Thanksgiving Weekend 2014: What to Watch

Thanksgiving weekend is all about family, turkey leftovers, Black Friday bargains and watching cool stuff on big and small screens. 

Wednesday night through Sunday offers the chance to kick back, grab some holiday fare and enjoy the following visual holiday treats:

"The Making of Peter Pan Live!" 

This hourlong special will go behind the scenes to give viewers an inside look at the incredible teamwork it takes to create the event “Peter Pan Live” (Thursday, Dec. 4, 8 p.m.). Watch Allison Williams learn to fly and Christopher Walken practice his sword fighting as he prepares to play the villainous Captain Hook. From casting to costume design, this is an all-access pass to whet viewers’ appetites for all things “Peter Pan Live!” Wednesday, Nov. 26 (NBC 8-9 p.m. ET)

"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving"

Good grief! Is the holidays already? Everyone's favorite underdog Charlie Brown, along with Snoopy and all the Peanuts gang return for the annual showing of this Thanksgiving classic. Wednesday, Nov. 26 (ABC 8-9 p.m. ET)

"SNL Thanksgiving"

An hilarious compilation of the best Thanksgiving-themed clips from 40 years of the iconic late-night series “Saturday Night Live.” Wednesday, Nov. 26 (NBC 9-11 p.m. ET)

"Jurassic World" Trailer

This sneak peek at next year's blockbuster return to the "Jurassic Park" franchise was set to bow Thanksgiving evening, but Universal Pictures unleashed the prehistoric beasts early.

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"Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade"

Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie of "Today" will host one of the biggest spectacles of the holiday season as more than 8,000 participants make their through the streets of New York City. Celebrities participating include Lucy Hale, Nick Jonas, Idina Menzel and Meghan Trainor. The parade will include high-stepping numbers from this season’s Tony Award-winning best musical "A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder," Sting’s "The Last Ship," "On the Town" and "Side Show," as well as a sneak peek at NBC’s "Peter Pan Live!" Thursday, Nov. 27 (NBC 9 a.m.-noon ET)

"The National Dog Show Presented by Purina"

Hosted by award-winning actor, author and Broadway star John O’Hurley ("Seinfeld," "Dancing with the Stars") and expert analyst David Frei, an AKC-licensed judge and host of USA Network’s "The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show," the 13th annual "National Dog Show" showcases the best of America's purebred canines. Thursday, Nov. 27 (NBC noon-2 p.m. ET)

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Trailer Premiere

An early 88-second tease of director J.J. Abrams' highly-anticipated next installment in the "Star Wars" franchise, "The Force Awakens," can be seen in 30 theaters across North America beginning Friday morning. The full list of participating theaters can be found at the "Star Wars" website. Friday, Nov. 28

SkyForce10
In the 1983 classic "A Christmas Story," all nine-year-old Ralphie wants under his tree is a Red Ryder BB gun. But his mother, teacher and a plump department store Santa all say the same thing: "You'll shoot your eye out!" Luckily, Dad is cooler than Mom.
Rankin/Bass/ABC
Santa Claus Is Comin to Town follows the orphaned Kris Kringle from his humble beginnings to his time as an outlaw and onward to fame and glory.
Twentieth Century Fox
"Miracle on 34th Street," the 1947 classic starring Edmund Gwenn and a very young Natalie Wood, has everyone thinking Santa Claus (legal name: Kris Kringle) is nuts until an ace lawyer proves he's the real deal.
necn
In 1994's "The Santa Clause," Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) gets stuck with the role of a lifetime when he accidentally turns into Kris Kringle.
WJAR
In "White Christmas," a successful song-and-dance team meets a sister act two weeks before Christmas As they team up to save a failing Vermont in, the four become romantically involved. Featuring the talents of Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen, it's the 1954 holiday classic that made the song "White Christmas" famous.
Warner Home Video
in 1966's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," the Grinch was a mean one until his heart was warmed (and expanded) by the goodness of Cindy Lou Who. You've got to be as charming as an eel and as prickly as a cactus to steal someone's presents.
Paramount
In the 1946 classic "It's a Wonderful Life," George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) thinks he's worth more dead than alive. But an angel shows him just how rotten Bedford Falls would be without him around. Zuzu's petals!
Castle Rock Entertainment/Warner Bros.
All aboard the Polar Express! The computer-animated film follows a doubting boy as he boards a magical train that's headed to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. With it's catchy tunes and classic storyline, it instantly became a must-see movie during the 2004 holiday season.
Twentieth Century Fox
In "Home Alone," Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) keeps the bad guys (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) at bay when his family accidentally goes on vacation without him.
Universal Studios Hollywood
In the stop-motion classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," misfits Hermey and Rudolph star as a Christmas elf who wants to be a dentist and an outcast reindeer with a shining nose. And it turns out Abominable Snowmen are really good decorators.
AP
The 1938 classic "A Christmas Carol" brings to life the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. On Christmas Eve, the old miser is visited by the spirit of his former business partner, Jacob Marley. After dismissing the apparitions warning to change his ways or face the consequences in the afterlife, he's taken by the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come.
Touchstone/Disney
In "The Nightmare Before Christmas," all hell breaks loose when the tall and spindly skeleton Jack Skellington, known as the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, kidnaps and tries to replace the much rounder Santa Claus.
New Line Home Entertainment
In 2003's "Elf," Buddy (Will Ferrell) is a really large man who's been raised as an elf at the North Pole. Identity crisis, anyone? Luckily, he discovers himself while working in a New York department store during the holidays. Merry Christmas!
Warner Home Video
In "A Charlie Brown Christmas," a down-in-the-dumps young boy, his mischievous dog and a bossy wannabe psychiatrist team up to figure out the true meaning of the holiday.
Featuring Cary Grant, David Niven, and Loretta Young."The Bishop's Wife" is a 1947 Christmas classic. As the romantic tale opens, a bishop prays for guidance about building a new cathedral. But when an angel arrives, his guidance isn't reserved for just fundraising.
Walt Disney Home Entertainment
Everyone's done their take on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," but none can match "The Muppet Christmas Carol." With their large personalities, the Muppets bring new energy to the classic tale.
Warner Home Video
In 1989's "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," the Griswold family's misadventures continue.
Studio Canal/Universal Pictures
Set during the frantic month before Christmas, "Love Actually" follows the lives of eight very different London couples. As the 2003 romantic comedy progresses, many tales are shown to be interlinked.
Legend Films
Perhaps the first great Christmas flick was the 1934 classic "Babes in Toyland," in which Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy star as a pair of toymakers who borrow some money to save Mother Peep's shoe from foreclosure.
Miramax Home Entertainment
"Bad Santa" is not one for the kids, but grownups will love Billy Bob Thornton as a foul-mouthed, hard-drinking con man disguised as a department store Santa.
Classic Media
In 1969's "Frosty the Snowman," Frosty has the kids grinning — until the warm weather starts to get the better of our hero and he has to hop a northbound train.
Macy's/CBS
In "Yes, Virginia" the year is 1897. Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon is preparing for Christmas until her classmate brings up the age-old question: "Is there a Santa Claus?" Seeking advice concerning his existence, she sends a letter to the editor of The New York Sun.
FBI
In the 1988 film "Scrooged," Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is every bit as much of a jerk as Ebeneezer, but like his predecessor, he has a change of heart after spending an evening with some ghosts.
"Arthur Christmas" was recently released on video. In this film, an aging Santa's oldest son prepares to take over the family business, but it's up to his younger son, the bumbling Arthur, to make sure that one little girl doesn't get overlooked.

COZI TV's "Tribute to David Soul & Paul Michael Glazer"

To celebrate "Starsky & Hutch" making their COZI debut, superfans gather to show their appreciation for stars David Soul and Paul Michael Glazer and the cop series that ran from 1975-1979. Friday, Nov. 28 (COZI TV 4 p.m. ET)

"Sunday Night Football"

Denver at Kansas City. These longtime divisional rivals met on Sept. 14 with the Broncos escaping with a 24-17 win on the strength of a goal-line stand in the final seconds.  Sunday, Nov. 27 (NBC noon-2 p.m. ET)

(NBC and COZI TV are part of the NBC Universal family of companies)

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