1

Bussy day

Image: Imani

Many of us spend the day after Thanksgiving relaxing or shopping. But this is not the case for plumbers. In fact, Black Friday is the busiest day of the year for these professionals. The reasons are all too common: clogged kitchen drains, overworked garbage disposals, and toilet troubles.

2

Leftovers vs. dinner

Image: Jed Owen

Stuffing, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie are just a few of the classic food staples we enjoy on Thanksgiving. And as delicious as that feast is, studies show most Americans actually prefer the leftovers the next day! It seems there's something special about waking up and finding that delicious meal waiting for you in the fridge.

3

A caloric day

Image: Jessica Christian

There's no denying that on Thanksgiving, we often surrender to an extra slice of pie or one more piece of turkey than usual. According to the Calorie Control Council, Americans consume between 3,000 and 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving (not counting the leftovers waiting to be eaten the next day!). For comparison, medical guidelines often recommend between 1,600 and 3,000 calories for most healthy adults.

4

Thankful crowd

Image: Carson Masterson

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is definitely a spectacular event you don't want to miss. We all know it's massive, but can you guess how many people actually attend in person? About 3.5 million! Not the best place if you're not a fan of crowds. When the parade started in 1924, the number of spectators was far smaller; around 10,000 people gathered to watch.

5

Green Bean Casserole

Image: Meghan Schiereck

Although it's now a Thanksgiving staple we can't imagine the holiday without, green bean casserole was actually invented in 1955! That's right; it was the brainchild of Dorcas Reilly, who worked for the Campbell Soup Company. Its success probably comes from the delicious flavor, quick prep, and simple ingredients: green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy fried onions.

6

Turkey or not?

Image: Megan Watson

While turkey is the main dish on most tables, surprisingly, 12% of Americans choose to skip it during the holiday. The reasons? Endless. Some prefer other dishes, others follow vegetarian diets, some want to save room for dessert, and others avoid turkey for reasons we'll reveal in the next section!

7

Drowsy dinner

Image: Sander Sammy

Feeling like taking a nap after Thanksgiving dinner? Don't worry, you're not alone. While it's true that turkey contains tryptophan, a natural sleep aid, the present amount isn't any higher than in other birds, and a few bites shouldn't make you drowsy. What actually happens is that we eat a lot of calories in a short period, which slows down our metabolism and makes us sleepy.

8

Americans' favorite

Image: Philippe Murray-Pietsch

If you thought turkey was everyone's favorite, you might want to think again! It turns out that a majority of Americans actually prefer stuffing. Specifically, 56% of Americans say they like side dishes more than turkey. For many, sides have become the real star of the meal.

9

Thanks to a miscalculation

Image: Ana Maltez

The story goes that in the 1950s, the Swanson Company overestimated how much turkey Americans would eat during the holiday and ended up with about 260 tons of frozen leftovers. But a clever salesman came to the rescue: inspired by airline meals, he suggested packaging the turkey in trays with classic sides like stuffing and peas. The result: in late 1953, Swanson launched the first TV-Dinner, and the rest is history!

10

100,000 turkey-related questions

Image: Miryam León

Even though the tradition has been around for many years, people still have many questions about their Thanksgiving turkey. In fact, the Butterball Turkey Talk Line —a legendary Thanksgiving hotline— answers more than 100,000 turkey-related questions every year! Some of the most common include: "How much turkey should I buy?" and "When and how do I thaw a turkey?"

1

Jimi Hendrix

Image: Aditya Wardhana

We’ll start with what many believe to be the very best guitarist of all time. James Marshall Hendrix , better known as "Jimi", truly redefined rock music during his tragically short career. Born in Seattle, Jimi’s fascination with music started at an early age: His school teachers recall that he would often carry around a broom, on which he would pretend to play the guitar.

The four albums recorded by Hendrix are still regarded as masterworks, known for their innovation, technique, and amazing design. If we have the difficult task of summing up this amazing musician’s legacy in one moment, we would definitively choose his rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock.

2

B.B. King

Image: Thomas Kelley

If you are looking for an undisputed king of the blues, look no further: After all, this man has the word "King" as his surname. Born as Riley B. King in 1925, B.B. King’s career was filled with amazing performances, timeless records, and an undying love for the blues.

However, the influence of "The King of the Blues" is definitely not limited to only one genre: Many iconic musicians and bands owe a lot to B.B. King. Not only that, in 1987, King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a spot well earned by one of the most groundbreaking guitar players in history.

3

Chuck Berry

Image: Rachel Bramlett

Chuck Berry’s contributions to rock and roll can’t be overlooked: After all, there’s a reason people know him as "the Father of Rock N’ Roll". Berry’s legacy truly befits a pioneer such as himself: He redefined the concept of rhythm and blues into the most defining elements of what we now know as rock and roll, creating the basis of history’s most popular music genre in the process.

Chuck wrote such legendary songs as "Johnny B. Goode", "Maybellene", and "Roll Over Beethoven". His charisma and raw talent quickly made him one of the most famous music stars in the 50s, but his legacy still lives on to this day.

4

Carlos Santana

Image: Simon Weisser

We mentioned Jimi Hendrix’s unforgettable performance at Woodstock, but it’s also necessary to talk about Carlos Santana and his amazing breakthrough in this legendary music festival. For many Americans, Woodstock was the very first time hearing Santana’s music, but it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

Carlos Humberto Santana Barragán began playing music at an early age: His father, a musician, taught him how to play the violin and the guitar when he was 5. Nowadays, at the young age of 77, he happily continues to tour around the world.

5

Slash

Image: Cathy Mü

Some guitar players are so iconic that they don’t even need a full name, but Slash takes it to the next level: After all, he only needed a punctuation mark for the whole world to remember him. Known worldwide as the guitarist of the 80s hard rock band Guns N’ Roses, Slash is instantly recognizable by his insane riffs and solos, as well as his wild hair and elegant top hat.

Slash has been named one of the best rock guitarists in history by several magazines and publications, including Rolling Stone and Time Magazine. Should you want to hear some of his most amazing melodies, we recommend the guitar riff in "Sweet Child of Mine" as well as the insane guitar solo in "November Rain".

6

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Image: Dominik Scythe

Although his career was cut abruptly short, Stevie Ray Vaughan is considered to this day one of the most influential and groundbreaking guitar players in music history. Vaughan’s seven years in the public eye left an indelible mark on rock and roll that still continues to influence young musicians around the world.

Born in Dallas, Stevie began playing the guitar at the age of 7, inspired by his older brother, guitarist Jimmie Vaughan. By the time he made it on his own as the frontman of the "Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble" trio, Vaughan was already an accomplished studio guitarist, even recording the instrumentals on David Bowie’s iconic 1983 album Let’s Dance.

7

Frank Zappa

Image: Dominik Scythe

As you would expect, this article includes its fair share of talented and groundbreaking musicians, but we can certainly state that Frank Zappa has a quality we haven’t seen in our previous entries: His sense of humor. Zappa’s raw talent playing the guitar can only be compared to his incredible sense of irony and parody, often reflected in the lyrics of his band "The Mothers of Invention".

However, don’t let his ability for satire make you think that Zappa was anything less of a virtuoso: Even detractors who consider his experimental and eclectic style off-putting also admit that his talent can’t be denied.

8

Wes Montgomery

Image: Adrian Ordonez

For any casual observer, the guitar often seems overlooked by jazz orchestras, falling in the shadows of other instruments like the piano, the trumpet, or the saxophone. However, we can almost guarantee that any jazz aficionado will agree that Wes Montgomery ’s contributions to this genre have no equal.

You might not know that Wes was not the only musician in his family: Both his brothers, Monk and Buddy, were accomplished jazz players in their own right. However, Wes is probably the most influential of the three; many of his songs have become jazz standards, while his unique style of playing was instrumental in the creation of smooth and fusion jazz.

9

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Image: Samuel Ramos

Many regard Rosetta Tharpe as the "original soul sister," and with good reason, as she performed under the stage name " Sister Rosetta Tharpe " throughout her entire career. However, there’s another title that shouldn’t be overlooked: Since she has influenced music legends like Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, and Chuck Berry, she is also known as "The Godmother of Rock n’ Roll".

Born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, by the age of 6, Tharpe had joined her mother in a traveling evangelical group, advertised as a "singing and guitar-playing miracle". By 1938, her amazing guitar skills, often showcased in guitar battles at the legendary Apollo Theater in New York, had already earned her a name as one of the best guitar players around.

10

Robert Johnson

Image: Ahmed Rizkhaan

We’ll end this article with a man that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes as perhaps "the first ever rock star". Born in Mississippi in 1911, Robert Johnson is recognized as a pioneer in the "Delta Blues" style and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

What’s interesting is that Johnson’s career spanned only seven months: He recorded 29 songs in only 2 sessions. However, his amazing skills even spawned a supernatural legend. Many believed that Johnson’s talent came from an agreement with a supernatural entity at a crossroads.

1

Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis)

Image: Maarten Brakkee

Legendary method actor Daniel Day-Lewis definitively had big shoes to fill when he portrayed our 16th President. And we mean that quite literally: Historians believe that Lincoln had the largest feet of any U.S. President in history. In any case, Day-Lewis stood up to the task and his acting prowess earned him both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Actor.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, Lincoln focuses on the year 1885 and President Lincoln’s struggles to abolish slavery. Famously, Day-Lewis requested everyone on the filming set to only refer to him as "Mr. President" or "Mr. Lincoln", in order to immerse himself in the role.

2

Jackie Kennedy (Natalie Portman)

Image: Cornelia Ng

Pablo Larrain’s 2016 film Jackie depicts the life of former First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy, both during her time at the White House and after the assassination of President Kennedy. Natalie Portman does an outstanding job in her role as Jackie, portraying her characteristic charm and quiet strength.

The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Portman. Although she ultimately lost the Oscar to Emma Stone’s character in La La Land , movie critics acclaimed Natalie’s performance.

3

Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix)

Image: Dominik Scythe

Few musicians have the mysterious and fabled aura as " The Man in Black ", but American actor Joaquin Phoenix was able to faithfully portray Johnny Cash’s gritty character in the 2005 biopic Walk the Line . Directed by James Mangold, this film focuses on Cash’s rise to fame and turbulent career, as well as his relationship with singer June Carter, wonderfully played by Reese Witherspoon.

Phoenix and Witherspoon’s acting was universally praised by film critics, and they both received Best Actor and Actress nominations at the Oscars. While only Witherspoon won the Academy Award, this film remains an impressive highlight in Joaquin Phoenix’s career.

4

John Nash (Russell Crowe)

Image: Roman Mager

Ron Howard’s 2001 film A Beautiful Mind depicts the life of American mathematician and Nobel Laureate John Nash. Russell Crowe does a wonderful job portraying this brilliant American’s life, representing both his brilliance as well as his struggles with mental health.

While the film was based on a 1998 biography by Sylvia Nasar, Howard’s spin on Nash’s life results in a daunting yet inspiring movie. A Beautiful Mind received several nominations at the Academy Awards, winning four Oscars that included "Best Picture" and "Best Director".

5

Mark Zuckerberg (Jessee Eisenberg)

Image: Deeksha Pahariya

David Fincher’s 2010 movie The Social Network took on the formidable task of depicting the rise of the world’s largest social media company as well as the legal battles between two former best friends. Actor Jesse Eisenberg amazingly plays two sides of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, both as a 19-year-old college student and as the CEO of one of the biggest companies in the world.

While many critiqued the movie’s lack of historical accuracy, Eisenberg’s portrayal was almost universally praised, earning the then-young actor his first nomination for an Academy Award.

6

Truman Capote (Phillip Seymour Hoffman)

Image: CHUTTERSNAP

Truman Capote is revered as one of the greatest authors in American history: His groundbreaking book In Cold Blood is credited as starting the genre of non-fiction literature. The 2005 film Capote is a deep-dive into this author’s investigation into the murders that inspired this iconic book, as well as his interviews with Perry Smith, one of the criminals.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s inspiring portrayal of Capote is considered one of the peak performances of this amazing actor’s outstanding career. Hoffman earned a well-deserved Oscar for Best Actor, while the film was nominated in four other categories.

7

Howard Hughes (Leonardo Di Caprio)

Image: Rafael Garcin

Martin Scorsese is certainly a Hollywood legend: Few movie directors have such an incredible filmmaking record as he does. We could have chosen from many iconic Scorsese biopics (including Robert De Niro’s astounding performance in Raging Bull ), but we ultimately chose his depiction of American business magnate and pilot, Howard Hughes .

In that regard, Leonardo Di Caprio’s impressive range allowed him to portray the life of this American legend, faithfully representing both his business acumen as well as his fight against obsessive-compulsive disorder.

8

Muhammad Ali (Will Smith)

Image: Johann Walter Bantz

You might be surprised to learn that the 2001 film Ali , which depicts the life of the most famous American boxer in history, was a huge box office failure. However, this film was beloved by movie critics, particularly due to Will Smith’s outstanding performance as Muhammad Ali.

The film focuses on most turning points in Ali’s remarkable career, from his first heavyweight title win to his iconic "Rumble in the Jungle" fight against George Foreman. Will Smith was nominated for Best Actor at the 2001 Academy Awards, while Jon Voight’s portrayal of a journalist received a Best Supporting Actor nomination.

9

Charlie Chaplin (Robert Downey Jr.)

Image: Olesia Libra

Now, we know what you are thinking: Why is British legendary actor Charlie Chaplin in this list of American biopics? While it is true that Chaplin was not born in the United States, he was instrumental in building the American film industry, and his films are still revered as icons of our country’s culture. In that regard, Robert Downey Jr’s performance in the 1992 film Chaplin serves as a magnificent tribute to this Hollywood legend.

Directed by Richard Attenborough, this film also stars Chaplin’s daughter , Geraldine Chaplin, who portrays the actor’s mother. While Chaplin wasn’t a huge blockbuster, Downey Jr’s portrayal of the silent actor was particularly well-received.

10

Ray Charles (Jamie Fox)

Image: Andrik Langfield

We’ll end this article with one of America’s most iconic voices. American actor Jamie Foxx got in the skin of iconic musician Ray Charles in the 2004 film Ray . Directed by Taylor Hackford, this film focuses on Charles’ troubled youth and rise to fame, as well as his tragic sight loss.

Foxx’s amazing portrayal of the insanely talented Ray fooled audiences everywhere: Many to this day believe that the actor was actually singing in the film. Foxx was able to convincingly adopt Charles’ mannerisms and habits, which earned him his first Academy Award for Best Actor.