Of the many marathons today, “Mystery Science Theatre 3000: The Gauntlet” (Netflix, streaming) may be the most involved marathon of the day — with the classic characters, which now include Patton Oswalt, riffing on six bad movies in a row. Host Jonah Reston leads his robots in mocking films that range from 1979’s “Killer Fish” to 2013’s “Pacific Rim” and including “Lords of the Deep,” from 1989, “The Day Time Ended” from 1980, “Ator, the Fighting Eagle” from 1982. It all starts with one of the worst movies of all, 1988’s “Mac and Me.”
Lifetime is going all out in its Christmas movie effort, not just getting the occasional former star in its features, but whole casts. The one from “One Tree Hill” will be featured in two Christmas movies and a reunion special. Two of the three are on tonight with “The Christmas Contract” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.) featuring the cast of “One Tree Hill,” followed by the special, “’Tis the Season: A One Tree Hill Cast Reunion” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.) that brings back Hilarie Burton, Tyler Hilton, Daniel Ackles, Antwon Tanner and Stephen Colletti, as well as some promised “surprised special guests.” The remaining movie from them, “Hometown Christmas,” airs Dec. 16.
The 92nd Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (NBC, CBS 9 p.m.) kicks off in colder than usual weather, with stars that range from Bad Bunny to Barenaked Ladies. Also: Diana Ross and her family, John Legend, Leona Lewis, Martina McBride, Rita Ora, Pentatonix, Sugarland, and Anika Noni Rose amid the Muppets of “Sesame Streets.” New balloons this year include the Saiyan warrior Goku from “Dragon Ball Super: Broly.” Yeah, I don’t know what that means either. It’s followed by the National Dog Show (NBC, noon) but not “Miracle on 34th Street.” Indeed, the parade repeats at 2 p.m. on NBC.
A royal wedding update comes on the special “Meghan’s New Life: The Real Princess Diaries” (ABC, 9 p.m.).
Celebrities and their kids go to the kitchen on “MasterChef Junior: Celebrity Showdown” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
Of course football is a big part of the day with Chicago at Detroit (CBS, 12:30 p.m.), Washington at Dallas (Fox, 4:30 p.m.) and Atlanta at New Orleans (NBC, 8:20 p.m.).
ABC touts the upcoming big screen remake of “Mary Poppins” by its corporate parent, Disney, on “20/20” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
Cooking Thanksgiving dinner is a chore for “Murphy Brown” (CBS, 9:30 p.m.).
“Floribama Shore” (MTV, 8:30 p.m.) gives a preview of the new season.
Among the many marathons going on today, some of the notable ones include 23 hours of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” (IFC, 6 a.m.), 20 hours of “Gone with the Wind” (Sundance, 6 a.m.), five Thanksgiving episodes of “Bob’s Burgers” (TBS, 8:30 a.m.), 21 hours of the entire “Godfather” Trilogy (AMC, 9 a.m.), six hours of “The Office” (Comedy Central, 6 p.m.), and 16 hours of “The Simpsons” (FXX, 8 p.m.).
It’s family fare all day on Turner Classic Movies with “Captains Courageous” (6 a.m.), “The Phantom Tollbooth” (8:15 a.m.), “National Velvet” (10 a.m.), “The Secret Garden” (12:15 p.m.), “Tom Thumb” (2 p.m.), “Little Women” (3:45 p.m.), “Courage of Lassie” (6 p.m.), “Life with Father” (8 p.m.), “You Can’t Take It With You” (10:15 p.m.), “Ma and Pa Kettle” (12:30 a.m.), “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies” (2 a.m.) and “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House” (4 a.m.).
College football includes Colorado State at Air Force (CBS Sports, 3:30 p.m.) and Mississippi State at Mississippi (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.).
Men’s college basketball includes Villanova at Canisius (ESPN2, 1:30 p.m.), Massachusetts vs. Southern Illinois (Fox Sports 1, 1:30 p.m.), Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma (ESPN, 1:30 p.m.), La Salle vs. Miami (ESPNU, 2:30 p.m.), Oklahoma State vs. Memphis (ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.), Nevada vs. Tulsa (Fox Sports 1, 5 p.m.), Dayton vs. Virginia (ESPN, 4 p.m.), Northwestern vs. Fresno State (ESPNU, 4:30 p.m.), Charleston vs. LSU (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), Stanford vs. Florida (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Texas vs. North Carolina (Fox Sports 1, 7:30 p.m.), UAB vs. Florida State (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Butler vs. Middle Tennessee State (ESPN2, 9:30 p.m.), Michigan State vs. UCLA (Fox Sports 1, 10 p.m.) and Hawaii vs. Utah (ESPN2, 11:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest: Jennifer Hudson, Elsie Fisher, Chef Joseph Yoon (rerun). The View: Sen. Jeff Flake, Andy Cohen, Erika Jayne (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Ellen Pompeo, Demetri Martin (rerun). Wendy Williams: Lil Rel Howery, Alex Guarnaschelli. The Real: Issa Rae (rerun).
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Brooke Baldwin, Laura Benanti (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Anthony Anderson, Sebastian Stan, jeff Goldblum (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Jerry Seinfeld, Brian Regan, Robert Irwin. Seth Meyers: Josh Meyers, Hilary & Larry Meyers. James Corden: Tracey Ullman, Henry Golding, Madison Beer (rerun). Carson Daly: Jameela Jamil, Rupert Grint, William Elliot Whitmore, Joey King (rerun).