--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A two-pound turkey and a fifty-pound…" description: "\"A two-pound turkey and a fifty-pound cranberry-that's Thanksgiving dinner at Three Mile Island.\" — Johnny Carson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/johnny-carson-2644_cranberries_a-two-pound-turkey-and-a-fifty-pound-cra_580297.png" --- # A two-pound turkey and a fifty-pound cranberry-that's… ![“A two-pound turkey and a fifty-pound cranberry-that's Thanksgiving dinner at Three Mile Island.” quote by Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/johnny-carson-2644_cranberries_a-two-pound-turkey-and-a-fifty-pound-cra_580297.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/johnny-carson-2644_cranberries_a-two-pound-turkey-and-a-fifty-pound-cra_580297.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/johnny-carson-2644_cranberries_a-two-pound-turkey-and-a-fifty-pound-cra_580297.png) > “A two-pound turkey and a fifty-pound cranberry-that's Thanksgiving dinner at Three Mile Island.” [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A humorous exaggeration of a massive Thanksgiving feast on a nuclear site, highlighting absurdity. **In simple terms:** A huge, absurd Thanksgiving dinner. Key Takeaway Recognize satire in extreme comparisons. Themes humor absurdity culture food politics Mood playful ironic Type satirical humorous When to use this quote - celebrations - media commentary - political jokes Key Concepts Satire hyperbole Questions to Reflect On - How does exaggeration affect perception of real issues? - What does this say about media framing? A Different Perspective May trivialize serious nuclear concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cranberries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cranberries/) [Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Islands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islands/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear bomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-bomb/) [Thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving/) [Thanksgiving dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-dinner/) ## Related quotes > [You know what Disneyland is known for? The Big Turkey Leg. People walk around with enormous deep-fried turkey legs. Like little kids, three-year-old kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/you-know-what-disneyland-is-known-for-the-big-turkey-leg-people-walk/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I always buy the smaller turkeys. On the pre-baste put pats of butter on the meat under the skin, put the skin back on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-lee/i-always-buy-the-smaller-turkeys-on-the-pre-baste-put-pats-of-butter/) [Sandra Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-lee/) > [On May 7, a few weeks after the accident at Three-Mile Island, I was in Washington. I was there to refute some of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-teller/on-may-7-a-few-weeks-after-the-accident-at-three-mile-island-i-was-in/) [Edward Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-teller/) > [As with Three Mile Island, the hysteria of the media and the political class over the Deepwater spill is likely to lead to increased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-f-hayward/as-with-three-mile-island-the-hysteria-of-the-media-and-the-political/) [Steven F. Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-f-hayward/) > [I once absent-mindedly ordered Three Mile Island dressing in a restaurant and, with great presence of mind, they brought Thousand Island Dressing and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-once-absent-mindedly-ordered-three-mile-island-dressing-in-a/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Here's a Thanksgiving tip. Generally, your turkey is not cooked enough if it passes you the cranberry sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/here-s-a-thanksgiving-tip-generally-your-turkey-is-not-cooked-enough/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [Only we were in The Cranberries. Only we know what it was like being in that crazy whirlwind of fame. We have children and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-o-riordan/only-we-were-in-the-cranberries-only-we-know-what-it-was-like-being/) [Dolores O'Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-o-riordan/) > [I love cranberry juice, but I'm not a coffee drinker - as a Mormon, I avoid caffeine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donny-osmond/i-love-cranberry-juice-but-i-m-not-a-coffee-drinker-as-a-mormon-i/) [Donny Osmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donny-osmond/) > [From the cranberry cancer scare of the 1950s to the Alar-in-apples hysteria of the 1980s, from the "new ice age" of the 1960s to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/from-the-cranberry-cancer-scare-of-the-1950s-to-the-alar-in-apples/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Cranberries contain a massive amount of natural pectins. They will gel all on their own, which is why you can basically make cranberry sauce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/cranberries-contain-a-massive-amount-of-natural-pectins-they-will-gel/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [I don't know why, but I really love 'Zombie' by The Cranberries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/i-don-t-know-why-but-i-really-love-zombie-by-the-cranberries/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [I've spent a lot of Thanksgivings on the road with my band, so anytime that I can spend Thanksgiving with my family in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-sambora/i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-thanksgivings-on-the-road-with-my-band-so-anytime/) [Richie Sambora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-sambora/) > [I hated cranberry sauce, but for some reason my mom persisted in her lifelong belief that it was my very favorite food, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-hated-cranberry-sauce-but-for-some-reason-my-mom-persisted-in-her/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Cranberries are an ultra healthy fruit, but cranberry sauces are often so sugared down that it eliminates all their healthy benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harley-pasternak/cranberries-are-an-ultra-healthy-fruit-but-cranberry-sauces-are-often/) [Harley Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harley-pasternak/) > [I've always been an outsider kid. But I had always wanted to be in a group - growing up, I loved bands like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-angelique/i-ve-always-been-an-outsider-kid-but-i-had-always-wanted-to-be-in-a/) [Dawn Angelique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-angelique/) ## More by Johnny Carson > [It's silly to have as one's sole object in life just making money, accumulating wealth. I work because I enjoy what I'm doing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/it-s-silly-to-have-as-one-s-sole-object-in-life-just-making-money/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [The only issue cash presents you is the independence of not stressing about funds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-only-issue-cash-presents-you-is-the-independence-of-not-stressing/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [ I can empathize with President \[George Bush\]. I know what it feels like having a young guy waiting around for you to keel over. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-can-empathize-with-president-george-bush-i-know-what-it-feels-like/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [From the time I was a little kid, I was always shy. Performing was when I was outgoing. So I guess I am a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/from-the-time-i-was-a-little-kid-i-was-always-shy-performing-was-when/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [ I'm often asked, "What is your favorite moment during the 30 years you hosted \[The Tonight Show\]?" I really don't have just one. The… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-m-often-asked-what-is-your-favorite-moment-during-the-30-years-you/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [For days after death hair and fingernails continue to grow, but phone calls taper off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/for-days-after-death-hair-and-fingernails-continue-to-grow-but-phone/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Money gives me just one big thing that's really important, and that's the freedom of not having to worry about money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/money-gives-me-just-one-big-thing-that-s-really-important-and-that-s/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [In Hollywood if you don't have a shrink, people think you're crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/in-hollywood-if-you-don-t-have-a-shrink-people-think-you-re-crazy/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Ronald Reagan just signed the new tax law. But I think he was in Hollywood too long. He signed it, 'Best wishes, Ronald Reagan.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/ronald-reagan-just-signed-the-new-tax-law-but-i-think-he-was-in/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [The good news is that the president gets another chance. The bad news is that he'll be two weeks older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-good-news-is-that-the-president-gets-another-chance-the-bad-news/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Anytime four New Yorkers get into a cab together without arguing, a bank robbery has just taken place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/anytime-four-new-yorkers-get-into-a-cab-together-without-arguing-a/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [For three days after death, hair and fingernails continue to grow but phone calls taper off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/for-three-days-after-death-hair-and-fingernails-continue-to-grow-but/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Democracy means free television, not good television, but free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/democracy-means-free-television-not-good-television-but-free/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [I know a man who gave up smoking, drinking, sex, and rich food. He was healthy right up to the day he killed himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-know-a-man-who-gave-up-smoking-drinking-sex-and-rich-food-he-was/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Never ask your wife if she still hears from her old pimp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/never-ask-your-wife-if-she-still-hears-from-her-old-pimp/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) [Explore all 156 Johnny Carson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) ## More Cranberries quotes > [I've always been an outsider kid. But I had always wanted to be in a group - growing up, I loved bands like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-angelique/i-ve-always-been-an-outsider-kid-but-i-had-always-wanted-to-be-in-a/) [Dawn Angelique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-angelique/) > [Cranberries are an ultra healthy fruit, but cranberry sauces are often so sugared down that it eliminates all their healthy benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harley-pasternak/cranberries-are-an-ultra-healthy-fruit-but-cranberry-sauces-are-often/) [Harley Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harley-pasternak/) > [I hated cranberry sauce, but for some reason my mom persisted in her lifelong belief that it was my very favorite food, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-hated-cranberry-sauce-but-for-some-reason-my-mom-persisted-in-her/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I've spent a lot of Thanksgivings on the road with my band, so anytime that I can spend Thanksgiving with my family in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-sambora/i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-thanksgivings-on-the-road-with-my-band-so-anytime/) [Richie Sambora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-sambora/) > [I don't know why, but I really love 'Zombie' by The Cranberries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/i-don-t-know-why-but-i-really-love-zombie-by-the-cranberries/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [Cranberries contain a massive amount of natural pectins. They will gel all on their own, which is why you can basically make cranberry sauce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/cranberries-contain-a-massive-amount-of-natural-pectins-they-will-gel/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [From the cranberry cancer scare of the 1950s to the Alar-in-apples hysteria of the 1980s, from the "new ice age" of the 1960s to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/from-the-cranberry-cancer-scare-of-the-1950s-to-the-alar-in-apples/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [I love cranberry juice, but I'm not a coffee drinker - as a Mormon, I avoid caffeine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donny-osmond/i-love-cranberry-juice-but-i-m-not-a-coffee-drinker-as-a-mormon-i/) [Donny Osmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donny-osmond/) > [Only we were in The Cranberries. Only we know what it was like being in that crazy whirlwind of fame. We have children and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-o-riordan/only-we-were-in-the-cranberries-only-we-know-what-it-was-like-being/) [Dolores O'Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-o-riordan/) > [Here's a Thanksgiving tip. Generally, your turkey is not cooked enough if it passes you the cranberry sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/here-s-a-thanksgiving-tip-generally-your-turkey-is-not-cooked-enough/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I knew, as sure as I knew my name, that tomorrow he would send me another coat, in a big fancy box, with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/i-knew-as-sure-as-i-knew-my-name-that-tomorrow-he-would-send-me/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [If I want to make - I don't know - strawberry jam, I'm going to have to add something to strawberries to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-shapiro/if-i-want-to-make-i-don-t-know-strawberry-jam-i-m-going-to-have-to/) [Ari Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-shapiro/) > [I went to the juice isle, I learned something. Cranberries are taking over everything. What do you got, apples? Put some cranberrise in there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/i-went-to-the-juice-isle-i-learned-something-cranberries-are-taking/) [Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/) > [I made cranberry sauce, and when it was done put it into a dark blue bowl for the beautiful contrast. I was thinking, doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-made-cranberry-sauce-and-when-it-was-done-put-it-into-a-dark-blue/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [Maybe you had to leave in order to really miss a place; maybe you had to travel to figure out how beloved your starting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/maybe-you-had-to-leave-in-order-to-really-miss-a-place-maybe-you-had/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) [Browse all 34 Cranberries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cranberries/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A two-pound turkey and a fifty-pound cranberry-that's Thanksgiving dinner at Three Mile Island.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johnny Carson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/a-two-pound-turkey-and-a-fifty-pound-cranberry-that-s-thanksgiving/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cranberries" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/a-two-pound-turkey-and-a-fifty-pound-cranberry-that-s-thanksgiving/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/johnny-carson-2644_cranberries_a-two-pound-turkey-and-a-fifty-pound-cra_580297.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/johnny-carson-2644_cranberries_a-two-pound-turkey-and-a-fifty-pound-cra_580297.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/johnny-carson-2644_cranberries_a-two-pound-turkey-and-a-fifty-pound-cra_580297.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A two-pound turkey and a fifty-pound cranberry-that's Thanksgiving dinner at Three Mile Island.” — Johnny Carson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Johnny Carson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A two-pound turkey and a fifty-pound...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/a-two-pound-turkey-and-a-fifty-pound-cranberry-that-s-thanksgiving/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/a-two-pound-turkey-and-a-fifty-pound-cranberry-that-s-thanksgiving/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```