Thanksgiving is a difficult time sometimes when you can’t think of things to be thankful for. There’s the stereotypical answer of friends and family, but sometimes you want to give a little more thanks. With this in mind, these are my top five favorite TV shows that I want to give thanks for during this Thanksgiving.
1. Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
Law and Order: SVU is the longest-running TV drama as of this fall, hitting the long-awaited season 21. Facing the most sensational crimes in New York City, the Special Victims squad encounter crimes relevant to the media today. Every episode is so different from the last and keeps you guessing from beginning to end, from report to trial.
Why I’m Thankful: I’ve loved this show for probably 10 years now, and it’s one of the easiest shows in the world to flick on and watch. Most of the seasons have very little backstory going on behind the scenes, meaning you can pick any episode out of their 462 total and not need to be caught up on any of the drama. Another huge reason I’m thankful for it is their representation. They deserve all the awards for putting the faces of many groups who usually don’t get the representation they deserve in the limelight and helping to make the world more aware of their hardships and experiences.
Where to Find It: Hulu has all the episodes from beginning to end.
2. Big Mouth
Why I’m Thankful: John Mulaney and Nick Kroll are truly the most hilarious people I’ve ever come to know. On top of that, the amount of famous voices you’ll begin to recognize as the show goes on is like a big game of Guess Who. The jokes are relevant and so well-timed that I never feel like I’m bored waiting for the next punchline. Even though most of the experiences they convey about puberty are taken to the extreme, almost everyone has something they can remember from those troubling years to relate back to the awkward situations the characters find themselves in.
Where to Find It: It’s a Netflix original, baby.
3. Grey’s Anatomy
Why I’m Thankful: It has been there for me through everything. I’ve been watching Grey’s Anatomy since my junior year of high school and watching myself grow with the characters has been so special, from catching up on 12 seasons to now watching each week as the new one airs, I’m honored to say I’ve grown with the doctors who leave me mindblown every episode. On top of the drama, love triangles and the cliches are some amazing representations that I think every TV show should be measuring up to.
Where to Find It: All episodes up to the second newest season are on Netflix, but if you end up getting caught up and want the episodes from this season, they go on Hulu the day after being aired.
4. American Ninja Warrior
Why I’m Thankful: Two words: background noise. I love to turn this show on while I do homework. It takes so little attention to understand what’s going on and I’m constantly in awe of how talented every athlete on the show is. It makes me want to get out of bed and do sit-ups, and although I never do, the sentiment is nice. You never expect to be so interested in people falling over, jumping on things and showing off their strength, but I’ve never been more awestruck.
Where to Find It: Hulu. Multiple seasons of endless failures and triumphs.
5. Toddlers & Tiaras
Why I’m Thankful: The confidence that these talented tots exhibit is kind of inspiring, honestly. After every episode, I find myself wondering where that childhood innocence and aura of confidence went and how I can find it again. Plus, there’s nothing funnier than kids doing and saying silly things on camera.
Where to Find It: Multiple seasons are on Hulu.
Honorable Mention: John Mulaney Specials
Why I’m Thankful: Whenever I want to cry or I’m having a bad day, I turn one of Mr. Mulaney’s specials on and I’m instantly rejuvenated. My life would be 100x worse if I didn’t have his jokes to narrate my life and to joke along with the special as it plays on my laptop because I’ve seen each special at least five times. His sense of humor mirrors mine and I’m lucky to have found something that makes me laugh the way he does.
Where to Find Him: Either Spotify or Netflix.
Overall, this Thanksgiving I’m thankful for streaming services allowing me to watch almost anything I want, whenever I want. It’s a shallow thing to be thankful for, but the fact we have an endless amount of media right at our fingertips isn’t something to forget. So cuddle up on the couch, fire up your favorite movie and be thankful we live in the 21st century.
If you wanna stay in the Thanksgiving spirit and watch some Thanksgiving episodes of some classic TV shows, you can check out this fun guide written last year by one our HC writers Hannah Hippensteel!
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