And while the reality of the situation is that most of us would probably be more thankful if we didn’t have to endure a trip to mom and dad’s house (complete with the annual “serious talk” about where our life is headed); Uncle Marv’s endless, boring stories; Aunt Freida’s cloud of toxic perfume and sitting next to cousins you aren’t sure are the same species as you, let alone your relatives – there is a way to survive it all.

Wander away from the table as quickly as possible (just say no to that third slice of pumpkin pie!) and stake your place in front of the tube to catch some of the primo live performances on the schedule.

(Here’s a bonus hint: use the commercial breaks to sneak out to the garage with your one cool cousin/uncle/aunt and make good use of mom’s leftover cooking sherry.)

Monday, November 24
Bette Midler, Pink – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
James Taylor – “The Tavis Smiley Show”
Blen Gleib, Scott Thompson – “Chelsea Lately”
David Byrne – “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos”
Kanye West – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Jonas Brothers – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”
Tom Morello – “Late Night with Conan O’Brien”
The Killers – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Low vs. Diamond – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”
Jim Norton, Young Jeezy – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun

Tuesday, November 25
Faith Hill – “The View”
Tom Jones – “Live with Regis and Kelly”
Beyonce – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Queen Latifah – “The Tavis Smiley Show”
Chris Franjola, Natasha Leggero – “Chelsea Lately”
The Killers – “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos”
Trace Adkins – “The Bonnie Hunt Show”
Harry Connick Jr. – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Chelsea Handler, The Killers – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”
Kanye West – “Late Night with Conan O’Brien”
Jonas Brothers – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
The Knux – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun

Wednesday, November 26
Mariah Carey – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Diahann Carroll – “The Tavis Smiley Show” – rerun
Jesse McCartney, Gary Valentine, Greg Proops, Heather McDonald – “Chelsea Lately”
Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson – “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos”
Ludacris – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Seal – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”
Plain White T’s – “Late Night with Conan O’Brien”
Scott Weiland – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Adele – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”
Shirley Manson, Cut Copy – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun

Thursday, November 27
Miley Cyrus, David Archuleta, Darius Rucker, Trace Adkins, Varsity Fanclub – “82nd Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade”
Jewel – “Live with Regis and Kelly” – rerun
Jonas Brothers – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” – rerun
Naturally 7 – “The Tavis Smiley Show”
Scott Henry – “Chelsea Lately” – rerun
Raphael Saadiq – “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos”
Toby Keith, Elvis Costello, John Legend, Feist, Willie Nelson – “A Colbert Christmas”
Denis Leary, John Mayer – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Chris Rock, Darius Rucker – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” – rerun
Jewel – “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” – rerun
Kristin Chenoweth, Alkaline Trio – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” – rerun
Apocalyptica – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun

Friday, November 28
Carrot Top – “Live with Regis and Kelly”
Dolly Parton – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Brad Wollack, Elon Gold – “Chelsea Lately”
David Byrne – “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos”
Faith Hill – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Kaiser Chiefs – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” – rerun
Megan Mullally, Detroit Octane – “Late Night with Conan O’Brien”
Ben Folds – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” – rerun
Kristin Chenoweth – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”
T.I. – “Last Call with Carson Daly”

Saturday, November 29
Coldplay – “Austin City Limits” – rerun
The Killers – “Saturday Night Live” – rerun