Best Thanksgiving Episodes To Watch For Friendsgiving
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate being together with your best gal pals than to cozy up together in your pajamas and binge-watch a bunch of Thanksgiving-themed episodes from your favorite shows?
In the spirit of the holiday, we've compiled a list of some of the best Thanksgiving episodes of all time (for whatever mood you're in) to settle down onto the couch with for Friends-giving.
The Mindy Project - "Thanksgiving"
In episode six of the first season, Mindy arrives at her best friend's house for Thanksgiving only to run into a guy she had gone on a blind date with at the beginning of the series who brought a date who looks like a younger version of her.
When her friend tells her she's been a bit messy lately, Mindy decides to go full-tilt chaotic. A perfect episode for the girl squad to watch together.
How I Met Your Mother - "Slapsgiving"
In the ninth episode of season three, the group of friends gathers together for Thanksgiving dinner with one of the shows longest-running gags, the "Slap Bet", coming into play.
While his wife is obsessed with hosting the perfect Thanksgiving, Marshall terrorizes his friend with the promise of an impending slap that he must accept due to terms of a previous bet. It's a perfect example of how, no matter how old you are, you are your friends are still absolute goofs.
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia - "The Gang Squashes Their Beefs"
In the tenth episode of season nine, the group of friends tries to make amends with their many enemies on the holiday by inviting them over for Thanksgiving dinner.
While perhaps a decent idea at first, things quickly descend into a hilariously entertaining and chaotic series of events. You'll grab your girls and laugh about all the terrifying people in your pasts.
Gilmore Girls - "A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving"
In the ninth episode of the third season, Lorelei and Rory bite off more than they can chew when they try to make it to the four separate Thanksgiving dinners they are expected to attend.
Laugh with your girls as you reminisce about all the times you guys messed up when trying to make it to multiple social functions on the same day.
Friends - "The One With All The Thanksgivings"
I mean, is there a better show to watch with friends than Friends? In this eighth episode of the fifth season, Ross' divorce and upcoming eviction have him complaining that he is having the worst Thanksgiving ever.
This prompts everyone to reminisce on their worst Thanksgiving memories, including the time Joey got his head stuck in a turkey.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine - "Mr. Santiago"
In the extremely relatable seventh episode of season four, Jake is nervous in anticipation of meeting the parents of his girlfriend, knowing that her dad isn't easy to impress (meeting the parents is one of my top 4 fears about dating).
Other members of the police team deal with a live turkey that Charles brings to prepare for dinner. It's a hilarious take on the holiday and gathering with a significant other's parents, which is something just about all of us have endured.
Jane The Virgin - "Chapter Twenty-Eight"
For her son's first Thanksgiving, Jane has to make many hard decisions about what parts of her extremely complicated family to bring together for dinner—because there's nothing like bringing together all the disagreeing and chaotic members of your family, right?
Laugh and cringe with your gal pals as you simultaneously agree how thankful you are to not be in Jane's position.
Grey's Anatomy - "Thanks For The Memories"
The ninth episode of the second season features intern Izzie Stevens trying to organize a Thanksgiving dinner with her friends, but getting everyone together is easier said than done.
A comical turkey hunt, a culinary struggle, and a lack of drinks carefully counterbalance the delicacy of hospital life, leading to a heartwarming reminder that our friends, even if they mess up, are here for us.
New Girl - "Thanksgiving"
Jess invites a music teacher she has a crush on to her apartment for Thanksgiving, but her male roommates are more interested in drinking and watching football.
Laugh with your female friends about the futility of trying to host an actual traditional Thanksgiving dinner with your friends in your twenties, especially if males are involved.
Gossip Girl - "Blair Waldorf Must Pie!"
Get dramatic by watching the first Thanksgiving episode of the series. This episode has everything we love about the show: drama, flashbacks to past Thanksgivings, and exposed secrets.
I mean, if you and your gal pals don't have any drama of your own, you might as well relish in someone else's.
Glee - "Thanksgiving"
In the eighth episode of season four, Rachel and Kurt decide to stay in New York for the holiday rather than return home to Ohio for the weekend.
This story of a friendsgiving away from home will tear at your heartstrings for anyone in your group who wasn't able to be with family during the holiday. Hold each other tight and tell your friends that you're thankful for them.
Friends - The One With The Rumor
In the ninth episode of the eighth season, Brad Pitt guest stars as Will Corbert, an old high school friend of Ross and Monica's. While he's an absolute stunner now, Rachel used to bully him in school for being overweight.
It's a perfectly funny and relatable episode to make your and your girls laugh about what it's like for your past to come back and bite you in the butt.
This Is Us - "Pilgrim Rick"
Warning: prepare your tissues and designate shoulders to cry on. This episode, like most in the show, travels between present and past.
In the past, Jack and his family have car troubles on the way to Thanksgiving dinner and end up at a low-budget lodge for the night. In the present, his kids remember their late father through the character "Pilgrim Rick".
Modern Family: "Three Turkeys"
Though her son and husband are supposed to be in charge of cooking Thanksgiving dinner, Claire doesn't quite trust them to do it right so she cooks a backup turkey.
Between that chaos and Jay and Gloria's canceled trip, the holiday turns into a chaotic mess with too many turkeys.
The Office - "WUPHF.com"
Jim is starting to lose motivation and passion for working at Dunder Mifflin while the rest of the office is trying to convince Michael to go along with their idea of selling WUPHF.com, a start-up idea by Ryan that Washington University is trying to purchase for its domain name.
In a subplot, Dwight takes it upon himself to create a hay festival in the parking lot. It's horrible and hilarious, but hey—that's The Office.
New Girl - "The Parents"
When Jess' divorced parents come to visit her in episode eight of the second season, she tries to "Parent Trap" them into rekindling their romance.
Not only can you get nostalgic about the film The Parent Trap with your friends, but the secondary plotline about Schmidt's visiting his brother will have you in fits.
Friends - "The One With The Football"
After watching a football game on Thanksgiving Day, they decide they should play a game of their own. Ross and Monica rehash an old sibling rivalry that led to them being banned from playing football with the family after Monica broke Ross' nose years ago.
The game is hilariously out of hand with everyone getting overly competitive, which sounds like just about every friend group ever to me.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine - "Thanksgiving"
In the ninth episode of the first season, the whole squad plays "Boyle Bingo" where they mark off a bunch of his characteristic traits on the holiday before heading to Amy's apartment for a horrible tasting meal.
There's nothing like watching a friend group playfully tease each other on-screen the way you and your friends do it in real life, and who hasn't been to a Thanksgiving dinner where the food was just so bad.
How I Met Your Mother - "Slapsgiving 2: Revenge Of The Slap"
Slapsgiving returns with a bang in episode nine of season five. Lily's estranged and quirky father randomly shows up for Thanksgiving dinner, while Marshall has graciously given one of his pre-determined slaps to either Ted and Robin, both of which who have good reason to slap him and have to decide who deserves it more.
Just as hilarious as the first slapsgiving in the saga, it will have you in fits.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Cuddle up and get nostalgic with this classic feel-good television special. Charlie Brown is supposed to have dinner at his grandmother's house when Peppermint Patty invites herself and others over. Now he has to deal with having two Thanksgivings as well as not knowing how to cook anything.
This sweet film will have you reminiscing about childhood and feeling really thankful for your friends.
