1) “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” 8 p.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m., ABC. It’s the longest Eve show ever — eight hours (minus the news at 10). Ryan Seacrest (shown here in a previous year) is at Times Square, where Diana Ross sings live. Others are in Chicago, Las Vegas and Puerto Rico, with music (mostly taped) ranging from Mariah Carey to Post Malone, Chappell Roan and BigXthePlug. Read more…
1) “Christmas Day Parade,” 10 a.m. ET (but 5 a.m. PT, ABC. Bouncing through the Disney parks, this gives Christmas a cheery star.t It includes music by Coco Jones, Gwen Stefani, Lady A, Bebe Rexha, Nicole Scherzinger (shown here), Iam Tongi and Mariah the Scientist. Read more…
1) “A Christmas Story” (1983) marathon, 8 p.m., TBS; 9 p.m., TNT. This modest-budgeted gem (shown here) reruns every two hours, for 24 hours. It’s filled with memories of a 1940s childhood — some of them dark, some nostalgic and many of them surprisingly funny.
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Slogging through the post-Christmas lull, TV viewers can find quick comfort. Or maybe semi-quick.
Current shows will have new episodes in early January on most networks … or late February on CBS. And they’ll be joined by:
— Nine new scripted series, led by Fox’s amiable “Doc Martin” reboot, starring Josh Charles (shown here on one of the doctor’s many bad days).
— The season-openers of 11 scripted shows, including ABC’s “Will Trent” and “The Rookie.”
— Three new unscripted shows, starting with a Harlan Coban true-crime series, Jan. 8. Read more…
1) “Kennedy Center Honors,” 8-10:30 p.m., CBS. This used to be one of TV’s best shows. Now a politicized version has Trump-approved honorees (George Strait, Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Crawford, KISS) and mid-level performers. Still, it also has Kelsey Grammer, plus stars of country (Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, Brooks & Dunn), gospel and more. (Shown here are David Phelps and Laura Osnes.) Read more…
1) “Christina Aguilera: Christmas in Paris,” 9- p.m., CBS. Here’s a late addition to CBS’ holiday line-up: With the Eiffel Tower in the background, Aguilera (shon here in a previous concert) performs Christmas classics and her past hits. She’s joined by French singer Yseult and by Sheila E. Read more…
1) “The Road” finale, 9:30 p.m., CBS (but 9 p.m. on the West Coast). Beautifully produced, this started with 12 talented singers opening for Keith Urban in country bars. Despite some flaws — songs cut too short, over-focusing on rowdy tunes — it’s been terrific. Now it’s down to (from left), Channing Wilson, 49; Cassidy Daniels, 25; Adam Sanders, 37. Read more…
1) “A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music,” 8-10 p.m. Sunday, CBS. It’s a night stuffed with stars. Performing are Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada (shown here in a previous concert), Andrea Bocelli, Luis Fonsi, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Robin Thicke, the cast of Broadway’s “Buena Vista Social Club” and more. Also, comments by Carlos Santana, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rita Moreno and others. Read more…
1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m., NBC. Here are opposites in many ways: Ariana Grande, who hosts, is 32; Cher (shown here), the music guest, is 79. Grande has a gentle voice and presence; Cher us a booming alto with a towering persona. But both are talented stars; Cher’s only other time as music guest was in 1987 … six years before Grande was born. Read more…
For TV networks — and TV viewers — President Trump’s speech creates instant complications.
The talk is planned for 9 p.m. ET today (Wednesday), just as networks are at a key moment.
That’s halfway through Fox’s “The Floor” finale, a third of the way through CBS’ “Survivor” family. For music fans, it’s halfway through ABC’s new “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2025” and just before NBC starts its “Christmas in Nashville” rerun (shown here with Lauren Alaina).
All four of those networks plan to simply pause their regular plans, then simply resume when Trump is done. The delay is variously estimated at 15 to 22 minutes. But what about viewers who don’t want to hear Trump or wait him out? Their options include: Read more…
