Thanksgiving TV specials

Tasty TV treats, from Beyoncé to bulldogs

By Rebecca Ford

Posted November 24, 2009

Metromix

Thanksgiving traditions can range from the sweet (saying what you’re thankful for) to the strange (pulling apart a piece of bone to see whose wish will come true), but often there’s a tradition that includes TV in one form or another. If it’s not watching The Game, then maybe it’s watching the parade.

But you may not know that there are plenty of TV specials all day long on Thanksgiving, so we’ve scooped up this tasty list of all the prime cuts. Enjoy.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
When: 9 a.m ET/PT on NBC
New York's 83rd annual event featuring floats and marching bands will include a whole bunch of celebrity appearances. Andrea Bocelli, Boys Like Girls, Alan Cumming, Jimmy Fallon and the Roots, Gloria Gaynor and Carly Simon are scheduled to appear. Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira and Al Roker host the event.

The National Dog Show
When: 12 p.m. ET/PT on NBC
More than 3,000 canines vie to be Best in Show at the Kennel Club of Philadelphia annual event. John O'Hurley returns as host of the purebred canine competition.

Beyoncé...I am Yours
When: 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
The special will include a performance by Ms. Sasha Fierce from Las Vegas. Also, unseen footage of the singer's life off stage and moments from her childhood will be shown.

NBC’s People of the Year
When: 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC
Some of the year's newsmakers discuss how fame has changed their lives. Taylor Swift, Nadya Suleman, Susan Boyle, Kobe Bryant, Capt. Chesley Sullenberger and Capt. Richard Phillips are interviewed.

Sting: A Winter’s Night
When: 9 p.m. ET/PT on PBS
Sting welcomes the holidays with a musical celebration of wintertime, featuring a collection of songs, carols and lullabies.

Paul McCartney: Good Evening New York City
When: 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
The singer performs some of his favorite songs, including Beatles classics, at Shea Stadium in Queens. The special also includes footage of the original Beatles concert at Shea and an interview with Paul.

Home for the Holidays: The History of Thanksgiving
When: 1 p.m. ET/PT on the History Channel
Most people know that the real history of Thanksgiving isn’t as savory as those turkeys and yams we cook up every year. If you’re looking to be educated this year, check out this TV special. It covers everything from the Pilgrims, to Lincoln's declaration, and even turkey and celebrations.