Ahhhh, Thanksgiving. Here in the United States, there’s nothing else quite like it. First you run around like a chicken with your head cut off (oh, wait… maybe that’s just me), then you eat yourself into a stupor and watch a lot of television. It’s the quintessential American holiday.

(I kid, of course. I’ve never actually eaten myself into a stupor. I prefer to eat until I’m just this side of a stupor, to leave room for a turkey sandwich later on. Heh.)

Here’s hoping you have a day of good food and wonderful family/friends planned, but of course you know I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t insist we spend a few minutes talking about the television offerings. Because TV is as much a part of Thanksgiving, for most families, as the meal.

You’ve got the football. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The football. The various program marathons. And did I mention the football? I think I may have.

I’ve particularly come to enjoy Thanksgiving television since growing up and putting on my own Thanksgivings; nothing causes my kids’ eyes to light up faster than my suggesting they go watch some more TV. And when I’m trying to baste a turkey, a child happily viewing is a child that’s not under my feet or about to get burned on the oven door.

Need a little viewing guidance for the holiday? I’ve got you covered.

• About.com has rounded up the Top 6 Family Thanksgiving Movies.
• This guy has listed just about every television marathon happening this long weekend, which is a little spooky but mostly really neat to look at. (And there’s a Bridezillas marathon on WE, which has nothing to do with Thanksgiving but delights me, nonetheless.)
• And Family Fun never fails to deliver something delightful, so I wasn’t even surprised to see this ingenious Thanksgiving Day Parade Bingo! Now that’s the way to keep the kids occupied while you finish cooking!

Whatever you end up doing, Happy Thanksgiving from our families here at Ty’s Toy Box to yours!