And ...

If you missed last week's post, head on over and let me know what else I missed.

Okay, now onto the turkey in the room: "WKRP in Cincinnati." Of course, its theme song was iconic, but I was holding the show in reserve for this week's topic: great TV Thanksgiving scenes/episodes from our youth (and beyond). You know what's going to be #1 on the list; nothing else can even come close. It's the main course, so let's do the side dishes first. We'll go through them from oldest to newest.

I actually started my search looking for a Thanksgiving episode of "Little House on the Prairie," only to find out there never was one! How can this be? I was saved, however, by "The Waltons" having one; while researching it, I learned that the show itself was based on a 1971 telemovie, "The Homecoming: A Christmas Story." 

"The Waltons — The Thanksgiving Story" (November 15th, 1973)

Recap: John-Boy suffers a head injury that prevents him from taking his college scholarship exam. I don't remember much about this episode, but I do have images in my brain of actor Richard Thomas with his head wrapped in bandages. 

Watch: Apple TV

"Happy Days — The First Thanksgiving" (November 21, 1978)

Recap: Mrs. C. has spent all day preparing a feast for her family, but all they want to do is watch football on TV. Cue dream sequence where she tells of the first Thanksgiving, including Fonzie dressed up as a pilgrim, replete with leather jacket. 

Watch: DailyMotion

"Hello, Larry/Diff'rent Strokes — Thanksgiving Crossover" (November 28, 1979)

Not that this two-parter was particularly memorable, but is there anything more Gen X than a "Hello, Larry/Diff'rent Strokes" crossover? 

Recap: Mr. Drummond and Larry were apparently friends, and Larry heads to New York City on business. Tensions arise, but differences are put aside, and they all sit down together for an Upper East Side Thanksgiving dinner. 

Watch: Plex

"Cheers — Thanksgiving Orphans" (November 27, 1986)

Recap: Diane has plans to go to her professor's house for Thanksgiving, so Carla invites everyone else to her house. You know what happens:

Fun fact: This actually aired on Thanksgiving night of 1986, which is kind of surprising since it seems like football was the only thing to watch on Thanksgiving Day since time immemorial. 

Watch: Apple TV

"Friends — The One With All the Thanksgivings" (November 19, 1998)

Recap: After Monica prepares the Thanksgiving meal, the friends recount their worst Thanksgivings ever, which includes Phoebe's past life as a World War One nurse. We also get to see Monica, Rachel, Ross, and Chandler as they were back in the 1980s, rocking big-haired and Flock of Seagulls looks to which we all could relate.

Note: You'd never be able to make this episode today as it depicts Monica during her "fat days." 

Watch: YouTube

"WKRP in Cincinnati —Turkeys Away" (October 30, 1978)

This doesn't need a recap, but here's how IMDB describes the episode: 

Feeling left out by all the recent changes, Mr. Carlson decides to launch his own Thanksgiving promotion. With the aid of Herb and Les, the Big Guy turns a routine turkey give-away into a comic catastrophe.

Watch: Apple TV

Honorable Mention: "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" (1973)

Recap: While Charlie Brown heads to his grandmother's house for Thanksgiving, Peppermint Patty invites the rest of the gang to Chuck's house for a meal prepared by Snoopy. 

Try though I might, I can't get my Gen-Z kids to understand how the annual showings of any Charlie Brown special or movies like "The Wizard of Oz" were huge deals. We even got to have popcorn when they were on!

Watch: Apple TV

Okay, now tell me which ones I've left out. There's the other "Friends" episode with the football game, the "Slapsgiving" episode of "How I Met Your Mother," and, I'm guessing, a "Barney Miller" one?

Have at it.