1) “American Masters,” 9 p.m. Friday, PBS. On the eve of his 100th birthday, here’s a joyous tour of Dick Van Dyke’s life (so far). His elastic face and body were the core of a nightclub act. CBS signed him and couldn’t find a spot — until he linked with writer-producer Carl Reiner. From the brilliant “Dick Van Dyke Show” to “Mary Poppins” (shown here) and beyond, he’s been a delight.
2) Taylor Swift, Friday. Life conspired to give Swift and Van Dyke the same birthday (albeit 64 years apart), with TV events on its eve. That’s when Disney+ debuts “The Eras Tour: The Final Show,” with the “tortured poets” section she wrote during the tour. It also releases a six-part backstage documentary; ABC samples both, from 8-10 p.m.
3) “The Amazing Race” finale, 9:30-11 p.m. Wednesday, CBS. For its first seven seasons, this won the Emmy for best reality show. It’s won three more times and remains sharply produced. This season started with 13 duos, each with a former “Big Brother” contestant. Now three duos reach New York, where they rappel down the Empire State Building.
4) More finales. Two Fox shows — both sub-par, actually — wrap their seasons. At 9 p.m. Monday, it’s “Celebrity Weakest Link”; eight “TV doctors” — either a real doctor or an actor playing one –compete. At 9 p.m. Wednesday, it’s “99 to Beat”: After starting with 100 people, it’s down to five, playing silly games to see who wins a million dollars.
5) “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), 3, 6 and 9 p.m., today E. If you can’t wait until Christmas Eve (when NBC shows this warm classic), catch it now. And if you can wait? Consider “The Waltons Homecoming” (2021), 8-10 p.m. on CW. As the kids prepares for their dad’s return on Christmas, a fierce storm hits Logan Shroyer (the teen Kevin in “This Is Us”) stars
6) “The First Christmas,” 8-10 p.m. Tuesday, ABC. Christmas TV isn’t just candy canes and comedies. This movie re-visits the nativity story. It has unknown actors playing Mary, Joseph and others, but the very-known Kevin Costner is host and narrator. If you prefer the light side, NBC reruns “Frosty,” “Shrek the Halls” and the pleasant “A Motown Christmas.”
7) “Year in Review,” 9:15 to 10 p.m. Thursday, NBC. It’s time to look back at 2025 — not the messy parts (raids, shutdown and such), but the entertainment world. Mario Lopez and Kit Hoover host. This is trimmed to 45 minutes, to fit between reruns of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and Jimmy Fallon’s holiday show; a one-hour version will air Dec. 17.
8) Bowls begin, noon and 8 p.m. ET Saturday, ABC. Over the next month, TV has 34 bowl games — plus seven more that determine the college football champion. That starts modestly, with the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta and the LA Bowl in (logically) Los Angeles. In between, there’s the 126th Army-Navy game (3 p.m., CBS) and the Heisman Trophy (7, ABC).
9) “Wake Up Dead Man,” Friday, Netflix. In his first two “Knives Out” films, writer-director Rian Johnson brilliantly blended humor, smart mysteries and great characters. His third one again has Daniel Craig as crimesolver; Josh O’Connor (who also hosts this week’s Saturday Night Live”) plays a suspect. Also, streaming: the enjoyable “Roofman,” Tuesday on Paramount+.
10) “Happiness,” 8 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday, PBS. When his Broadway life implodes, a director reluctantly retreats to the New Zealand town where he was a child star in local theater. The result is a gentle mix of humor and warmth, plus a few potent songs. Its six half-hour episodes fill three Sundays, while we wait for the return of “Masterpiece” dramas.