What’s a non-football-loving TV watcher who wants to spend part of the Thanksgiving holiday vegging out in front of the tube to do?
Try these classic offerings:
• The 88th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: For good, old-fashioned holiday television, few events can rival this year’s Macy’s parade, whose anchors Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie all hail from NBC’s “Today” show.
The organizers have added new features, including the “Confetti Carpet,” an interactive backstage look at the parade’s celebrities that will be available on Macy’s YouTube page and by following @macys on social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter.
The annual march down New York City’s Herald Square may seem old hat, but even longtime fans will see new entertainers who appeal to all ages. This year’s featured celebs include Broadway veteran Idina Menzel (who gave voice to Princess Elsa in Disney’s sisterly fairytale “Frozen”), former Police front man and solo artist Sting and Nick Jonas, formerly of the Jonas Brothers and now a solo performer.
“Our talent lineup truly reflects our audience,” said executive producer Amy Kule. “Where else but the Macy’s Parade can you see rock ’n’ roll legends Kiss performing alongside newcomers like Meghan Trainor, Lucy Hale, and The Vamps? The breadth of talent really shows just how diverse an audience the Macy’s Parade captures.”
Amid themed floats and giant balloons, more than 8,000 entertainers march by including clowns, cheerleaders, high school and college bands, even Santa makes an appearance. No D.C.-area bands are marching this year, but cheer on the musicians from the University of Virginia Cavalier Marching Band, in Charlottesville.
More than 3.5 million people watch the annual parade on TV, as thousands of line the parade route for up-close-and-personal views. (If you plan to attend, organizers recommend you line up by about 7 a.m. to get a prime spot.)
“The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has become a tradition that spans generations because it truly is not just a march down an avenue, it’s a march through our collective history and the very best of entertainment,” Ms. Kule said. “It’s also an event that brings families together in celebration. Gathered along the parade route or in front of television screens across the nation, families get to share in the magic of the parade together as they watch.”
Tune in to NBC from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday.
• “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”: Scoff now if you must, but just wait until you see your friends on social media buzzing about the 40th anniversary airing of the show, just like they did when the Halloween special aired.
Everybody loves the flying toast and the popping corn and the funny voices. We think adults especially love the thought that someone throws worse parties than they do. Fortunately, there are some real-life Peppermint Patties who come to our rescue, as the animated one does for good ol’ Charlie Brown.
Tune in to ABC at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
• “The Big Bang Theory: ’The Thanksgiving Decoupling’”: This may not be a “classic” in the strictest definition of the word, but relax. This always highly rated sitcom, now in its eighth season, makes it one in the making.
In this episode from 2013, the gang of geniuses and their girlfriends gather for a Thanksgiving dinner at the home of Howard Wolowitz’s mom, where a surprising bond is broken and an even more surprising bond is made.
It’s big fun, but also sweetly nostalgic. Carol Ann Susi, who played the never-seen mother, Mrs. Debbie Wolowitz, died Nov. 11 at age 62.
Tune in to CBS at 8 p.m. Thursday.
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