8 shows to watch and stream

Thanksgiving is here, and whether you’re celebrating with a large gathering, a smaller affair – or alone – there’s always ample opportunity to liven up Turkey Day with entertainment from the comfort of your own home.

There’s a slew of TV shows this year with cross-audience appeal, including recurring favorites like the annual parade, a couple of marathons, a sports documentary, cooking series, and even an entry into the ever-expanding Star Wars universe.

Here’s your basic guide to what to see on Thanksgiving.

“The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade”

The annual event is now in its 96th year, with Today Show hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker returning as hosts. It opens with a musical number by Lea Michele and the cast of Broadway’s Funny Girl and The Lion King, celebrating their 25th anniversary. Mariah Carey will end the show with her hit All I Want for Christmas Is You. Taking to Instagram, the singer wrote: “My childhood dream come true! I’ll be opening for the one and only Santa Claus at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!” There will also be several new floats, including one named “People Of the First Light” honoring the Wampanoag tribe.

where to see: 9 p.m. on NBC, also streaming on Peacock.

“Good Competitors”

This three-part docuseries chronicles the rivalry between the Mexico and America men’s national soccer teams, focusing on stars like Landon Donovan (USA) and Rafa Márquez (Mexico) and the countries’ fan bases. While it’s not a specific Thanksgiving theme, if you want to watch sports-related programs other than soccer – and the World Cup is in full swing – this could be for you.

Where to see: Prime video.

“Friends”

Join the gang for a marathon focused on all the hilarious Thanksgiving episodes including The One with the Rumor, The One with All the Thanksgivings, The One with the Football, and The One with Chandler in a Box”. .” Matthew Perry’s recently released memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, may add some context to what was happening behind the scenes on the long-running NBC sitcom.

where to see: 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on TBS.

“Andor”

The first two episodes of the Disney+ Star Wars series (a prequel to the Rogue One movie) are available on other Disney platforms for a limited time over the holiday season. The series follows rebel spy Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) through his formative years when he was just a thief.

Where to see: 9 p.m. on FX (and if you miss that, it will also air on Freeform and stream on Hulu at the same time on Friday, in addition to streaming on Disney+).

“Criminal Minds: Evolution”

The long-running procedure (2005-2020 on CBS) is back. In this new series, the FBI’s elite team of criminal profilers must confront an unknown (Zach Gilford, “Friday Night Lights”) who has used the pandemic to create a network of other serial killers. Original series stars Joe Mantegna, Kirsten Vangsness, AJ Cook, Paget Brewster and Aisha Tyler all return.

Where to see: Outstanding+

“Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge”

Need inspiration in the kitchen? Giada De Laurentiis hosts this cook-off reality show that pits chefs against each other to create the ultimate Thanksgiving dinner and side dishes. The winner takes home $25,000.

where to see: Discovery+.

“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”

Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the gang in this timeless animated classic first released in 1973. Even though it’s been moved from PBS to Apple TV+, you can still tune in even if you don’t subscribe to the streamer. Apple TV+ is giving non-subscribers the chance to watch it for free from November 23-27.

where to see: AppleTV+.

“Turkey Drops”

When Lucy (Olivia Holt, “Cruel Summer”), a small-town college girl, comes home for the Thanksgiving holiday, she suspects her high school friend is “knocking it out” or dumping her. To avoid this, she takes her life into her own hands.

where to see: 11am on Freeform.