If you're one of the lucky ones and you don't partake in the cooking onThanksgiving Day, chances are you're going to need something to entertain you on TV.
There's alwaysfootballand theMacy's Thanksgiving Day Paradefor the turkey-day-traditionalists. But there are plenty of options on streaming services, too, with a whole crop of sitcoms offering Thanksgiving episodes.
Here are 11 Thanksgiving sitcom specials perfect for watching before or after you cut the turkey.
11 Thanksgiving sitcom episodes to watch and stream
'Seinfeld' season 6, episode 8: 'The Mom and Pop Store'
"Seinfeld"is known for its irreverent humor involving its erratic main characters, George Costanza, Elaine Benes, Cosmo Kramer and Jerry Seinfeld."The Mom and Pop Store,"an unofficial Thanksgiving episode, is no exception to the crew's trademark antics.
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Elaine won her boss, an old, rich, grumpy man named Mr. Pitt, a chance to walk in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Shenanigans ensued when Kramer went to the parade, spotted Jon Voight and tried talking to him.
"Seinfeld" is available to stream on Netflix.
'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' season 1, episode 12: 'Talking Turkey'
During the first season of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," viewers met Will's mother for the first time on Thanksgiving, when she visited her son at her sister's house in California.
Will's mother, Vy, and aunt, Vivian, ended up fighting over his mother's comments about them being too easy on Will with housework, turning it all over to butler Geoffrey. The pair were helping each other cook Thanksgiving dinner when the fight started, but they worked it out by the end of dinner.
"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" can be streamed on Hulu and Max.
'How I Met Your Mother' season 3, episode 9: 'Slapsgiving'
"How I Met Your Mother"characters Marshall Eriksen and Barney Stinson made a so-called"slap bet"prior to this Thanksgiving episode. Marshall won a bet and was allowed to slap Barney three times for his victory. This episode surrounds Marshall taunting Barney all day throughout Thanksgiving, as he warned him he would use his final slap at the end of the night.
"How I Met Your Mother" can be streamed on Netflix and Hulu.
'New Girl' season 2, episode 8: 'Parents'
Big-name actors Jamie Lee Curtis and Rob Reiner played Jess' parents in"New Girl."In this episode, they visited Jess and her roommates on Thanksgiving. The pair were divorced and not on good terms, so fighting ensued. (There's a happy ending, however.)
Stream "New Girl" on Hulu and Peacock.
'Friends' season 3, episode 9: 'The One With the Football'
An iconic"Friends"episode pitted sister against brother on what's supposed to be a friendly day of Thanksgiving touch football. Monica Gellar and her brother, Ross, decided to play football and postpone dinner. It all got a little too competitive.
Another great "Friends" episode is season 5, episode 8, "The One with All the Thanksgivings," which has the scene in the image above.
"Friends" can be streamed on Max, Peacock and Hulu.
'Parks and Recreation' season 3, episode 7: 'Harvest Festival'
Everyone's favorite quirky political sitcom set in Pawnee, Indiana, doesn't technically have a Thanksgiving episode. But the "Harvest Festival" episode in season 3 is the next best thing. In it, the loveable, spirited public servant Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler) attempted to make the town's "Harvest Festival" the best one yet.
But a curse from a Wamapoke tribal leader complicated Leslie's plans.
Stream "Parks and Recreation" on Peacock.
'Modern Family' season 6, episode 8: 'Three Turkeys'
Father and son duo Phil and Luke decided to take over turkey duties in this episode of "Modern Family." Fortunately, the family matriarch, Claire, had a backup plan if the cooking went awry. (And of course, it did.)
Stream"Modern Family"on Hulu and Peacock.
'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' season 2, episode 13: 'Kimmy Finds Her Mom!'
This quirky sitcom follows Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper) as she adjusts to life following being rescued from a cult after 15 years. In this Thanksgiving episode, "Kimmy Finds Her Mom!," Kimmy's boss, socialite Jacqueline Voorhees, invited her love interest Russ Snyder to Thanksgiving dinner.
Meanwhile, Kimmy reunited with her mom at Universal Studios.
Stream "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" on Netflix.
'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' season 2, episode 7: 'Lockdown'
Led by Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz and Terry Crews, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" follows a chaotic crew of seven New York City Police Department detectives adjusting to work under their new, no-nonsense commanding officer Captain Raymond Holt.
In this Thanksgiving episode called "Lockdown," the precinct went into lockdown on the November holiday when a suspicious powder-filled package was delivered to the building.
Stream "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" on Netflix and Peacock.
'Full House' season 1, episode 9: 'The Miracle of Thanksgiving'
Those in the mood for a throwback Thanksgiving episode can look no further than this season 1 episode of "Full House" that first aired in 1987 titled "The Miracle of Thanksgiving."
This beloved sitcom follows widowed father Danny Tanner as he raises his three daughters D.J., Stephanie and Michelle with the help of his brother-in-lawJesse Katsopolisand childhood best friendJoey Gladstone. In this wholesome Thanksgiving episode, Danny tried hosting an extra special Thanksgiving for his daughters during his first holiday season without his late wife.
While the adults tried to make restaurant reservations, D.J. and Stephanie encouraged them to celebrate the holiday at home.
Stream "Full House" on Max and Hulu.
'WKRP in Cincinnati,' season 1, episode 7: 'Turkeys Away'
If you're a true Cincinnatian, you know a thing or two about a turkey drop.
The beloved "WKRP in Cincinnati" sitcom follows the trials and tribulations of a fictional radio station in Cincinnati. In the iconic seventh episode of the first season titled "Turkeys Away,"released on Oct. 30, 1978, the struggling station puts on a well-intended but poorly executed Thanksgiving promotion, dropping live turkeys from a helicopter outside a busy shopping center.
"WKRP in Cincinnati" is available to purchase onApple TV.
