Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Jan. 6: tales of rage in 1955 and 2021

1) “Women of the Movement” debut, 8-10 p.m., ABC. Once a star student, Mamie Till became a young mother in Chicago. In the summer of 1955, she reluctantly let her son Emmett, 14, visit his cousins in Mississippi; he was soon abducted and killed, in a case that spurred the civil rights movement. His mother became a teacher (with bachelor and master degrees) and an activist; her story (shown here, with Adrienne Warren and Cedric Joe) is told in this six-hour, three-week mini-series and in a documentary at 10:01 p.m. Read more…

Best-bets for Jan. 5: new “Sam,” interrupted “Race”

1) “Good Sam” debut, 10 p.m. CBS. Shows used to stir conflict simply by having a female boss. For “Prime Suspect,” for instance, that meant instant distrust. Now a drama needs more: Samantha (Sophia Bush, 39) is young to be the chief of surgery. One of her underlings (Jason Isaacs, 58), emerged from a coma, is the former chief … and a noted surgeon …. and her father. (They’re shown here.) That sets the groundwork for strong drama and occasional humor. The opener is entertaining, despite way too much medical jargon. Read more…

Best-bets for Jan. 4: TV’s top shows return

1) “This Is Us” season-opener, 9 p.m., NBC. From its first episode, this has been a rarity – a drama with twists, surprises and deep human emotions. Now its sixth and final season starts with lives in flux. In last year’s season-finale, Kevin’s wedding fell through and we saw signs that his sister Kate will lose her marriage. Tonight, they gather with their adoptive brother Randall (shown here with  Kevin in an earlier episode), to mark their 41st birthday. Read more…

Best-bets for Jan. 3: Blizzard and mobsters fill our screens

1) “9-1-1: Lone Star” season-opener, 8 p.m., Fox. Last season ended with a dust storm hitting Texas; this one starts with a blizzard. That happens just as Owen (Rob Lowe, shown here) tries to separate himself from the world. The world promptly shows up at his door, with the potential for danger, romance and heroics. This starts a multi-week story that mixes big action scenes and deeper personal moments. Read more…

Best-bets for Jan. 2: food, Fogg and fun

1) “Around the World in 80 Days” debut, 8 p.m., PBS. This is a “Masterpiece” show, but feels more like an epic adventure – a good one – for the big screen. It’s an international co-production, with David Tennant (who’s English) as the frantic Phileas Fogg, Ibrahim Koma (French) as his valet and Leonie Benesch (German) as a reporter. (They’re shown here.) After betting he can circumnavigate the globe, unheard of in the 19th century, Fogg faces thieves and revolutionaries. But by the end of the first hour, he’s soaring – literally. Read more…

Best-bets for Jan. 1: Year begins with parade, bowls, more

1) Rose Parade, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET, NBC and ABC. Every year should start with the giddy flash of a parade. The Rose Parade (shown here in a previous year) was canceled last year, but now it expects 20 bands, 40 floats and lots of horses. LeAnn Rimes does an opening song; LeVar Burton – who was a University of Southern California student when he got the “Roots” lead, 45 years ago – is grand marshal. It’s the 95th year NBC covers it on radio or TV; Chrissy Metz and Susan Kelechi Watson (“This Is Us”) do commentary. Read more…

Best bets for Dec.31: Eve rocks; so do bowls

1) “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” 8-11 p.m.and 11:30 p.m. to 2:13 a.m., ABC. The Times Square viewing area will be smaller – 15,000 people, masked and fully vaccinated – but the music continues. Live at the Square, Ryan Seacrest (shown here) will have LL Cool J, Journey, Chloe and Karol G. There’s Billy Porter in New Orleans, Daddy Yankee in Puerto Rico and a taped Los Angeles party with Ciara, Macklemore, Avril Lavine, Walker Hayes, OneRepublic, French Montana, Big Boi and more. Read more…

Week’s top-10 for Jan. 3: Two of TV’s best shows start final seasons

1) “This Is Us” season-opener, 9 p.m. Tuesday, NBC. One of TV’s best shows starts its sixth and final season. It has already drawn 38 Emmy nominations, including four for best drama series. It has won four Emmys, for Sterling K. Brown (shown here) as Randall, the businessman-turned-councilman, and for guest stars. Now Randall, Kevin and Kate – their lives in flux – celebrate their 41st birthday. That’s followed by an exceptionally good “New Amsterdam,” partly set in London, where Helen and Max have their clinic. Read more…

Best-bets for Dec.30: “Frozen,” football & festival

1) “Frozen” (2013), 8-10 p.m., ABC. Heading into the holiday weekend, it’s a strong movie night. That’s led by this gorgeous film (shown here), which won Oscars for best animated feature and for the song, “Let It Go.” Also at 8 are two strong choices for grown-ups: TNT has “Black Panther” (2018); it’s a superb action epic, despite a final battle scene that seems to be eternal. And USA has “Knives Out” (2019); Rian Johnson directed his own witty, Oscar-nominated script, mixing mystery and humor. Read more…

Best-bets for Dec. 29: Re-visit “Price” and “Wonder”

1) “‘The Price is Right’ 50th Anniversary Special,” 8-10 p.m., CBS. “Price” really began 65 years ago, but CBS ignores the NBC and ABC years. This rerun, from September, marked the start of the 50th CBS season. Up to then, two million people had been in the studio audience and 68,000 had been called as contestants. They’d won $300 million in prizes, including 8,400 cars; they’d tried 108 games. This season, with Drew Carey (shown here) hosting, added two more games, including one guessing 1972 prices. Read more…