This week we’re replaying some of our past episodes about the holiday and its traditions, including the food.

Rick Astley Rickrolls the Thanksgiving Day parade

When The Macy’s Parade Rickrolled Thanksgiving

It really happened! On Thanksgiving 2008, a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade came to a halt, there was a record scratch, and none other than Rick Astley came out to perform “Never Gonna Give You Up.”


A Jell-o salad with orange slices floating on top. (Photo by Marcia O'Connor via Flickr/Creative Commons https://flic.kr/p/mz9thB)

We’re Grateful For Off The Wall Thanksgiving Sides

Happy Thanksgiving – and are you really gonna eat that?


A TV dinner (meatloaf in gravy, corn, and mashed potatoes) in a black plastic tray, with a remote control to the left and silverware to the right. (Photo by John Atomic via Flickr/Creative Commons https://flic.kr/p/jKJNF)

How Thanksgiving Leftovers Led To TV Dinners

In 1953 Swanson had several hundred tons of leftover Thanksgiving turkey, so they created the TV Dinner and changed how we eat.


Screenshot of a news story about Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench

Wanda And Jamal, The Best Accidental Thanksgiving Friends Ever

The story of Wanda Dench and Jamal Hinton, who accidentally ended up together on Thanksgiving and became good friends.


Screenshot from the opening sequence of WKRP In Cincinnati

When “WKRP” Thought Turkeys Could Fly For Thanksgiving

There aren’t a lot of top-drawer Thanksgiving specials, but the “WKRP In Cincinnati” episode “Turkeys Away” qualifies. Here’s some of the real life story that inspired the absolutely bonkers plot of the show. 


Photo by Karen Lee via Flickr/Creative Commons