Ranking the ‘Family Guy’ Thanksgiving episodes

The animated comedy Family Guy is a main staple of the Fox Network’s Sunday night lineup. For 22 seasons, fans have been tuning in to watch the outrageous antics of the Griffin family and their Quahog neighbors.

The family’s patriarch Peter Griffin usually causes a ruckus with his wacky ideas. While Peter’s antics are a headache for his wife Lois, it’s hilarious to viewers.

When it comes to the holidays, it’s never a dull moment in the Griffin household. Today’s article will rank all the Family Guy Thanksgiving episodes.

5. “Into Harmony’s Way”

This isn’t a full-fledged Thanksgiving episode, but “Into Harmony’s Way” deserves an honorable mention for its brief holiday scenes.

The episode mainly revolves around Peter and Quagmire who discover they have a knack for singing and songwriting. With Mort’s help, they become the hottest new act in Quahog.

After a performance at a local festival, Peter and Quagmire attract the attention of a record label executive. The two decide to dump Mort as their manager and sign with the label.

When the record company wants them to go on tour, Peter expresses worry about not being home to carve the Thanksgiving turkey. The cutaway shows a funny scene of Lois running a vacuum over the turkey while shrieking “I don’t understand.”

The remainder of the episode features rock n’ roll cliches as Peter and Quagmire continue their tour. The pals have a huge fight and break up their musical act.

Peter returns home in time for Thanksgiving and surprises his family by serenading them outside the house. Lois and the kids are having dinner with her new beau Larry when Peter unexpectedly arrives. Lois orders Larry out and he makes a hasty exit.

Peter reunites with his wife and kids and then makes amends with Quagmire. Although it’s not an entire Thanksgiving episode, it still deserves a spot on the list.

4. “Shanksgiving”

Although Thanksgiving is a time for being with family, Peter wants to be away from his. To avoid spending the holiday with their wives’ families, Peter and his friends hatch a plan to get arrested and thrown in jail.

However, their scheme hits a snag when they’re sent to prison due to overcrowding at the jail. Since the courts aren’t open until Monday, the guys are stuck in prison for the weekend.

Soon Peter wishes he was at home when prison life becomes unbearable. Joe, Quagmire, and Cleveland dump him when they join gangs.

Peter, wanting to fit in, seeks initiation into one of the cool gangs. But Peter’s initiation takes a chaotic turn and sparks a prison riot. As the fighting ensues, Peter makes a moving speech asking the inmates to make peace.

Peter’s brief time in prison makes him realize how much he wants to be with his family. He gets his wish to spend Thanksgiving with them when a prisoner disguised as the warden releases him.

This is another prime episode of Peter being taught the valuable lesson of family. It also features some hilarious moments, including Stewie being secret pen pals with a prison inmate.

3. “Thanksgiving” is Family Guy’s first Thanksgiving episode

It wasn’t until Season 10 that Family Guy had its first Thanksgiving episode. In true fashion, the story was a perfect combination of humor and inspiration.

The Griffins along with their family and friends are settling in for Thanksgiving dinner when a surprise guest arrives. Joe and Bonnie’s son Kevin, who was presumed dead in Iraq, shows up alive.

The couple has a joyful reunion with their son, but Joe becomes suspicious upon noticing holes in Kevin’s story. Later Kevin finally confesses he faked his death and went AWOL. Kevin explains he didn’t agree with the Iraq War and his dissertation sparks a debate among the guests.

Despite Bonnie’s protest, Joe arrests Kevin because it’s his duty as a cop. But Kevin reminds his dad that he broke the rules.

A flashback scene shows Kevin tagging along with Joe on patrol when a man robs a store. Joe chases the man and discovers he stole a can of soup to feed his starving family. Joe decides to let the man off the hook and tells the kids that their dad is a good man.

After being reminded of his good deed, Joe decides not to arrest Kevin. The group enjoys the rest of their meal in peace until another Kevin lookalike shows up claiming he’s the real Kevin. But that mystery is never solved because Peter announces there’s not enough time for the skit.

2. “Turkey Guys”

Peter and Brian’s adventures, well misadventures are one of the best running gags throughout the series. The two pals find themselves in a predicament after they accidentally eat the Thanksgiving turkey.

Their quest to get a turkey isn’t easy. Although they manage to snag the last frozen turkey, their trip home is filled with chaos.

After wrecking Brian’s hybrid car in a lake, Peter and Brian are forced to travel by bus, bike, and hitchhiking. Along the way, their turkey gets stolen by a man who holds them at gunpoint. Tensions arise when Brian learns that Peter ate the turkey all by himself and framed Brian.

The two don’t stay mad at each other long and come up with a solution to their turkey dilemma. More hilarity ensues when they break into a zoo to steal a live turkey.

Meanwhile, back at home, Lois tries to keep the guests entertained until Peter returns. Stewie’s attempts to turn Chris into the man of the house fail.

1. “Peter’s Sister”

Family Guy introduced another member of the Griffin family in this Season 14 Thanksgiving episode. Peter’s sister Karen (voiced by Saturday Night Live alum Kate McKinnon) arrives to spend the holiday with the family. Karen is a famous wrestler who goes by Heavy Flo and impresses Peter’s friends.

However, it soon becomes apparent she and Peter don’t have a close relationship. Karen is abusive to Peter and humiliates him in front of his family and friends. Instead of laughing at Peter’s expense, Meg is sympathetic to her dad because she’s been bullied herself (mostly from Peter’s years of torment).

Meg tells her dad that he needs to stand up to Karen and Peter gets the bright idea to challenge Karen to a wrestling match. Disguised as a female wrestler named Maxi Paddy, Peter put his plan in motion. However, things take a turn for the worse when Karen discovers Peter’s identity and beats him up.

But Meg comes to her father’s rescue in the guise of a masked luchador. The episode shows a rare tender moment between Peter and Meg. Peter finally apologizes for his mistreatment of Meg, and she learns why her father was so harsh on her.