Best-bets for Jan. 7: Comedies, new and old, abound

1) “Mr. Mayor” debut, 8 and 8:30 p.m., NBC. After making lots of money, Neil (Ted Danson, shown here) had empty time. So, of course, he ran for mayor of Los Angeles. Now that he’s been elected, he needs … well, projects and plans and such. This is a clever shows that takes sly pokes at trendiness and (in the second episode) adds some broader humor. Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, the “30 Rock” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” duo, produce, with Holly Hunter and Bobby Moynihan in support. Read more…

1) “Mr. Mayor” debut, 8 and 8:30 p.m., NBC. After making lots of money, Neil (Ted Danson, shown here) had empty time. So, of course, he ran for mayor of Los Angeles. Now that he’s been elected, he needs … well, projects and plans and such. This is a clever shows that takes sly pokes at trendiness and (in the second episode) adds some broader humor. Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, the “30 Rock” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” duo, produce, with Holly Hunter and Bobby Moynihan in support.

2) “Last Man Standing,” 9:30 p.m.. Fox. “Home Improvement” finished each of its eight seasons in the Nielsen top-10 – half of them in the top four. Tim Allen quit, but returned a decade later with the OK “Last Man.” Now – in its ninth and final season – it has Tim (from the old show) meet Mike (from this one). That involves technical wizardry and clever writing … making up for a awful subplot. That follows a fun “Call Me Kat” (9 p.m.) that lets Mayim Bialik sing with Broadway’s Cheyenne Jackson.

3) More comedies. With all those new comedies, let’s remember that CBS still has the best ones. Tonight, that includes “Young Sheldon” at 8 (college orientation, where his mom is delighted when someone thinks she’s a coed), “B Positive” at 8:30 (a funny rerun with Drew feeling down after a divorce mediation) and “Mom” at 9 (Jill is desperate to rekindle her relationship with Andy).

4) “The Chase” debut, 9 p.m, ABC. The final “Jeopardy” episodes hosted by the late Alex Trebek are today and Friday. By coincidence, the show’s three best contestants – Ken Jennings, James Holzhauer and Brad Rutter – star here. They take turns as “the chaser,” trying to catch contestants who get a head start in answering questions. That’s part of a game night, with “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” at 8 p.m. and Craig Ferguson’s “The Hustler” at 10. “Grey’s Anatomy” and other dramas will rest a while.

5) “The Go-Big Show” debut, 9 p.m., TBS, rerunning at 10 and 11:30 (with “Conan” at 11, rerunning at 12:30). There are still some nights without wrestling (really), so this can fill the void. It’s a contest for extreme skills, with wrestler Cody Rhodes as one of the judges. The opener has people who describe their talents as “pain artist,” “foot archer” and “mutant.” Also, magic, tiny-bike jumps and fiery hula hoops. The skill is impressive; the surrounding whoops and hoopla are sheer excess.

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