Everybody Hates Chris: Everybody Hates Thanksgiving

(S02E08) Chris, quite rightly I believe, points out that Thanksgiving is one of the best holidays ever, because all you do the entire day is eat and sleep. Of course, that's only if you're not the one waking up with the chickens to prepare a feast for the entire family.

When I was growing up, we always had Thanksgiving at my grandparents' house, and grandma pretty much ruled the kitchen, not because it was expected of her, but because she wanted it that way. The kitchen was her domain, and most Thanksgivings it was just her and the other women, and sometimes me because I would get bored easily and want to do something to kill time.

Chris' family also stuck to the tradition of mom preparing everything, but Rochelle decides she's had enough and asks everyone to pitch in. However, when Julius finds out his more successful younger brother (Wayne Brady) is also showing up, he decides to cook everything himself to impress him.

This episode did have some funny moments, and I thought the 24 motif was clever, but the "holiday rife with family trouble" concept is somewhat of a cliche, and I was hoping for a few more of the twists and turns that usually go along with an episode of Everybody Hates Chris. I will admit, however, that I laughed pretty hard when Chris read his Thanksgiving essay in front of the class, telling everyone how the pilgrims slaughtered the Native Americans, and that what he was most thankful for was not being Native American.