Best-bets for Dec. 26: reflect on a bombed, battered year

1) “The Year: 2022,” 9-11 p.m., ABC. It’s been a weird year. Russians, Republicans and Elon Musk expected big triumphs; so did the Dodgers in the play-offs and France in the World Cup. None of that happened, in a year of surprises in Ukraine (shown here) and beyond. Meanwhile, Covid, gas prices and Donald Trump had roller-coaster years, the economy bounced back and the newest TV stars were the 67-year-old Kevin Costner and the 4-foot-11 Quinta Brunson. ABC has a lot to summarize. Read more…

1) “The Year: 2022,” 9-11 p.m., ABC. It’s been a weird year. Russians, Republicans and Elon Musk expected big triumphs; so did the Dodgers in the play-offs and France in the World Cup. None of that happened, in a year of surprises in Ukraine (shown here) and beyond. Meanwhile, Covid, gas prices and Donald Trump had roller-coaster years, the economy bounced back and the newest TV stars were the 67-year-old Kevin Costner and the 4-foot-11 Quinta Brunson. ABC has a lot to summarize.

2) “Bob (Hearts) Abishola,” 8:30 p.m., CBS. Here’s a rerun of the episode, from 15 months ago, that saw Bob and Abishola marry in her native Nigeria. It’s not as funny as other episodes of this terrific series, but redeems itself with a feeling of joy and zest.

3) All night, HBO. On a strong night, two 2022 movies lead into the “His Dark Materials” two-part finale. “Death on the Nile” — a richly crafted film, with Kenneth Branagh directing and starring as Hercule Poirot – is at 4:30 p.m., followed at 6:52 by “Amsterdam” (2022), a star-stuffed comedy-drama from “Silver Linings Playbook” director David O. Russell. Then the third and final “Materials” season concludes, at 9 and 9:52 p.m.

4) “Midsomer Murders,” www.acorn.tv. It’s a good week for Acorn, capturing two extremes of life in a British village. Tonight is the nasty side: In a smart, movie-length tale, a self-promoting organic baker stirs anger among villagers. And on Saturday, the warm side: A Christmas episode will wrap up the 10th and final season of the excellent “Doc Martin.”

5) ALSO: NBC’s “The Wheel” game show moves to 8 p.m. for the second half of its two-week, 10-hour run; tonight, it’s followed at 9 by “Coat of Many Colors,” a 2015 Dolly Parton movie. Also at 8, the CW has the Family Film Awards and Lifetime has Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner in “The Bodyguard” (1992) … shortly after a movie about Houston opened in theaters. Lifetime’s own film, “Whitney” (2015), is at 11:03 p.m.

 

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