This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Nov. 24, 2014.
Holidays tend to bring out funny stories, both in real life and on screen.
So before you stuff your face with turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, check out my top five Thanksgiving-themed TV episodes.
5. Thank You: “That ’70s Show,” season 5
Eric Foreman (Topher Grace) never ceases to screw up a situation.
After getting promoted to the adults’ table at Thanksgiving, Eric decides it’s time to tell his parents that he and Donna (Laura Prepon) are engaged.
But then Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) brings a date to the holiday dinner: Eric’s math teacher. By the way, Eric is failing math.
It’s a recipe for a holiday meal gone wrong.
4. Punkin Chunkin: “Modern Family,” season 3
The fun of “Modern Family” is that the families are filled with misfit individuals, and this episode highlights that fact.
The “Dreamers” and the “Pritchetts” is how this episode divides the parents, who then partake in a punkin chunkin challenge.
Watching them launch pumpkins is pretty incredible, but watching them bond is even better.
3. Slapsgiving: “How I Met Your Mother,” season 3
Major Buzzkill! A slap countdown! What more could you want from this show?
Robin and Ted are always confused about where they stand in their relationship/friendship (which makes more sense if you know that they end up together in the end), and this episode is no different.
But in the end of the episode (after a guys vs. girls debate about what to do), they remain friends as they continue to connect with an inside joke (saluting while saying “Major Buzzkill”)
And who could forget the slap countdown Marshall made for Barney? Lilly almost stops it from happening, but in the end, Barney got too cocky, of course.
2. The One with the Thanksgiving Flashbacks: “Friends,” season 5
It’s hard to choose just one Thanksgiving-themed episode from “Friends,” since there is one in every season except for season 2.
This is the one where the gang recalls their worst Thanksgivings, including the time when Chandler (who is secretly dating Monica at this point) called Monica (Courtney Cox) fat when he went to the Gellars’ house with his roommate, Ross (David Schwimmer).
At the end of the episode, Chandler (Matthew Perry) tells Monica “I love you” for the first time … as she wears a turkey on her head.
The flashbacks provide entertainment, but the “I love you” moment provides a sweet and hilarious moment.
1. A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving: “Gilmore Girls,” season 3
For one, Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) drinks way too much in this episode since her husband’s family decided to deep fry everything, including the turkey. And she’s one funny drunk.
Next, we see the beginnings of Rory (Alexis Bledel) and Jess (Milo Ventimiglia), including the town members making fun of them for a “weak” kiss.
And of course, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory, not wanting to disappoint anyone, go to four Thanksgiving dinners. But really, who could handle that better than this mother-daughter duo?
What are your favorite Thanksgiving TV episodes?
