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30 greatest Thanksgiving episodes of all time

By Reed Gaudens

385848 12: Actors (l-r): Courteney Cox Arquette as Monica Geller and Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay star in NBC's comedy series "Friends" Episode: "The One Where Chandler Doesn''t Like Dogs." (Photo by Warner Bros. Television)
385848 12: Actors (l-r): Courteney Cox Arquette as Monica Geller and Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay star in NBC's comedy series "Friends" Episode: "The One Where Chandler Doesn''t Like Dogs." (Photo by Warner Bros. Television) /
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NEW GIRL: Jess (Zooey Deschanel, L) and Paul (guest star Justin Long, R) share an intimate moment when they spend Thanksgiving together in the “Thanksgiving” episode of NEW GIRL airing Tuesday, Nov. 15 (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2011 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Patrick McElhenney/FOX
NEW GIRL: Jess (Zooey Deschanel, L) and Paul (guest star Justin Long, R) share an intimate moment when they spend Thanksgiving together in the “Thanksgiving” episode of NEW GIRL airing Tuesday, Nov. 15 (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2011 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Patrick McElhenney/FOX /

3. New Girl

Episode: Season 1, Episode 6, “Thanksgiving”

What’s on the menu: Have you ever tried to defrost a turkey in the dryer? Well, don’t. Learn from Jess Day’s mistakes and thaw your turkey on schedule. In New Girl’s first and best Thanksgiving episode, Jess decides to invited Paul (guest star Justin Long), her work crush, over for Thanksgiving dinner even though the guys had decided not to make a big deal of the holiday. Thanks to Jess, the holiday definitely becomes a big deal and scars poor Paul for life.

Like Friends, New Girl also made Thanksgiving an annual staple (except for Season 5 and 7). Season 2 involved Jess fabricating a Parent Trap-esque scheme on her folk, Season 3 went into the woods, and Season 4 created something called Bangsgiving (Schmidt’s brainchild, obviously). But Season 1’s festivities complete with death and stop at a Black Friday sale for a new dryer, remains the must-watch crown jewel.

Why we’re thankful for it: New Girl’s first season was all about Jess learning to coexist with Nick, Schmidt, and Winston and vice versa. Nothing helps to bond a friend group with a new member like a holiday, especially a holiday hosted by Jess Day. From the turkey in the dryer to the dead neighbor, New Girl’s first shot at a Thanksgiving episode knocked it right out of the park. Not too controversial, but this episode plays in the same league as Friends. It’s that good.

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