Thanksgiving (Master of None)

"Thanksgiving"

Master of None episode

Episode no.

Season 2
Episode 8

Directed by

Melina Matsoukas

Written by

Aziz Ansari
Lena Waithe

Production code

208

Original release date

May 12, 2017

Running time

34 minutes

Guest appearances

Angela Bassett as Catherine
Kym Whitley as Joyce
Venida Evans as Ernestine
Ebony Obsidian as Michelle
Erica Mena as Nikki

Episode chronology

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"Door #3"

Next →
"Amarsi Un Po'"

List of episodes

"Thanksgiving" is the eighth episode of the second season of the American comedy-drama streaming television series Master of None. The episode was released on Netflix on May 12, 2017, along with the rest of the second season. It was written by series creator Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe, who star as Dev Shah and Denise. Melina Matsoukas served as the episode's director.

The episode follows Dev celebrating Thanksgiving with Denise's family throughout the years, as Dev's family doesn't celebrate the holiday. The episode details Denise's coming out as a lesbian throughout the years and their growing, yet resistant acceptance. The episode received widespread acclaim from critics. "Thanksgiving" won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, making Waithe the first African-American woman ever to win such award.

Plot

As Dev's family does not celebrate Thanksgiving, he has spent it with Denise's family for years, the two being childhood friends. On Thanksgiving in 1995, 12-year-old Denise begins to realize she is attracted to women. On Thanksgiving 1999, she comes out to Dev. When he asks why she is nervous to tell her family, she says LGBT issues are touchy in black families. On Thanksgiving in 2006, Denise comes out to her mother Catherine (Angela Bassett). Catherine asks her sister Joyce (Kym Whitley) if this is her fault. On Thanksgiving in 2015, Denise brings her girlfriend Michelle (Ebony Obsidian). Catherine and Joyce are obviously annoyed, and attempt to hide the fact that Denise is gay from her grandma, Ernestine (Venida Evans). The next year, Denise brings home a superficial girl named Nikki (Erica Mena). After dinner, Dev talks with Catherine and Joyce. Catherine admits that while she does struggle with embracing her daughter's sexuality, she still wishes for Denise to end up with a nice woman, and misses Michelle. Finally, on Thanksgiving in 2017, Denise and Michelle are dating again. Joyce and Ernestine are happy to see her. Michelle and Catherine talk alone, and Catherine admits to Denise she is happy the two of them are together. Denise, Catherine, Joyce, Ernestine, Dev, and Michelle have a wonderful dinner, and happily say grace together.

Production and development

The episode was partially based on co-writer Waithe's own life.^[1]

Reception

In 2018, TV Guide listed "Thanksgiving" as number 10 in their "TV Guide's 65 Best Episodes of the 21st Century" issue.^[2]

Upon winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, Waithe became the first African-American woman to win an Emmy Award in that category.^[3] The episode also won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Individual Episode.^[4]

References

^ Bethanie Butler. "Why Lena Waithe's historic Emmy win for 'Master of None' is so meaningful". Washington Post. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
^ Roush, Matt; Holbrook, Damian; D'Arminio, Aubry; Hahn, Kate (April 2–15, 2018). "65 Best Episodes of the 21st Century". TV Guide. No. #3429–3440. pp. 17–30.
^ Littleton, Cynthia (September 18, 2017). "Lena Waithe Makes Emmy History as First Black Woman to Win for Comedy Writing". Variety. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
^ Nordyke, Kimberly (May 5, 2018). "GLAAD Media Awards: 'Call Me by Your Name' Wins Best Film". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 11, 2022.

Awards for "Thanksgiving"

v t e Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
1950s	James Allardice & Jack Douglas & Hal Kanter & Harry Winkler for The George Gobel Show (1955) Arnold M. Auerbach & Barry Blitzer & Vincent Bogert & Nat Hiken & Coleman Jacoby & Harvey Orkin & Arnold Rosen & Terry Ryan & Tony Webster for The Phil Silvers Show (1956) No Award (1957) Billy Friedberg & Nat Hiken & Coleman Jacoby & Arnold Rosen & A.J. Russell & Terry Ryan & Phil Sharp & Tony Webster & Sydney Zelinka for The Phil Silvers Show (1958) George Balzer & Hal Goldman & Al Gordon & Sam Perrin for The Jack Benny Show (1959)
1960s	George Balzer & Hal Goldman & Al Gordon & Sam Perrin for The Jack Benny Show (1960) Dave O'Brien & Martin Ragaway & Sherwood Schwartz & Al Schwartz & Red Skelton for The Red Skelton Show (1961) Carl Reiner for The Dick Van Dyke Show (1962) Carl Reiner for The Dick Van Dyke Show (1963) No Award (1964) No Award (1965) Sam Denoff & Bill Persky for "Coast to Coast Big Mouth" (1966) Buck Henry & Leonard B. Stern for "Ship of Spies: Parts 1 and 2" (1967) Allan Burns & Chris Hayward for "The Coming Out Party" (1968) No Award (1969)
1970s	No Award (1970) James L. Brooks & Allan Burns for "Support Your Local Mother" (1971) Burt Styler for "Edith's Problem" (1972) Lee Kalcheim & Michael Ross & Bernie West for "The Bunkers and the Swingers" (1973) Treva Silverman for "The Lou and Edie Story" (1974) Stan Daniels & Ed. Weinberger for "Will Mary Richards Go to Jail?" (1975) David Lloyd for "Chuckles Bites the Dust" (1976) James L. Brooks & Allan Burns & Stan Daniels & Bob Ellison & David Lloyd & Ed. Weinberger for "The Last Show" (1977) Harve Brosten & Barry Harman & Bob Schiller & Bob Weiskopf for "Cousin Liz" (1978) No Award (1979)
1980s	R.J. Colleary for "The Photographer" (1980) Michael J. Leeson for "Tony's Sister and Jim" (1981) Ken Estin for "Elegant Iggy" (1982) Glen Charles and Les Charles for "Give Me a Ring Sometime" (1983) David Angell for "Old Flames" (1984) Ed. Weinberger & Michael J. Leeson for "Pilot" (The Cosby Show) (1985) Barry Fanaro & Mort Nathan for "A Little Romance" (1986) Gary David Goldberg & Alan Uger for "A, My Name is Alex" (1987) Hugh Wilson for "The Bridge" (1988) Diane English for "Pilot" (Murphy Brown) (1989)
1990s	Bob Brush for "Good-bye" (1990) Gary Dontzig & Steven Peterman for "Jingle Hell, Jingle Hell, Jingle All the Way" (1991) Elaine Pope & Larry Charles for "The Fix-Up" (1992) Larry David for "The Contest" (1993) David Angell & Peter Casey & David Lee for "The Good Son" (1994) Chuck Ranberg & Anne Flett-Giordano for "An Affair to Forget" (1995) Joe Keenan & Christopher Lloyd & Rob Greenberg & Jack Burditt & Chuck Ranberg & Anne Flett-Giordano & Linda Morris & Vic Rauseo for "Moon Dance" (1996) Ellen DeGeneres & Mark Driscoll & Dava Savel & Tracy Newman & Jonathan Stark for "The Puppy Episode" (1997) Peter Tolan & Garry Shandling for "Flip" (1998) Jay Kogen for "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz" (1999)
2000s	Linwood Boomer for "Pilot" (Malcolm in the Middle) (2000) Alex Reid for "Bowling" (2001) Larry Wilmore for "Pilot" (The Bernie Mac Show) (2002) Tucker Cawley for "Baggage" (2003) Mitchell Hurwitz for "Pilot" (Arrested Development) (2004) Mitchell Hurwitz & Jim Vallely for "Righteous Brothers" (2005) Greg Garcia for "Pilot" (My Name Is Earl) (2006) Greg Daniels for "Gay Witch Hunt" (2007) Tina Fey for "Cooter" (2008) Matt Hubbard for "Reunion" (2009)
2010s	Steven Levitan & Christopher Lloyd for "Pilot" (Modern Family) (2010) Steven Levitan & Jeffrey Richman for "Caught in the Act" (2011) Louis C.K. for "Pregnant" (2012) Tina Fey & Tracey Wigfield for "Last Lunch" (2013) Louis C.K. for "So Did the Fat Lady" (2014) Simon Blackwell & Armando Iannucci & Tony Roche for "Election Night" (2015) Aziz Ansari & Alan Yang for "Parents" (2016) Aziz Ansari & Lena Waithe for "Thanksgiving" (2017) Amy Sherman-Palladino for "Pilot" (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) (2018) Phoebe Waller-Bridge for "Episode 1" (2019)
2020s	Dan Levy for "Happy Ending" (2020) Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky for "There Is No Line" (2021) Quinta Brunson for "Pilot" (Abbott Elementary) (2022) Christopher Storer for "System" (2023) Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky for "Bulletproof" (2024)

v t e GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Individual Episode
1990s	The Simpsons ("Homer's Phobia") (1998) Tracey Takes On... ("Religion") (1999)
2000s	Popular ("Wild Wild Mess") (2000) Ed ("The Whole Truth") (2001) Resurrection Blvd. ("Saliendo") (2002) Resurrection Blvd. ("Pararse") (2003) Boston Public ("Chapter Fifty-Eight") (2004) Jack & Bobby ("The Lost Boys") (2005) Cold Case ("Best Friends") / My Name Is Earl ("Pilot") (2006) Grey's Anatomy ("Where the Boys Are") (2007) Boston Legal ("Do Tell") (2008) The New Adventures of Old Christine ("Unidentified Funk") (2009)
2010s	Parks and Recreation ("Pawnee Zoo") (2010) 30 Rock ("Klaus and Greta") (2012) Drop Dead Diva ("Prom") / Hot in Cleveland ("Beards") (2012) Raising Hope ("Don't Ask, Don't Tell Me What to Do") (2013) Elementary ("Snow Angels") (2014) Drop Dead Diva ("Identity Crisis") (2015) Royal Pains ("The Prince of Nucleotides") (2016) Black Mirror ("San Junipero") (2017) Master of None ("Thanksgiving") (2018) The Guest Book ("Someplace Other Than Here") (2019)
2020s	Dolly Parton's Heartstrings ("Two Doors Down") (2020)

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