Thursday’s TV highlights

SERIES

Biography: The life and career of Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt are explored in this new episode (7 and 11 p.m. Biography).

Great Performances: Legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim is feted in this new installment (9 p.m. KCET).

SPECIALS

Parades: “McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade� from Chicago (6 a.m. WGN America); “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade� (9 a.m. NBC) and “The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS� (1 p.m. CBS) from New York City.

The National Dog Show: Pampered pooches strut their stuff at the annual event in Philadelphia (noon NBC).

CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute: Everyday folk who go above and beyond are saluted in this special (5 p.m. CNN).

Taylor Swift: Speak Now: The country-music cutie performs for fans in this new special (8 p.m. NBC).

Nutcracker on Ice: Skaters perform Tchaikovsky’s musical holiday tale in this special (8 p.m. KCAL).

Punkin Chunkin 2010: Contestants turn pumpkins into projectiles as this annual competition returns (8 p.m. Discovery).

NBC’s People of the Year 2010: LeBron James, Kim Kardashian and Justin Timberlake are among the celebrities featured in this new special (9 p.m. NBC).

Beyoncé’s: I Am... World Tour: The chart-topping R&B diva is featured in this new concert special (9:30 p.m. ABC).

MOVIES

The Simpsons Movie: The animated TV family hit the big screen with this 2007 feature (8 p.m. Fox).

SPORTS

Football: The Patriots play the Lions (9:30 a.m. CBS), the Saints face the Cowboys (1:30 p.m. Fox) and the Bengals battle the Jets (5 p.m. NFL).

Basketball: The Wizards visit the Hawks (5 p.m. TNT), and the Clippers welcome the Kings (7:30 p.m. TNT).