The best way to prepare for the holidays is to curl up with your vinas and hit play on the TV theme that brought us the most drama, laughs, and heartbreaks: Thanksgiving! Don’t know where to start? Here’s a list of the most iconic moments in holiday TV history.
And for any shows not listed, here’s a tip: the Thanksgiving episodes generally tend to fall on the 8th-11th episode of a season (mid-season, give or take), so if you’re wondering if your favorite show has any holiday spirit, now you know where to look first!
F.R.I.E.N.D.S
Friends is kind of the king of Thanksgiving episodes. With the exception of season 2 (which technically mentions Thanksgiving in episode 9, but barely) each season has a dedicated episode centering around what it’s like to celebrate a holiday with the 6 best friends that anyone could have.
Season 1 Episode 9: The one where underdog gets away
Season 3 Episode 9: The one with the football (return of the Geller cup)
Season 4 Episode 8: The one with Chandler in a box
Season 5 Episode 8: The one with all the Thanksgivings
Season 6 Episode 9: The one where Ross got high (the infamous half trifle half shepherds pie is created)
Season 7 Episode 8: The one where Chandler doesn’t like dogs (and Ross hates ice cream)
Season 8 Episode 9: The one with the rumor
Season 9 Episode 8: The one with Rachel’s other sister (crazy plate lady is born)
Season 10 Episode 8: The one with the late Thanksgiving
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
Coming in at a close second to Friends in the Thanksgiving department, HIMYM gave us some pretty incredible holiday memorabilia. They feature a dedicated TG episode in 5 of the 9 seasons and none of them disappoint us even a little. Here are the top moments:
Season 1 Episode 9: Belly Full of Turkey
Season 3 Episode 9: Slapsgiving (the episode that gave us “You Just Got Slapped,” lyrical moment of the century)
Season 5 Episode 9: Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the slaps
Season 6 Episode 10: Blitzgiving (the turturkeykey is invented)
Season 9 Episode 14: Slapsgiving 3: Slappointment in Slapmarra
GOSSIP GIRL
Nobody serves up just desserts better than GG, especially if it’s Thanksgiving and someones checking into the Ostroff Center. Whether it’s a Van Der Woodsen inviting a “bump in,” or a Humphrey screwing everyone over, secrets will come out. Check out our top picks:
Season 1 Episode 9: Blair Waldorf must pie!
Season 2 Episode 11: The Magnificent Archibalds
Season 3 Episode 11: The Treasure of Serena Madre (the episode that gave us the greatest dinner scene in television history, and the most memorable 4 minutes: 19:34-23:11)
Season 6 Episode 8: It’s Really Complicated (the one where Nate punches Dan in the face…FINALLY)
NEW GIRL
Vinas, New Girl kind of came out of nowhere and unexpectedly gave us one of the most heartwarming and hilarious shows in television history. When it aired in 2011, I don’t think anybody had any idea that this show was going to produce 5 TG episodes that give Friends a run for its money. Ok, nobody can outdo Friends, we know, but this is a pretty good attempt.
Season 1 Episode 6: Thanksgiving (the one that gave us a play within a show, “Big Time”)
Season 2 Episode 8: Parents
Season 3 Episode 10: Thanksgiving III
Season 4 Episode 9: Thanksgiving IV (or otherwise known as “bangsgiving”)
Season 6 Episode 7: Last Thanksgiving
THE OC
It’s been 12 years and I think we’re all still crying about the ending of The OC. But in the haze of Chrismukkah, some of the most eventful TG moments got swept away. Yep, that’s right! The OC actually does have holiday episodes that don’t revolve around Seth Cohen’s made up (none the less iconic) celebration.
Season 1 Episode 11: The Homecoming
Season 4 Episode 3: The Cold Turkey
HONORABLE MENTIONS
While these shows don’t have a laundry list of Thanksgiving gold like the aforementioned, we think their holiday moments are still totally worth the watch.
One Tree Hill Season 8 Episode 9: Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace
90210 Season 4 Episode 10: Smoked Turkey
Pretty Little Liars Season 5 Episode 12: Taking This One to the Grave
The Office Season 7 Episode 9: WUPHF.com
Full House Season 1 Episode 9: The Miracle of Thanksgiving
The Vampire Diaries Season 6 Episode 8: Fade Into You
Download Hey! VINA to find a binge-watch vina for all your holiday hibernating!
VINAZINE 