The big Thanksgiving helping tonight comes in the form of Spike Lee’s documentary on the making of the follow up to the biggest album in history. “Michael Jackson: BAD 25” (ABC, 9:30 p.m.) with a discussion of how the recording was made as well as the look at a few of its videos, including the title song, in which Wesley Snipes appeared as a gang rival; it was written by Richard Price and directed by Martin Scorsese.
The day begins, of course, with the 86th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC, 9 a.m.), with performances from Carly Rae Jepsen, The Wanted, Neon Trees, Karmin and Rachel Crow, the usual squadron of balloons including Hello Kitty, Julius the Paul Frank monkey, SpongeBob SquarePants and Virginia (as in “Yes, Virginia”). This year’s artist balloon comes from Kaws. The whole thing repeats in the afternoon at 2 p.m., after the annual National Dog Show (NBC, noon).
Another Thanksgiving tradition: football, with Houston at Detroit (CBS, 12:30 ap.m.), Washington at Dallas (Fox, 4:15 p.m.) and New England at New York Jets (NBC, 8:20 p.m.).
If you haven’t gotten rid of your Halloween decorations yet, it may be time for “Punkin Chunkin” (Science, 8 p.m.) with the annual catapulting competition from Delaware.
The holiday is wrecked for whoever has to leave “The X Factor” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
“Cool Tools” (DIY, 6 p.m.) begins its 10th season.
“Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” (ABC, 8 p.m.) gets a replay. It’s also your second chance to see a stark and affecting “Frontline” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) on children in poverty.
Another love triangle rings on “Glee” (Fox, 9 p.m.).
On yet another new bridal reality series, “Along for the Bride” (TLC, 10 p.m.), they follow a subject from proposal to ceremony.
Turner Classic Movies turns to family movies with “Cheaper by the Dozen” (8 pm.), “Sitting Pretty” (9:30 p.m.), “Room for One More” (11 p.m.), “Please Don’t Eat the Daisies” (12:45 a.m.), “Life with Father” (2:45 a.m.) and its sequel, “Father’s Little Dividend” (5 a.m.).
Other family movies include “We Bought a Zoo” (HBO, 8:30 p.m.), “The Blind Side” (ABC Family, 8 p.m.), “Three Men and a Baby” (TV Guide Network, 8 p.m.) and “Shrek Forever After” (FX, 8 and 10 p.m.).
There’s a lot of college basketball on today, including Marist vs. West Virginia (ESPN2, noon), Pacific vs. Xavier (ESPNU, 2 p.m.), Davidson vs. Vanderbilt (ESPN2, 2 p.m.), Drexel vs. Saint Mary’s (ESPN2, 4:30 p.m.), Oklahoma vs. UTEP (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Memphis vs. Virginia Commonwealth (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.), Clemson vs. Gonzaga (ESPN2, 9 p.m.), Georgia Tech vs. Rice (ESPNU, 9 p.m.), Louisville vs. Northern Iowa (NBC Sports, 9:30 p.m.) and California vs. Drake (ESPN2, (11:30 p.m.).
There’s some college football as well with Tuskegee at Alabama State (ESPNU, 4 p.m.) and Texas Christian at Texas (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Sara Ramirez, Lana Parrilla (rerun). The View: Sally Field, Oliver Stone, Susan Boyle, Jay Mohr (rerun). Katie Couric: Kate Gosselin, Abby Lee Miller, cast of “Gold Rush” (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Lauren Graham, Michelle Obama, Philip Phillips, Justin Bieber (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Taylor Swift, Rachel Maddow (rerun). Jay Leno: Bradley Cooper, natasha Leggero, PSY. Jimmy Kimmel: Daniel Craig, Stephenie Meyer, Boys Like Girls (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Rashida Jones, Artie Lange, Nick DiPaolo, Martha Stewart. Craig Ferguson: Jay Leno, Lynyrd Skynyrd (rerun). Carson Daly: Melissa Benoist, Selah Sue, Metric (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Bernard & Shirley Kinsey. Conan O’Brien: Russell Brand, Big K.R.I.T. (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Nate Berkus, Kurt Braunohler, John Caparulo, Annie Lederman (rerun).