Ah, the Friends Thanksgiving episodes: They’re still some of the most reliably entertaining half-hour episodes the show ever produced.
Of the 10, 5 were good. And 5 were really, really good. These are those five great ones (and warning, the best episode autoplays after the jump):
#5: “The One Where Ross Got High” (Season 6) [watch it]
Parental expectations and desserts that taste “like feet.” Talk about a match made in heaven.
#4: “The One with the List” (Season 2)[watch it]
The early days of Ross and Rachel’s will-they-won’t-they hurt so good. Just…don’t make a pros-and-cons list.
#3: “The One with Chandler in a Box” (Season 4) [watch it]
Thanksgiving episodes are all about people reaching breaking points, and this one had two of the best: Monica’s freakout (“married a lesbian, left a man at the altar, fell in love with a gay ice dancer, threw a girl’s wooden leg in a fire, live in a box!”) and Joey relenting and letting Chandler go after Kathy.
#2: “The One with All the Thanksgivings” (Season 5) [watch it]
We thought we knew Monica and Chandler’s origin story. But it turns out their love went back further than London — at least, it did on Monica’s part. A severed toe and the classic turkey-on-the-head image in one episode? Bliss.
#1: “The One with the Rumor” (Season 
High-profile guest stars don’t always make for good episodes, but Brad Pitt’s turn as the former president of the I Hate Rachel Green Club was a stroke of sheer genius. Also: maternity pants.
Is this giving you the meat sweats, PopWatchers? What’s your favorite Thanksgiving Friends?
Photo Credit: Everett Collection
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I like “The One Where Ross Got High” the best. “Ohh I wasn’t suppose to put beef in the trifle!!!”
Agreed. I quote this episode all the time. “Phoebe, I’m sorry, but I think Jacques Cousteau is dead”. Second best is the “One with the Rumor”
i agree. i think this episode list needs to be reversed… besides number 2? really? the severed toe is my least favorite ep ever.
This is really really close to my favorite episode of all time. When Monica and Ross’ mom lets everyone know how wrong they’ve been and then how wonderful Chandler is!! Love. It. “It tastes like feet!” Gets me every time and the gag reel for that one! Haha.
Me too. It’s the cascade of revelations at the end, Ross and Monica trying to top each other, then the rest of them chiming in, ending with Judy Pickles declaring Chandler a wonderful human being.
“The One Where Ross Got High” is my favorite Thanksgiving episode and just one of my favorite episodes in general. So many funny moments. “I wasn’t supposed to put beef in the trifle!”
“It. Did. Not. Taste. Good.” – Judy
Ross: “I don’t know… I was all.. high.” Oh, so funny.
agreed, this is one of my favorite episodes and a much watch in my household every thanksgiving
I’ll still hold strong with “The One with the Football.” Phoebe’s attempt to huddle, Chandler and Joey’s each vying for the Dutch girl (hearing Joey explain where the Netherlands is still cracks me up!), and Monica and Ross’ competition for the Gellar Cup!
That’s my favorite too!
Definitely the best one!
Totally with you on this one. It was the first one to come to mind when I thought of the Thanksgiving FRIENDS.
Yeah that was the best Thanksgiving episode EVER. I can’t believe it’s missing from this list.
“The Dutch girl picked me! Holland loves Chandler, thank you Amsterdam, good night!”
What about the one where they play the states game? “Utah? Ross, you can’t make up states!”
i think i remember that one!
Haha Joey gets 56 states!
And isn’t that the same one where Joey tried to explain to Rachel a “moo point” (instead of “moot”) when she was wondering whether or not she should ask out her assistant? I think his explanations went something like this: “It’s a moo point. It’s like a cow’s opinion, it just doesn’t matter. It’s moo.” And then Rachel says “is it just me or did that just make sense?” LOL!
LMFAO. I just hit the keyboard shelf because I was laughing.
If they ever did a reunion, it would have to be a Thanksgiving episode.
I’ve been saying that for years! I think they could really give us another fantastic Thanksgiving episode.
By far, the one where Ross got high is the best. “No, you weren’t supposed to put the beef in the trifle. It did not taste good.”
I agree with Rick and Vicky…the one where Ross got high is the best.
I think folks get caught up in the Brad Pitt thing.
I love the last thanksgiving where everyone is late and Joey has a cabbage patch doll. “The waiting, the wondering and then one day I got that call from ToysRus–She was in Stock!”
That’s the same one where Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey stick their heads through Monica and Chandler’s door, and then Joey’s head gets stuck, right? Loved that!
I agree wholeheartedly. I say, replace the Brad Pitt episode with the 10th season episode, and the list is perfect.
BP was just not funny.
That was the last Thanksgiving, season 10. Started off kind of meh, but by the time their heads are sticking through the doorway … I’m LOL just thinking about it.
My favorite episodes of Friends was always the Thanksgiving episodes! I think my favorite one is the “The one with the Rumor” Brad Pitt is really funny in it! “Your were the Long Island Transvestite Cheerleader?”
Mavis, just for the record, it was Chandler who said “you were the transvestive cheerleader from Long Island?”…
To correct you both… It WAS Chandler, but he said “You were the hermaphrodite cheerleader from Long Island??”
My favourite Friend’s Thanksgiving episode is the one from season 10. I just love the whole episode from start to finish.
“It tastes like feet…” The one when Ross got high. Classic!
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No doubt “The One with the Football” should’ve made that list.
Right? I love that one, a definite classic!
Oh yeah! Where is the one with the football game? It’s one of the best thanksgiving episodes! And the best overall is the one with the embryos and the romm game: L-E-G-E-N-D-A-R-Y.
I think FOX should plan a “FRIENDS-meter” once a month to see which show can’t outdo FRIENDS ratings even five years after the original run. That might be fun lol
The one with Rachel’s other sister is funnier than the one with Pitt.
Agree 100%.
is that the one where they start to fight and Mon’s all freaked out about getting the china back in the boxes? Love that scene!
The thanksgiving episode from season 10 is the best close with “Ross got high” episode