It’s a tradition at From Scratch to include some Thanksgiving humor right before the holiday and this year’s is a favorite, the classic Thanksgiving turkey drop scene (”Oh, the humanity!”) from a 1978 episode of WKRP in Cincinnati. It’s said to be loosely based on a real event from the 1940s, but that’s not been proven. Regardless, it’s a memorable scene. (”…I thought turkeys could fly.”)
Wild turkeys can fly, at least a bit. They’re everywhere in New Hampshire and I can assure you that whenever they wandered in front of my car, even on Interstate exit ramps — they are not the brightest creatures — and I approached while trying to stop, they would flap their big wings like there was no tomorrow (and might not have been otherwise) and take flight. Barely. They’d make it three or four feet off the ground, fly to the other side of the road and return to their comfort zone of living as pedestrians.
So here’s the clip and you can watch the full episode of Turkeys Away! at Hulu, although it might not play outside the US. For more Thanksgiving humor, check out last year’s classic clip of Paul Simon opening SNL in a turkey suit and 2007’s roundup of real help calls to the Butterball Turkey Hotline.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
“As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.” Oh, I remember this. It can’t have been as long ago as you said, though, ella…
Y’know, when I looked up the year I was amazed, thinking how it can’t be 21 years already…then, ahem…
I don’t remember a single scene from KRP…except this one. It’s just unforgettable, so well-written and well-played by the Les Nessman actor. I’m glad you enjoyed it! Gobble, gobble!
“As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.” Oh, I remember this. It can’t have been as long ago as you said, though, ella…
I know! Darn, time flies a heck of a lot better than turkeys do!