Best bets for Jan. 4: New football, old reruns

1) Football, 8:15 p.m. ET, CBS. We don’t expect to see Tom Brady (shown here) and the New England Patriots this early in the play-offs; they’re usually perched up high, drawing a first-week bye. But they lost their season-finale, finishing with a 12-4 record and losing out (via tiebreaker) on a bye. Tonight, they host Tennessee (10-6). That follows a 4:35 p.m. game on ESPN and ABC, with Buffalo at Houston; both teams are 10-6. Read more…

1) Football, 8:15 p.m. ET, CBS. We don’t expect to see Tom Brady (shown here) and the New England Patriots this early in the play-offs; they’re usually perched up high, drawing a first-week bye. But they lost their season-finale, finishing with a 12-4 record and losing out (via tiebreaker) on a bye. Tonight, they host Tennessee (10-6). That follows a 4:35 p.m. game on ESPN and ABC, with Buffalo at Houston; both teams are 10-6.

2) “The Incredible Dr. Pol,” all day, Nat Geo Wild. The “12 Days of Pol” marathon finally concludes at 3 a.m. ET, with glimpses of a veterinarian in rural Michigan. That includes a new episode at 9 p.m., with lots of young animals – twin calves, alpacas in threes and plenty of puppies.

3) “The Deputy,” 9 p.m., Fox. You’ve probably heard that speech that a guy gives his bosses late in a cop show – the I-don’t-need-your-stupid-rules one. This time, our guy delivers it in the opening minute – then proves it with some foolhardy chase scenes. What happens to a rogue like this? Due to an obscure rule, he becomes Los Angeles County’s acting sheriff. The result (a rerun of Thursday’s debut) is wildly overstated, yet oddly entertaining.

4) “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice,” 9 p.m. and midnight ET, CNN. If you missed this terrific documentary on Jan. 1 – hey, it was a busy day – catch it now. At 73, Ronstadt has spanned it all, from the hippie days of 1960s California to a Broadway operetta. She’s done rock, folk, country, Spanish ballads and ‘40s classics. She’s been a celebrity (dating rock stars and Gov. Jerry Brown) and an outspoken individual. It’s a fascinating story, rippling with great clips and songs.

5) “Saturday Night Live,” 10 and 11:29 p.m., NBC. Here are two reruns with rap stars doubling as host and music guest. It’s Drake at 10, then Chance the Rapper.

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