Breaking Tradition: Passing Out to Non-Pigskin TV on Turkey Day

Some traditions are unbreakable. For example, I've always been a strong believer that you don't mess with football on Thanksgiving. Few things are better than falling asleep to a bunch of men hitting each other, and waking up just in time for the trophy presentations and dessert.

This year's football match-ups, however, are unusually lopsided. Each game features a team with a record of 3-7 or worse:

• Detroit, which is 2-8, will host New England, which is 8-2. That game's at 12:30 p.m. on CBS.
• Dallas, 3-7, will then play at New Orleans, 7-3; at 4:15 p.m. on FOX
• Cincinnati, 2-8, will play at the New York Jets, 8-2. Even worse, the game is only available on the NFL Network. It starts at 8:20 p.m.

So depending how the games go, this year might be the time to reconsider part of the tradition: TV without the football. There's plenty to watch, and Patch brings you a guide that will ensure you remain entertained through Thursday:

8 a.m. Thursday – 6 a.m. Friday (Syfy): James Bond Marathon
If there's an order to the broadcast schedule, it certainly wasn't chronological: Thunderball (8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.), Dr. No (10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.), Goldfinger (1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.), GoldenEye (3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.), The World Is Not Enough (6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.), Casino Royale (9 p.m. – 12 a.m.), Never Say Never Again (12 a.m. – 3 a.m.) and The Man With The Golden Gun (3 a.m. – 6 a.m.).

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (CBS, NBC): The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
This is the show's 84th year in a row. This year, it features country-western star Carrie Underwood and the Broadway casts of "Billy Elliot" and "Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles."

9 a.m. Thursday – 1 a.m. Friday (FX): Kung Fu Panda
It's fun to look at chubby animals on Thanksgiving. In fact, FX feels so strongly about this, it's airing the movie on repeat all day.

9 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Discover Channel): MythBusters Marathon
Sometimes it's okay to learn on the holidays.

9 a.m. Thursday – 4 a.m. Friday (Travel Network): Man vs. Food Marathon
Prepare your digestion system for a day of use and abuse.

10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (Versus): Rocky Movie Marathon: Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V
American movies – some classic, some questionable – for an American holiday.

11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Comedy Network): National Lampoon's Vacation
Chevy Chase's vacation classic never gets old.

2 p.m.-4 p.m. (NBC): Miracle on 34th Street

2 p.m.-5 p.m. (Lifetime): Love Actually

4 p.m.-6 p.m. (TBS): The Office Mini Marathon
Four episodes, including the one where Michael "organizes a no-holds-barred roast of himself."

5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. (USA): Pretty Woman
Richard Gere and Julie Roberts? It's almost too much talent for one screen. Second feature from 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m.

8 p.m. – 9 p.m. (NBC): Taylor Swift: Speak Now 
A whirlwind trip from New York City to Los Angeles" with "behind-the-scenes access…and other mayhem surrounding the album release."

8 p.m. – 10 p.m. (FOX): The Simpsons Movie
Homer "turns Lake Springfield into a toxic waste dump."

8 p.m.-10 p.m. (USA): Elf
Not exactly Will Ferrell's masterpiece, but funny enough to put you in the holiday spirit.

9 p.m.-10 p.m. (NBC): NBC's People of the Year
Matt Lauer takes a look back at the notable figures of 2010, including one of the rescuers at the Chilean mine disaster, LeBron James, Kim Kardashian, Justin Timberlake and Susan Boyle.

9:30 – 11 p.m. (PBS): The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Starring the Rockettes

9:30 p.m. – 11 p.m. (ABC): Beyonce's "I Am" World Tour
The pop diva takes viewers "along for the ride on her 32-country, 6-continent tour as she performs her hits and offers a rare glimpse into the backstage moments."

11 p.m.-12 a.m. (TBS): Conan
Featuring Jim Parsons from "Big Bang Theory," supermodel Marisa Miller and comic Brendon Walsh.

11:35 p.m-12:37 a.m. (NBC): The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Featuring Elizabeth Banks from "The Next Three Days."

And if you're really Jonesing for sports, SportsCenter will be on all day, plus a Texas football rivalry: 18th-ranked Texas A&M at Texas, on ESPN at 8 p.m. Friday will also feature a bevy of college football matchups.