> Tonight BBC World News America looks at how diverse cultural communities of modern America celebrate this centuries old tradition. Three Americans — a recently naturalized U.S. citizen from India, a first generation Mexican-American, and a woman whose American roots date back to the 15th century, explain what Thanksgiving means to them. BBC World News America airs at 7pmET on BBC America.

> CNN’s Anderson Cooper hosts CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute tonight at 9pmET on CNN. The show was taped before an audience of more than 2,000 at the Kodak Theatre last Saturday. The star-studded event features performances by Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys and John Legend, with awards presented by Jessica Biel, Cameron Diaz, Salma Hayek, Terrence Howard, Hugh Jackman, and Forest Whitaker.

> Before you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner think about this quote from Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps about his eating habits: “I have to always just constantly shovel food in because I can lose anywhere from five to 10 pounds in a week.” Nice. Phelps talks with the aforementioned Cooper this Sunday on 60 Minutes. By the way, that rumored 12,000-calorie a day diet is more like 8-10,000 calories a day. We feel better now.

CNN’s Anderson Cooper with mother-daughter actors Vanessa Redgrave and Joely Richardson.

They love LA.

In its second year, CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute moved to Hollywood from its inaugural location at New York’s Museum of Natural History. With performances from Alicia Keys and John Legend and a surprise performance by Christina Aguilera, Saturday’s show at the Kodak Theatre provided a star-studded location in which to honor everyday heroes. The event will air Thanksgiving night on CNN.

Host Anderson Cooper joked that he was going to hologram-in Larry King for a special appearance. (He didn’t). Medical Marvel hero David Puckett got a kiss from presenter Salma Hayak, then forgot his acceptance speech.

Liz McCartney was named Hero of the Year. She’ll receive $100,000 for her work helping survivors of Hurricane Katrina rebuild their homes.

Also spotted, Robert Duvall, Meg Ryan and Cameron Diaz, singer Taylor Swift and CSI New York star and Obama BFF Hill Harper.

Insiders tell us plans are already in the works for 2009 Heroes. The ability to draw on celebrity guests will most likely make Los Angeles the choice for location next year, too. After the jump, the memo sent this morning to the CNN staff from CNN Worldwide president Jim Walton.

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Last night, CNN cracked the one million vote mark for this year’s CNN Heroes. Last year’s inaugural Heroes received a total of 300,000 online votes. Voting ended this morning at 6amET.

The show, hosted by Anderson Cooper, is being held at Hollywood’s Kodak Theater this weekend and will air on Thanksgiving night on CNN. It features performances from Alica Keys and John Legend and, of course, the heroes. A blue ribbon panel has selected 10 finalists among hundreds of “ordinary people who have made an extraordinary impact.” The Hero of the Year will be awarded $100,000 in addition to the $25,000 that each of the top 10 CNN Heroes receives.

Perhaps the greatest indication of the impact of Brian Ross‘s investigative work at the Conventions occurred today when Denver police arrested one of his producer/reporters.

Ross’ investigative unit has been following the Money Trail since the 1996 political conventions. The unit heads to high priced, low profile parties put on by donors for the political elite. And apparently there are hundreds each year.

“You wouldn’t know about them unless you went where we went,” Ross told TVNewser today. So far the unit has seen everyone from DNC chairman Howard Dean to singer John Legend attend these events. Reports have aired all this week and will again all next week at the RNC.

Today TVNewser saw the operation in action. Senior investigative producer Rhonda Schwartz is the point person, armed with a spreadsheet of potential events, directing various teams in the field where to go and what they might encounter. (The arrest of reporter Asa Eslocker would come later in the afternoon.)

Reflecting on the series, Schwartz says, “This was the first time anyone tried to show this. And we’re still doing this and it’s still largely an ethics-free zone.”

Ross also talked to us about his other big recent story…that story about John Edwards you may have heard about…

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