Tonight's TV Hot List: Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
9/8c NBC
It's up, up and away with an assortment of beautiful balloons at the 83rd annual procession in Manhattan, a grand family-friendly gala anchored by Meredith Vieira, Matt Lauer and Al Roker. This year's Turkey Day event is stuffed with those legendary character balloons, colorful floats, marching bands and a crowd of clowns. There are also slated celeb appearances and performers, including Andrea Bocelli, Boys Like Girls, Alan Cumming, Jimmy Fallon and the Roots, Billy Currington, Gloria Gaynor, Jane Krakowski, Ziggy Marley, Katharine McPhee, Jay Sean, Carly Simon — and a certain plus-size jolly guy in a red suit. — Dean Maurer
CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute
9/8c CNN
Performances by Leona Lewis and Carrie Underwood highlight the Anderson Cooper-hosted gala, which honors everyday people for their extraordinary charitable work. Broadcast from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, celebrity presenters include Pierce Brosnan, Neil Patrick Harris, Kate Hudson, Randy Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, Nicole Kidman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Eva Mendes. — Jeff Gemmill
NBC's People of the Year
9/8c NBC
The year's cheers, jeers, fears and tears are remembered by host Matt Lauer in this year-end reflection on the big stories and notable people of 2009. Lauer profiles and interviews influential, heroic and infamous individuals, who provide candid perspective and address how 2009 has shaped their lives. Among them: country artist Taylor Swift; octuplet mom Nadya Suleman; Britain's Got Talent phenom Susan Boyle; heroic pilot Chesley Sullenberger; ship captain and pirate-hijacking survivor Richard Phillips; and NBA star Kobe Bryant. — Dean Maurer
Paul McCartney: 'Good Evening New York City'
10/9c ABC
On Aug. 15, 1965, the Beatles performed at Shea Stadium in Flushing, N.Y., before more than 55,000 fans, who were considerably louder than the band. Clips from that historic concert, along with footage of Paul McCartney's triumphant return to Flushing approximately 44 years later for a concert at Citi Field (the new home of the New York Mets), and his comments on both events are included in this special. — Fred Mitchell
Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
8/7c ABC
Now this is something to be grateful for. Chuck, Peppermint Patty and the rest of the Peanuts gang gather for their 1973 feast of popcorn, sundaes and stacks of toast. It may not be the tastiest spread, but what do you expect when a beagle's doing the cooking? We're also thankful tonight for the extra helping of Peanuts airing in this hour: It's the bonus cartoon This Is America, Charlie Brown: The Mayflower Voyagers.
Thursday Night Football
8/7c NFL Network
Last Sunday, the Giants overcame a poor defensive effort with 384 yards passing and 3 TDs from Eli Manning in a 34-31 overtime win over the Falcons, and ended their four-game losing streak. That win gives them more to be thankful for than the reeling Broncos, who got very little from anyone in a 32-3 loss to division rival San Diego, and lost their fourth straight. Over the last month or so, neither New York nor Denver has looked like the Super Bowl contenders they resembled in mid-October. — Dave Roeder