70 Fun Facts About Thanksgiving TV

In what year was the Macy's parade first televised, as an experimental local broadcast in New York City?

The pictures went out over NBC's experimental station W2XBS, and no station carried the parade at all in 1940 or 1941.

Which network carried unlicensed Times Square parade coverage, avoiding the Macy's name?

Because the parade runs on public streets, Macy's can only enforce exclusivity right in front of its Herald Square store. That coverage ended after 2024 amid holiday-programming cuts at Paramount.

Since what year has NBC been the parade's official broadcaster?

The telecast was only an hour long at first and did not cover all three hours of the parade until 1969.

Which Today weather anchor co-hosted NBC's parade from 1995 to 2024, missing only 2022?

His 2022 absence, while he recovered from blood clots, left the broadcast hosted entirely by women for the first time.

From 1963 to 1972, NBC's parade coverage was hosted by Betty White alongside which Bonanza star?

It was a decade-long pairing; White would return to Thanksgiving television as a punchline for generations of viewers.

Which longtime Today weatherman hosted the NBC parade telecast from 1987 to 1997?

His co-hosts over that decade included Mary Hart, Sandy Duncan, Deborah Norville and Katie Couric.

In which year did the parade telecast begin airing in color?

The broadcast expanded to two hours the following year, dropped back to 90 minutes in 1962, and finally covered all three hours from 1969.

As of 2024, roughly how much did NBC pay Macy's per year for the licence to broadcast the parade?

It is a bargain: 30-second ads averaged about $900,000 in 2023, comparable to Sunday Night Football, for around $52 million in gross revenue.

A renewal announced in February 2025 extended NBC's parade rights through which year?

The Wall Street Journal reported NBC had offered a tripled licence fee of $60 million a year to keep the parade and the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks.

Since 2003 the parade has been simulcast in Spanish on which NBC sister network?

María Celeste Arrarás hosted it from 2003 to 2006; since 2021 Carlos Adyan has led it, joined by former Miss Universe Andrea Meza from 2022.

For the 1997 parade, MTV aired its own irreverent commentary special starring which animated duo?

Kurt Loder hosted, and a balloon of the pair watching from their couch was parked on a rooftop along the route rather than in the parade itself.

Until 2008, NBC followed its parade coverage with which 1947 film that opens with the parade?

The movie used footage of the real 1946 parade, and its afternoon slot was later filled by a same-day rebroadcast of the parade itself.

Which service, launched in 2020, streams the Macy's parade live to viewers outside the Eastern time zone?

NBC still delays the broadcast from the Central time zone westward so it fills the same 8:30-to-noon slot everywhere.

Starting with the 2023 edition, NBC's parade coverage was moved to begin at what time Eastern?

The half-hour shift squeezed the Thanksgiving edition of Today down to just 90 minutes.

Which balloon hit a lamppost in the 1997 parade, injuring a spectator and prompting size limits?

Falling debris fractured a woman's skull and left her in a coma for 24 days; Mayor Giuliani's task force then banned the largest balloons and removed lamppost arms from the route.

Which video game character's parade balloon hit a Columbus Circle lamppost in 1993, injuring two people?

The top of the post broke off inside the balloon and dragged it down.

Why was the parade suspended from 1942 to 1944?

Because of the gap, the 100th anniversary of the first parade came in 2024 but the 100th parade itself is not until 2026.

What reward did Macy's offer in 1928 to whoever found the balloons released at the end of the parade?

The bounty fell to $50 the next year, and in 1931 aviator Clarence Chamberlin decapitated a dragon balloon with his wingtip to claim it.

From 2002, what aired on NBC after the parade, hosted by John O'Hurley and David Frei?

The show itself dates to 1879 in Philadelphia; NBC Sports rebranded it when it took over the Thanksgiving slot.

NBC's Thanksgiving dog show was inspired by which 2000 Christopher Guest mockumentary?

NBC had lost its Thanksgiving football rights in 1998 and its filler, It's a Wonderful Life, was underperforming in the slot.

Which organisation, a founding member of the AKC, stages the Thanksgiving dog show that NBC televises?

It is one of only six benched dog shows left in the United States, meaning dogs stay on display all day for spectators.

Roughly how many viewers watched NBC's 2024 Thanksgiving dog show?

NBC's Jon Miller credits an 'alma mater effect': viewers root for whatever breed they own.

Which now-defunct network first televised NFL Thanksgiving Day games, three years before a rival took over in 1956?

The 1965 Lions–Colts Thanksgiving game later became the first NFL broadcast in color.

Which player received John Madden's first on-air 'Turkey Leg Award' in 1989?

Madden later escalated to a six-legged turkey and, from 1997, the turducken; Emmitt Smith holds the record with five Thanksgiving MVP awards.

Roughly how many watched the record-setting 2025 Chiefs–Cowboys Thanksgiving game?

All three 2025 Thanksgiving games set records; the Chiefs–Cowboys audience peaked at 61.4 million and was then the most-watched NFL regular-season game ever.

Which WKRP in Cincinnati character says 'As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly'?

Gordon Jump played the hapless station manager, whose secret promotion involved dropping live birds from a helicopter.

Which WKRP reporter gives the Hindenburg-style play-by-play as turkeys crash into the mall?

Richard Sanders played him; his 'Oh, the humanity!' echoes Herbert Morrison's 1937 airship broadcast, and the whole disaster happens off screen.

WKRP's 'Turkeys Away' was based on Atlanta manager Jerry Blum's real stunt tossing live turkeys from what?

Blum's stunt was in a Dallas shopping-center parking lot; he later admitted saying almost the same closing line as his fictional counterpart.

Where did TV Guide rank 'Turkeys Away' on its 1997 list of the 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time?

It slipped to 65th when the magazine revisited the list in 2009, still ahead of most of the sitcoms that copied it.

The 1986 Cheers episode 'Thanksgiving Orphans' is famous for ending in what?

Director James Burrows shot it twice, unchoreographed after Sam flings cranberry sauce at Diane, and the leftover food was donated to charity.

In Cheers' 'Thanksgiving Orphans', Diane turns up at Carla's house dressed as what?

She had hoped to meet novelist William Styron there and instead left in tears.

Whose face finally appears at the end of 'Thanksgiving Orphans', only to be covered by a pie thrown by Diane?

The running gag survived: the body was Rebecca Soladay and the voice Bernadette Birkett, George Wendt's real-life wife, and neither was credited.

In Seinfeld's 'The Mom & Pop Store', Elaine's trophy falls from Tim Whatley's window and pops which parade balloon?

The writers wanted real footage of that balloon collapsing at a parade but could not get the rights, so Mr. Pitt is shown struggling under it instead.

George buys a LeBaron convertible because a salesman claims it once belonged to which actor?

The owner's manual turns out to read 'John Voight', a periodontist. Writer Tom Gammill really had bought a car with the same story, and the real actor told him on set he had never owned it.

Which future Breaking Bad star debuted as dentist Tim Whatley in Seinfeld's Thanksgiving-eve episode?

Whatley's party overlooks the balloons being inflated the night before the parade, and Jerry spends the episode unsure whether he was invited.

What does Chandler plan to eat instead of Thanksgiving dinner in Friends' first Thanksgiving episode?

After the Underdog balloon fiasco burns the real dinner, Monica ends up making his menu for everyone.

Brad Pitt's uncredited turn as Will Colbert in Friends' 'The One with the Rumor' earned him which Emmy nomination?

He said he did the episode to promote Spy Game; the episode was taped on 2 November 2001 after several days of rehearsal.

Joey's head-in-a-turkey gag on Friends echoes a 1992 sketch from which British comedy?

Writer Richard Curtis later complained his team had been accused of copying Friends when their version came first, in 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean'.

In 'The One with the Rumor', what does Joey change into so he can finish an entire turkey by himself?

Only Joey wanted turkey that year, since Phoebe was vegetarian, Chandler hated the food, Rachel avoided poultry and Will was dieting; he finishes it and still has room for pie.

What Nielsen rating did 'The One with All the Thanksgivings' earn on its 1998 debut, second only to ER?

That equated to roughly 15.5 million households, and the episode picked up an Emmy nomination for costume design.

In 'Bart vs. Thanksgiving', Bart runs away after accidentally destroying what?

It was George Meyer's first script for the show; the tribute to trailblazing women ends up in the fireplace during a tug-of-war over table space.

Which Simpsons character debuts in 'Bart vs. Thanksgiving', telling Marge she never does anything right?

Marge's mother is voiced by Julie Kavner, who also voices Marge and her sisters; radio DJs Bill and Marty are seen for the first time too.

In 'Slapsgiving', Lily invokes what title to rule that Barney cannot be hit on Thanksgiving?

She relents with three seconds left on Marshall's countdown, and Barney is sent flying before the song 'You Just Got Slapped'.

In 'Slapsgiving 2', which estranged relative of Lily's shows up with a homemade board game called 'Diseases'?

The game ends up spraying lead paint and horse bile over the turkey; Marshall had gifted his fourth slap to Ted and Robin that day.

In Bob's Burgers' Thanksgiving episode, Mr. Fischoeder borrows the Belchers as his family to impress whom?

Kevin Kline voices Fischoeder; the day ends with Shelby chasing Bob with a shotgun and the turkey, named Lance, taking the bullet.

Which indie rock band covered Linda Belcher's 'Thanksgiving Song' from Bob's Burgers in 2012?

John Roberts, who voices Linda, improvised the whole song during recording; the writers rank it their fourth-favourite song from the show.

In Bob's Burgers' 'Turkey in a Can', who is dumping Bob's brined turkeys in the toilet each night?

His cat-allergy pills cause sleepwalking, and his anxiety about Tina growing up has him 'potty training' the turkey.

In 'Dawn of the Peck', Linda asserts dominance over a one-eyed turkey nicknamed what?

Teddy, who spent a boyhood summer on a turkey farm, explains the birds went berserk because mixing species destroyed the pecking order.

In New Girl's first Thanksgiving episode, how does Jess try to thaw a frozen turkey, causing it to catch fire?

Justin Long guest-stars as Paul, the teacher Jess is trying to impress, who then finds the neighbour Mrs. Beverly dead on her toilet.

Which pair play Jess's divorced parents in New Girl's season 2 Thanksgiving episode 'Parents'?

Rob Riggle also appears as Schmidt's cousin, also named Schmidt, competing for the right to the name.

Who wins 'Boyle Bingo' in Brooklyn Nine-Nine's first Thanksgiving episode?

Jake spends the episode hating the holiday because of his absent parents, then makes a toast that finally makes Boyle cry.

Amy Santiago's Brooklyn Nine-Nine Thanksgiving dinner is inedible partly because she substitutes what for salt?

Everyone flushes the food down the toilet, and Boyle rescues the night with a spread of multi-ethnic takeout.

How many dinners do Lorelai and Rory attend in 'A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving'?

The final stop is at the elder Gilmores', where Rory drops the news that she has applied to Yale.

At which Gilmore Girls Thanksgiving stop has the turkey, the lawn and 'just about everything else' been deep-fried?

Jackson and his family take over the frying, while at the Kims' Lorelai is forced to eat tofurkey.

In The West Wing's 'Shibboleth', Bartlet pardons one turkey and does what with the other?

C.J. had been sent to choose between the two birds; the episode also has Bartlet giving Charlie a carving knife passed down from Paul Revere.

Which ER actress directed 'Shibboleth' and earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Drama?

It was one of 18 nominations for The West Wing's second season, which won eight including Outstanding Drama Series.

In Everybody Loves Raymond's 'No Fat', why does Marie serve a tofu turkey?

Ray secretly orders a real dinner from a restaurant and the family pounces on it, with Marie eventually joining in.

What does Debra serve instead of turkey in Everybody Loves Raymond's first Thanksgiving episode?

Ray ends up putting the fish in the dishwasher, and Marie shows up with her own bird anyway.

Lena Waithe's Emmy-winning 'Thanksgiving' episode was from which show?

She co-wrote it with Aziz Ansari and based it loosely on coming out to her own mother; the episode spans Thanksgivings from 1995 to 2017.

Which actress plays Denise's mother Catherine in the Emmy-winning "Thanksgiving" episode?

Kym Whitley plays Aunt Joyce; TV Guide later ranked the episode 10th among the best of the 21st century.

Which two holiday specials came before the 1973 Peanuts Thanksgiving special?

It first aired in 1973 and won an Emmy the next year; apart from the opening football gag it was the first special written without borrowing from the strip.

Which service began streaming A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving exclusively in 2020?

The 2020 deal also put the special on PBS the Sunday before Thanksgiving, commercial-free.

Which network aired A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving every year from 2001 to 2019?

Because the special runs slightly over half an hour with ads, the network filled out the hour with other Peanuts material.

Which MythBusters pair hosted the Science Channel's 2010 Punkin Chunkin special?

The 'Build Team' of Belleci, Byron and Imahara took over from 2011 to 2013; the first Punkin Chunkin special aired on Discovery back in 2002.

In which state was the World Championship Punkin Chunkin, aired on the Science Channel in 2009 and 2010, held?

It began in 1986 near Lewes and moved to Bridgeville in 2007; a 2016 air-cannon accident that injured a TV producer led the channel to stop airing it.

In This Is Us's first Thanksgiving episode, where does the Pearsons' road trip end?

A car accident scraps the dinner; in the present, Randall finds Rebecca's letter in William's apartment and confronts her at the table.

Adam Sandler first performed 'The Thanksgiving Song' on SNL's Weekend Update in 1992 with which anchor?

It was meant to launch a tradition of different cast members debuting Thanksgiving songs, but the next year Sandler simply did it again in the style of Bruce Springsteen.

Which sitcom's Thanksgiving episode 'Over the River and Through the Woods' ranked No. 9 on TV Guide's 1997 list?

The same 1997 list placed the show's 'Death Be My Destiny' at No. 50.

Who wrote Buffy the Vampire Slayer's 1999 Thanksgiving episode 'Pangs'?

Buffy cooks Thanksgiving at Giles's flat while a vengeful Chumash spirit named Hus stalks Sunnydale; Whedon called it one of his favourites.

In Buffy's 'Pangs', into which animal does the spirit Hus transform during the Thanksgiving showdown?

The moment makes a tied-up Spike panic and knock his chair over; Espenson recalled 'a very non-threatening bear and some funny syphilis'.