Thanksgiving party guide is 100% guaranteed to make you shine

The Thanksgiving holiday is supposed to be a special time to gather with family and friends. Typically, this is the case for most, but there are also those occasions when making small talk around the dinner table is stressful.

Here's your ultimate go-to guide if you need a conversation starter beyond complimenting the chef on the moistness of the turkey or the desire for another helping of the green bean casserole.

First, let's start with a fascinating fact you can use on the football fans at your gathering. You may casually yet strategically slip this factoid into the conversation, and you'll have instant credibility as being sports-savvy and a winning trivia buff.

What NFL team has played more Thanksgiving Day games than any other? The Detroit Lions started the tradition in 1934 to attract fans, and they played every Thanksgiving except 1939-1944 during World War ll. So the football-on-Thanksgiving title goes to the Detroit Lions.

Bonus Question: Who is the all-time leading rusher for the Lions? Answer: Barry Sanders with 15,269 yards!

You may be in a situation where you detect the need for humor, and you're just the person to lighten the mood. Therefore have a simple yet memorable joke at the ready. 

Something simple is best, such as Why did the police arrest the turkey? They suspected fowl play!

If that's not corny enough to get a good laugh, try a can't-miss knock-knock joke. 

Knock-knock

Who's there?

Norma Lee

Norma Lee who

Norma Lee I don't eat and drink this much!

Suppose the opportunity to flirt arises; then you'll need a cheezy yet effective pickup lines such as, "You've got some nice Yams, I like the way your jello jiggles, or how'd you like to take a ride in my gravy boat."

Or break the ice even less subtly with, "What piece of meat do you desire most, breasts or thighs?"

And if you get a positive reaction but haven't yet closed the deal, trot out the line, "this is corny, but asking you out is the harvest thing I've done all year."

If all else fails, you can always fall back on the old "pull my finger" joke or find a comfortable chair and take a post-dinner nap. 

Happy Thanksgiving, and with any luck, you won't need to rely on any of the jokes and pickup lines mentioned above.