Summary

One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by David Letterman. This program features actress Lea Thompson, actress Natalie Portman, and musical guest Stone Temple Pilots.

In his opening monologue, Letterman touches upon the following topics: the increasingly "silly" nature of Thanksgiving, including his ideas for combating tryptophan fatigue; the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade; the First Family's trip to Camp David; the unexciting "Late Show" staff dinner, at which Letterman apparently dressed as a pilgrim; and a quiz celebrating the 70th year of the famous New York parade.

The first guest, Thompson, takes the stage and chats about her appearance in the parade; her past experience with the nighttime Hollywood Christmas Parade; the second season of her sitcom "Caroline in the City"; her plans to celebrate Thanksgiving without her family, who are all back in L.A.; memories of her former brother-in-law's unusual holiday celebrations; her plans to travel to Montana; and growing up as the youngest of five siblings.

Next, Letterman chats via satellite with his mother Dorothy Mengering as she prepares Thanksgiving dinner back in his home state of Indiana, and he attempts to "Guess the Pie," eventually coming up with the correct answers of cherry and, more unusually, hickory nut. Letterman then presents the Top Ten List: the top ten "Thanksgiving movies" playing at the seedy movie theaters in Times Square.

15-year-old Portman, star of the new film "Mars Attacks!" (1996), then joins Letterman and discusses her reasons for becoming a vegetarian and how it affects her Thanksgiving practices; working alongside other teen actors in Paris for the musical film "Everyone Says I Love You" (1996); and an awkward incident during a previous "Late Show" appearance in which she commented on a schoolteacher's "creepy" recommendation of Kerouac's "On the Road."

Finally, the Stone Temple Pilots perform "Lady Picture Show" from their album "Tiny Music... Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop." Includes commercials and promos.