After two decades as the current king of the series Thanking, Friends had his autumnal crown stolen by Brooklyn Nine-Ninewhose Thanksgiving episodes are full of the specifics of the holiday. Over its long term, Friends had several iconic Thanksgiving episodes. These holiday episodes have Friends‘ trademark blend of humor and heart. Rewatching Friends‘Thanksgiving episodes have become an annual tradition for some fans. However, although these episodes are set during Thanksgiving, the holiday is not intrinsic to the plot – something that Brooklyn Nine-Nine addresses.
Friends was a sitcom that followed the lives of six New Yorkers. Its Thanksgiving episodes are famous, but they often have a generic quality, as the drama could easily be moved to a different holiday without much detail. On the other hand, Andy Samberg’s juvenile detective Jake Peralta led the cast Brooklyn Nine-Ninea police procedural with highly specialized Thanksgiving episodes. Ending after eight seasons, Brooklyn Nine-Nine produced five incredible Thanksgiving episodes where the holiday feels integral to the plot. Brooklyn Nine-Nine was particularly adept at using Thanksgiving to introduce and intertwine relatives, making him the true king of Christmas comedy.
The Friends’ Thanksgiving Episodes Are Iconic, But They Don’t Tackle Holiday Traditions
Friends make a show about specifics with Thanksgiving episodes
Each season of Friends presents its episode dedicated to Thanksgiving. The image of Monica wearing a turkey all over her head in Season 5 Episode 8, “The One with All the Thanksgivings” is one of the most enduring images of the entire series. However, these holiday episodes primarily use Thanksgiving as the setting for large gatherings or special guestswith little in history intrinsically tied to Thanksgiving traditions.
Brad Pitt guest stars in season 8 as a former high school friend who reveals that Ross Geller helped spread a nasty rumor about Rachel Green in their high school days. Christina Applegate stars as Rachel’s sister, who stirs up custody drama over baby Emma. These guest star roles, which took place in later seasons of Friends‘run, create fun episodes but don’t tie yourself specifically to Thanksgiving.
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Friends Thanksgiving Episodes |
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Episode number |
Episode title |
Logline |
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Season 1, Episode 9 |
The one where the oppressed flee |
Everyone gets locked out of Monica’s apartment when they rush to the roof to see Underdog’s balloon release from the Thanksgiving parade. |
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Season 2, Episode 8 |
The one with the list |
The One with the List – Ross, torn between his feelings for Rachel and his new girlfriend, makes a pro-conviction list of each woman. |
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Season 3, Episode 9 |
The one with the football |
Ross and Monica’s competitive side is ignited when they relive the Geller Cup. |
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Season 4, Episode 8 |
The one with Chandler in a box |
During Thanksgiving dinner, Joey punishes Chandler for attacking Joey’s ex. |
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Season 5, Episode 8 |
The one with the Thanksgiving flashbacks |
Everyone in the gang tells the story of their worst Thanksgiving. |
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Season 6, Episode 9 |
The one where Ross got high |
Chandler discovers that Monica’s parents do not approve of him, as Ross lied about Chandler smoking marijuana that was actually Ross’s in college. |
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Season 7, Episode 8 |
The one where Chandler doesn’t like dogs |
Phoebe introduces a dog into the apartment, much to Chandler’s dismay. Ross is obsessed with naming all 50 states. |
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Season 8, Episode 9 |
The one with the rumor |
An old high school friend (Brad Pitt) is invited to Thanksgiving dinner, where he reveals that he and Ross started a nasty rumor about Rachel back in high school. |
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Season 9, Episode 8 |
The one with Rachel’s other sister |
Rachel’s sister (Christina Applegate) unexpectedly shows up at Thanksgiving dinner, raising sensitive questions about custody of baby Emma. |
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Season 10, Episode 8 |
The One with the Late Thanksgiving |
Monica and Chandler are persuaded to organize Thanksgiving, but when everyone arrives late, they are locked out of the house. |
Why Friends Centered around six friends who see each other daily, having large group gatherings doesn’t feel special like a holiday episode should. Even the iconic moment of Monica cheering Chandler up by wearing a turkey on her head is an apology for an unrelated event: Years earlier, while trying to seduce him at Thanksgiving, Monica accidentally cut off her toe. Friends uses Thanksgiving as the setting for some incredible comedy-of-error flashbacks, but Brooklyn Nine-Nine It ultimately does a better job of integrating Thanksgiving into its plot.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine episodes embrace the quintessential nature of Thanksgiving
Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s procedural nature takes a break to celebrate Turkey Day
Brooklyn Nine-Nine embraces the unique nature of Thanksgivingoften focusing on family reunions and new introductions. In Season 4, Andy Samberg’s juvenile detective Jake Peralta is so nervous about meeting his girlfriend’s father that he rents a new car after cleaning out his old one.”I didn’t catch it.” Joe Lo Truglio’s lovable food weirdo Charles Boyle arrives with a live turkey to prepare for the feast, creating a moral divide between those who want to eat it and those who want to spare it. Even the C plot ties into the spirit of Thanksgiving, as two characters make a bet at the annual Thanksgiving Dog Show.
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Brooklyn Nine-Nine Thanksgiving Episodes |
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Episode number |
Episode title |
Logline |
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Season 1, Episode 10 |
Thanksgiving |
Amy hosts the team for Thanksgiving dinner in hopes of asking Captain Holt to be her mentor, but Holt and Jake are called away to solve a case. |
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Season 2, Episode 7 |
Lockdown |
Jake is given command of the precinct on Thanksgiving when the discovery of a mysterious powder puts the squad on lockdown. Holt and Terry work at Terry’s house, while his brother-in-law who is in town for the holiday belittles Terry. |
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Season 3, Episode 8 |
Avenue |
When Terry is away solving a case, Jake must guide Terry’s wife through giving birth at the police station on Thanksgiving. |
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Season 4, Episode 7 |
Mr.Santiago |
Jake is nervous about meeting Amy’s father at Thanksgiving, and at first they clash, but they end up solving a 20-year-old case together. Boyle brings a live turkey to Amy’s festive meal, dividing the team into those who want to celebrate and those who want to forgive the bird. Holt lends Pimento money, but he ruins it by betting on the Thanksgiving Dog Show. |
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Season 5, Episode 7 |
Two turkeys |
Newly engaged Jake and Amy introduce their parents, but things quickly get competitive when Amy’s mom brings her own turkey. Holt’s favorite Thanksgiving pie is stolen and he interrogates the entire squad to find the culprit. |
The following Thanksgiving, Jake is now happily engaged. Jake and his fiancĂ©e take advantage of the holiday to introduce their parents, a milestone for any couple to unite their families. Jake’s future mother-in-law arrives with a spare turkey.”just in case”, immediately agitating Jake’s mother, who only asked for stuffing. The tension builds until both parents are competitively carving both turkeys, culminating in Jake’s father accidentally cutting his finger. Faced with a true emergency, the two families finally come together. Through these stories, Brooklyn Nine-Nine totally makes Thanksgiving intrinsic to your holiday episodes in a way that Friends never fully captures.