1) Football, 11 a.m. ET, ESPN2. The bowl barrage finally ends, with a game that’s early and sunny. The Bahamas Bowl has Buffalo – possibly delighted to be away from snowstorms – and Liberty. Afterward, ABC and ESPN have the regular-season pro finales for the Browns (3-13) and Ravens (11-5) at 4:30 and the Bengals (shown here, 8-8) and Steelers (10-6) at 8. Read more…
1) “Happy’s Place,” 8 p.m., NBC. Let’s at least credit this show for being one of the first with a new episode after the holidays: Competing with Gabby to be a comedy emcee Bobbie (Reba McEntire) gets coaching from her half-sister. (They’re show here.) The story requires four characters to be wildly overwrought. The others, Takoda and Emmett, provide enough laughs to make it sort of fun. Read more…
1) “Animal Control” season-opener, 9:01 p.m., Fox. This show deftly blends two kinds of comedy. Tonight, the character humor — is only moderately funny; it involves Frank and his current girlfriend, played (shown here, left and right) by Joel McHale and Sarah Chalke, but the sight gags are terrific: A zoo break leaves animals amok. Read more…
1) Rose Parade, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET, NBC and ABC. It’s a high-energy start to the new year. The parade (shown here in a previous year) has 32 floats and at at least 20 marching bands (including ones from Japan and Mexico). It also has 16 horse units, including Budweiser Clydesdales and the New Buffalo Soldiers. Read more…
1) “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” 8-10 p.m., 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., ABC. Ryan Seacrest will be in Times Square, where Carrie Underwood (shown here in a previous concert) does the last songs of 2024, the Jonas Brothers the first of 2025. Also, Megan Moroney, TLC and Sophie Ellis-Bextor in Times Square; Luis Fonsi in Puero Rico; Blake Shelton in Las Vegas; Lenny Kravitz and more in Los Angeles. Read more…
1) Jimmy Fallon’s 10th-anniversary special, 8-10 p.m., NBC. Actually, it’s almost 11 years. Fallon (shown here) passed the 10-year mark on Feb. 17 and had this special three months later, offering clips of sketches (with Will Ferrell, Nicole Kidman and such), games and music. It reruns now. Read more…
1) “Grammy Greats: The Most Memorable Moments,” 9-11 p.m., CBS. A 55-year run will end in 2027. when the Grammys move to ABC, Hulu and Disney+. For now, CBS grabs all the Grammy moments it can. This special has Dua Lipa, Ricky Martin (shown here), Jennifer Hudson, Keith Urban, Bonnie Raitt, LL Cool J, Joni Mitchell, Elton John and more. Read more…
1) Football. Eight bowl games are packed into one day, including three with top-25 teams. ESPN has games at 11 a.m. and 2:15 and 5:45 p.m., then Army (ranked No. 22) and Louisiana Tech at 9:15. ABC has ones at noon, 3:30 p.m. — with Miami (shown here, No. 13) and Iowa State (No. 18) — and 7:30, with Colorado (No. 23) and Brigham Young (No. 17). CW has a 4:30 game. Read more…
1) “Grammy Greats: The Stories Behind the Songs,” 9-11 p.m., CBS. A slow week is being brightened by three specials from the Grammy people. There was an Andrea Bocelli hour Tuesday; a “Memorable Moments” special is Sunday. In between, this talks to songwriters – Alicia Keys (shown here), Sting, Billie Eilish, Kenny Loggins, Bonnie Raitt and more. Read more…
1) “The Year: 2024,” 9-11 p.m., ABC. It’s been a strange year, ending with an overthrow in Syria (after 13 years of civil war) and a near-shutdown in the U.S. But this ABC News special will also leave room for pop culture. It includes Olympians, politicians, Elton John, Teddy Swims (shown here), Shaboozey, Lara Trump, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Charlamagne the God and more. Read more…
