Vacation dinner desk conversations might be tense. From Taylor Swift to Thanksgiving TV, these popular culture moments will help lighten the temper.

It seems that Taylor Swift‘s new relationship with Travis Kelce could possibly be a great one to carry up at Thanksgiving.

Everyone knows that navigating the vacations might be tough — all people has that one uncle … or aunt … or in-law … or dad — however a brand new Yahoo/YouGov poll shares perception into vacation conversations that individuals truly get pleasure from having.

In line with the info, listening to “household updates” was ranked on the high (60%) by the greater than 1,500 folks polled, adopted by discussing present occasions (28%) and sports activities (27%). However popular culture can also be within the operating, with 15% of respondents saying it is one thing they stay up for chatting about.

“We do not select our household, and we could have associates who align extra with our beliefs,” psychologist Thea Gallagher, a medical affiliate professor at NYU Langone Well being and co-host of the Mind in View podcast, explained to Yahoo Life. “There’s much more variability in beliefs with household, together with ages and phases. A few of these hot-button subjects might be extra charged.”

So for those who’re in search of methods to include some straightforward banter that will not result in a screaming match, listed below are just a few entertainment-centric dialog starters to think about.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce

You do not have to be essentially the most clued-in leisure aficionado to know that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are the scorching couple of the second. OK, so any individual on the desk could have opinions about her attendance at just a few soccer video games — however there are a whole lot of different issues to debate. For example: Did you learn Kelce’s new WSJ. Magazine interview calling Swift “a genius” and “hilarious,” and discussing how he is following her lead in terms of navigating the eye they’re getting? (“I higher not be the one appearing all unusual,” he mentioned.)

You do not have to be a licensed Swiftie to weigh in on their globe-trotting and the way he joined her on tour in South America, the place he was clearly pumped to be shouted out in “Karma” and so they PDA’d it up. You are able to do a roll name to see who went to her record-breaking Eras Tour movie. You’ll be able to carry up his stats and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ playoff potential. What about his style? Or have folks listened to his podcast together with his baller brother, Jason? And isn’t his mom cute? If all else fails, debate what their couple nickname must be — as a result of all these choices (Tayvis! Traylor! Swelce!) have room for enchancment.

Biden mixing up Swift, Britney Spears and Beyoncé

You’ll be able to toe the road of political convo by citing that President Biden mixed up these three pop icons whereas he was pardoning some turkeys. Whereas chatting in regards to the improbability of the 2 birds ending up on the White Home, he mentioned, “You would say it is more durable than getting a ticket to the ‘Renaissance’ tour,” which is in fact Queen Bey’s record-breaking world tour. “Or Britney’s tour,” he continued, referring to the New York Times bestselling author of The Girl in Me, who hasn’t toured in years.

Biden did, nevertheless, know the whereabouts of Swift, saying, “She’s down in — it is form of heat in Brazil proper now.” (Swift’s “Eras” tour hit a turbulent few days in Rio de Janeiro.) Dialogue may additionally embrace how, whereas not everyone is a fan, Beyoncé and Swift helped make it a #billiongirlsummer. Did the fam take within the “Eras” tour, bracelets and all, or see the film? Do they plan to see Renaissance: A Movie by Beyoncé, which comes out on Dec. 1? And who learn Spears’s tell-all e-book and what did they think about the most important bombshell? (For what it is value, we vote all the Justin Timberlake reveals.)

Vacation music beginning sooo early

Whereas no one goes to cease Mariah Carey from Mariah-ing, why does holiday music start so early annually? Who on the desk is the one that — when the clock strikes midnight on Nov. 1 — is able to “Jingle Bell” it up? Who has their tree up and totally embellished earlier than turkey day even rolls round? Who itches for Starbucks to release its holiday cups?

It seems that greater than half of Individuals suppose vacation music is performed too early, according to a new Yahoo/YouGov poll. Are you one in all them? Is grandma? In fact, Carey — the self-proclaimed Queen of Christmas — is glad to begin the festivities early, as a result of she’s turned her 1994 single “All I Need for Christmas Is You” into an empire. It was estimated, in 2017, that the tune generated more than $60 million — and continues to earn about $1.55 million in royalties annually. That is all with the income of her sold-out holiday shows. Additionally, do your tablemates know that Carey keeps getting sued over her well-known tune? And might you imagine that the rendition she did with Jimmy Fallon and the Roots has turned 10?

The flicks folks plan to see

Speaking about what’s taking part in is the most secure dialog of all. What’s the brand new Disney animated movie, Want, about? Not solely will by reading this, however you may dazzle together with your data of the 100-plus Easter eggs which can be included within the movie as a nod to Disney turning 100.

Who’s seeing the Starvation Video games prequel (sans Jennifer Lawrence) or not seeing The Marvels? Palms up, who noticed Trolls Band Collectively — or are all of us mad at Timberlake for what we examine in Spears’s e-book? Does anybody know what Ridley Scott’s historic epic Napoleon is about? Effectively, you’ll for those who read this earlier than turkey day.

In case your tablemates aren’t huge on the field workplace, they very properly could have gone to the theater this yr to see the much-buzzed-about Barbie flick. Did they go along with associates and dress up? Which movies coming up in 2024 — like Beetlejuice 2 or Depraved: Half One — sound adequate to get them again to the theater?

The one with Thanksgiving

When all else fails, why not change the subject — and channel — to TV?

Suppose: Did you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this morning — and wasn’t it nice that Al Roker was back? Or: I lately rewatched the outdated Friends Thanksgiving episodes and, boy, was Matthew Perry humorous. (Bonus: The cast tributes to him were touching, and is not it candy how the Friends cast remained bonded?)

If Pals is not your factor, we have now a list of other classic Thanksgiving sitcom episodes that you need to watch/focus on. Speak about how A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is now 50 years outdated and the way can that be?! Here is a information to the place it is streaming, so if issues actually take a flip for the more severe, put it on and let Charles Schulz and the Peanuts gang carry the whole dialog.

Bonus spherical

As a bonus, we’ll kick in: 

• Did you hear that Snoop Dogg quit smoking? Yeah, about that — that is not true. It is all for a smokeless fire pit advertisement. So you may set everybody straight.

• It is true that Hall and Oates are feuding. Strive utilizing solely their tune titles to debate the messy scenario. (They’re “Out of Contact” with one another. “Say It Is not So.”)

• And, lastly, it has been 40 years because the nice Cabbage Patch Kids craze of 1983 — the place folks had fistfights over the dimpled dolls on Black Friday. Do you keep in mind the identify of yours? The place is it now? When you’re at your dad and mom’ home for the vacation, yours simply could materialize from a cedar chest.

Lastly, do not forget that Thanksgiving is however annually. You are able to do it. Might or not it’s a peaceable one.