Thanksgiving 2021 TV Schedule: What the Networks Are Airing When
Thanksgiving 2021 is nearly upon us, and as you might expect, sport is dominating the network TV line-ups. Thanks to CBS, NBC and Fox, you could watch football this year from 9:30 in the morning until 11:35 at night if you so choose – and presumably many families across the United States will be doing just that.
The networks, however, are offering a slightly strange smorgasbord of counter programming. NBC has the wild-sounding The Magic Maker, a Thanksgiving special in which magician Adam Trent helps to make people's lives a little more magical—for example by helping a soldier reappear to his family after serving overseas.
The network also has the National Dog Show for canine connoisseurs everywhere. In contrast, CBS has some comedy reruns and Fox is showing Major League Soccer.
As for that other Thanksgiving tradition, the Thanksgiving Day Parade, both ABC and CBS will be broadcasting it live from 9 a.m., with NBC also re-running it later in the day.
Here's what you can watch on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox this Thanksgiving for those moments when you take a break from conversation with that family member.
Full Thanksgiving Network TV Lineup
All times Eastern Time (ET). Local programming excluded
CBS
- 6 a.m. - CBS Morning News
- 7 a.m. - CBS Mornings
- 9 a.m. - The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS
- 4 p.m. - The NFL Today
- 4:30 p.m. - NFL Football
- 8 p.m. - Young Sheldon
- 8:30 p.m. - United States of Al
- 9 p.m. - Ghosts
- 9:30 p.m. - B Positive
- 10 p.m. - Bull
- 11:35 p.m. - The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
- 12:35 a.m. - The Late Late Show with James Corden
ABC
- 6 a.m. - America This Morning
- 7 a.m. - Good Morning America
- 11 a.m. - The View
- 1 p.m. - GMA3: What You Need to Know
- 2 p.m. - General Hospital
- 6:30 p.m. - ABC World News Tonight
- 8 p.m. - The Magic Maker
- 9 p.m. - America's Funniest Home Videos
- 11:35 p.m. - Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- 12:35 a.m. - Nightline
NBC
- 7 a.m. - Today
- 9 a.m. - 95th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
- 12 p.m. - National Dog Show 2021
- 2 p.m. - 95th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
- 6:30 p.m. - NBC Nightly News With Lester Holt
- 8 p.m. - Football Night in America
- 8:20 p.m. - Sunday Night Football
- 11:35 p.m. - The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
- 12:35 a.m. - Late Night With Seth Meyers
Fox
- 9:30 a.m. - Fox NFL Sunday
- 12:30 p.m. - NFL Football
- 3:30 p.m. - NFL on Fox Postgame
- 4 p.m. - MLS Pregame
- 4:30 p.m. - MLS Soccer Playoff
- 8 p.m. - World Pet Games
