TV Pulls Out All the Stops For a Thanksgiving Like No Other

The pandemic may have fewer people gathering in groups for Thanksgiving Dinner this year, but TV is working overtime to keep things festive, coming through with versions of all the traditional offerings and few other holiday surprises, to boot.

Here's what's new and noteworthy on TV this Thanksgiving:

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, so NBC has moved heaven and earth to bring it to us. A TV-only event this year, Macy's balloons will travel just half a city block to appear before the cameras. The show is also set to include new performances from the Broadway casts of Jagged Little Pill, Hamilton, Mean Girls, and Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations. 9:00 AM ET on NBC with a Repeat Broadcast at 2:00 PM ET

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Speaking of tradition, a total of 207 breeds and varieties compete for the coveted Best in Show title at the 19th annual National Dog Show, taped last week in Philadelphia under strict COVID protocols. John O'Hurley and David Frei host. Noon on NBC

NFL FOOTBALL: COVID concerns have postponed tonight's primetime matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, but two games still remain on the docket this Thanksgiving Day: 

• The Detroit Lions kick off the day hosting the Houston Texans at 12:30 PM ET / 9:30 AM on CBS
• As has become tradition, The Dallas Cowboys take the late afternoon spot, playing Washington at 4:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM PT on FOX

SERIES PREMIERE: The new HBO Max original series The Flight Attendant hopes to jolt viewers out of their Tryptophan dazes. The thriller follows Cassie Bowden (Kaley Cuoco) as she wakes in a hotel room with a dead man in bed beside her. Read review. Streaming on HBO Max

HOLIDAY MARATHON: Few shows have had as many memorable Thanksgiving moments as Friends. Watch them all as TBS's Friends Marathon presents ten years' worth of Thanksgiving episodes this afternoon. Begins at Noon ET.

DOUBLE FEATURE: Kevin McCallister battles the Wet Bandits (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) not once, but twice, as he defends the family home in the original Home Alone, then crosses paths with the hapless criminals yet again in the Home Alone: Lost in New York. The holiday classics are playing back-to-back starting at 6:00 PM ET on Freeform

SPECIAL NIGHT: Digest your dinner as you take in a special holiday installment of The Masked Singer as Broccoli, Jellyfish and Mushroom compete for the final two spots in the Super Six. Watch promo. 8:00 PM ET on NBC

ORIGINAL MOVIE: Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) reteams with director Ben Falcone (who also happen to be her husband) for the comedy Superintelligence, in which an all-powerful AI follows average Seattleite Carol Peters (McCarthy) to determine whether or not humanity is worth saving. Watch trailer. Streaming on HBO Max

HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Disney's annual holiday kickoff special The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration returns to ABC with a collection of fan-favorite past performances from the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell, Meghan Trainor, One Republic and Jason Derulo.. 9:00 PM ET on ABC

SERIES FINALE: It was yanked from NBC's schedule a few weeks ago, but Connecting wraps its run online today as Ben (Preacher Lawson) and Rufus (Ely Henry) join forces to try to stop Annie (Otmara Marrero) from moving back in with her parents. Guest starring Constance Marie and Tony Plana. Streaming on Peacock and NBC.com

Jed Rosenzweig is the Founder and Publisher of Primetimer.