.
“The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” airs Thursday, Nov. 27 9 a.m. ET on CBS and NBC

NFL Football on CBS, Fox and NBC
Millions of Americans will hit the couch before they head for their Thanksgiving tables to watch the three NFL matchups on tap on Turkey Day. The Chicago Bears take on division rival the Detroit Lions in the early game on CBS (12:30 p.m. ET.)

The Philadelphia Eagles will travel to Texas to go head-to-head against Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys in a game airing on Fox (4:30 p.m. ET.)

The primetime game will feature NFC rivals Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers on NBC (8:30 p.m. ET.)

Getty Images
Getty Images

“The National Dog Show Presented by Purina®,” NBC
John O’Hurley and David Frei Return to co-Host the ultimate canine showdown with Mary Carillo reporting from the benching area and inside the show ring.
“The National Dog Show” airs Thursday, Nov. 27 at 12 p.m. ET on NBC

“Thank You, America! With Robin Roberts,” ABC
“Good Morning America’s” Robin Roberts canvases the country in search of America’s unsung heroes and celebrates them with surprises that will profoundly change their lives.
“Thank You, America!” airs Thursday, Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. on ABC

THE MOVIES

steve martin john candy
Paramount

“Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” The CW
Steve Martin and John Candy star as two men on a three-day trip of misadventures as they try to get Neal (Martin) home in time for Thanksgiving dinner with his family.
“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” airs on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on The CW

Paramount
Paramount

“Airplane!” EPIX 
Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty and Leslie Nielsen star in the satire comedy film from David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker about a doomed airliner and the passengers and crew onboard.
“Airplane!” airs Thursday, Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. on EPIX

will ferrell
Paramount

“Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Super-Sized Version,” EPIX
The sequel for Will Ferrell and his news team will make its world television premiere this Thanksgiving weekend.
“Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” airs Sunday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. ET on EPIX

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