ABBOTT ELEMENTARY - “Pilot” – In this workplace comedy, a group of dedicated, passionate teachers — and a slightly tone-deaf principal — are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life. Though these incredible public servants may be outnumbered and underfunded, they love what they do — even if they don’t love the school district’s less-than-stellar attitude toward educating children. (ABC/Prashant Gupta)

Best-bets for Jan. 7: a big night for comedy and masks

1) “Abbott Elementary,” 8:30 p.m., ABC. On Sunday, this likable show (shown here in a previous season) will be up for a Golden Globe as best comedy series; it’s been nominated for that four straight times. First, here’s a clever mid-season shift: After the pipes broke at the school, classes now resume in a former shopping mall. Read more…

1) “Abbott Elementary,” 8:30 p.m., ABC. On Sunday, this likable show (shown here in a previous season) will be up for a Golden Globe as best comedy series; it’s been nominated for that four straight times. First, here’s a clever mid-season shift: After the pipes broke at the school, classes now resume in a former shopping mall.

2) More comedy, ABC. At 8 p.m. on “Shifting Gears,” when her dad has a no-dog rule, Riley thinks about moving out with her kids. At 9:02, “20/20” looks back at “The Golden Girls,” which started 40 years ago. Its last surviving star, Betty White, died four years ago, at 99.

3) “The Masked Singer” opener, 8-10 p.m., Fox. Rita Ora opens the show with a powerhouse song, then settles into her role as judge, part of the usual excess. Judges scream wild praise at the good singers (there are plenty) and, alas, at the others. Two people are unmasked; and in a first, we learn who one of the singers is … but not which mask he or she has.

4) “Harlen Coben’s Final Twist” debut, 10 p.m., CBS. With “Survivor” waiting until Feb. 25 to start its 50th edition, CBS has a temporary line-up for Wednesdays. It’s “Hollywood Squares” at 8, “The Price is Right at Night” at 9 and then this show, with Coben (a mystery novelist) telling true-crime tales.

5) ALSO: The USA Network has the early rounds of the U.S. Figureskating Championship, from 8-11 p.m. today and 6-11 p.m. Thursday. On Friday and Saturday that goes to NBC … which tonight has the mid-season opening of its three “Chicago” shows. Also, all of the skating is on Peacock.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *