1) Orange Bowl, 4 p.m. ET , ESPN. The regular season ended with two jolts: Top-ranked Georgia lost and slid to No. 6; Florida State (shown here) was undefeated, but stayed at No. 5. Fans fumed about missing the four-team playoffs. Now their teams collide, seeking some sort of consolation victory. Read more…
1) “Must Love Christmas” (2022), 9-11 p.m., CBS. Last year, CBS debuted three Christmas films – one poor, one so-so and this one, which is actually quite good. It has a likable star (Liza Lapira of “Equalizer,” shown here), lush visuals and a solid gimmick: She’s struggling with her Christmas novel and we glimpse at scenes from it. And unlike most of these, we keep guessing about her romantic future. Read more…
1) “Transplant,” 9 p.m., NBC. After a month-long break, “Transplant” returns with perhaps the best episode since its debut, three years ago. Desperate to become a Canadian citizen, Bash (shown here in a previous episode) has gathered paperwork from his Syrian war years. Now an official is asking about his workday; we jump between that government office and hectic moments in the hospital. “Transplant” skillfully shows life-and-death crises and subtle human moments. Read more…
1) “Kennedy Center Honors,” 8-10:30 p.m., CBS. Here’s how to stir a stately Washington, D.C. crowd. This opens with Gloria Estefan’s “Get On Your Feet” and closes with Ariana DeBose singing “Staying Alive.” In between, a Clark Sisters gospel tune has Queen Latifah (shown here in a previous event) leaping to her feet. She’s an honoree, with Dionne Warwick, Billy Crystal, Renee Fleming and Barry Gibb. Even if you tend to skip rap or classical, you’ll like this blend of music and memories.
Read more…
1) “NCIS: Sydney,” 8-11 p.m., CBS. As the strikes took hold, CBS grabbed some shows from other countries. The British “Ghosts” has been so-so, but this Australian series is fairly good; now it’s first three episodes rerun. A nasty case forces Americans and Aussies to work together. Naturally, both units are led by telegenic folks(shown here) who dislike each other … but dislike their bosses even more. The result is predictable, but in a good way. Read more…
1) “Call the Midwife” Christmas special, 8-9:30 p.m., PBS. British shows have a tradition of special episodes that air on Christmas Day. That can be clumsy for some shows, but this one — filled with earnest nuns, midwives and others, including a doctor – fits perfectly. There are life-and-death issues here, especially when a snowstorm hits. But there’s also fun: Trixie’s brother takes over the Christmas pageant and Reggie (shown here in a previous Christmas episode) insists on being an angel.
Read more…
1) Marathons. On Christmas Eve, TV likes to repeat itself. The delightful “A Christmas Story” (1983, shown here) starts at 8 p.m. on TBS and 9 on TNT; it re-starts every two hours, for 24 hours. The clever “Love, Actually” (2003), merely runs twice, at 6 and 9 p.m. on BBC America. “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) runs from 8-11 p.m. on NBC – then all day Monday on E. The oddest one? Great American Family has a yule log, from 5 p.m. ET today to noon Monday. Read more…
1) “Extended Family” debut, about 8 p.m. (after football), NBC. For one night, the post-strike TV season begins. This show has Jon Cryer navigating a life with his ex-wife (Abigail Spencer, they’re shown here), their two kids and her boyfriend (Donald Faison). There are the situation-comedy traditions, including a flailing dad and a dead fish. Still, this is fairly funny … and it’s good to finally have a new sitcom. Read more…
1) “A Home For the Holidays,” 8 p.m., CBS. Each year, this offers a warm finale to a crowded season of new Christmas specials. It’s the 25th year for “Home,” which has profiles of adoptions, alongside passionate music. This time Katharine McPhee (shown here in aprevious event) hosts and performs with her husbannd, David Foster. Also performing are Pentatonix, Gavin DeGraw, CeCe Winans and Lauren Daigle. Read more…
1) “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball,” 8-10 p.m., ABC. Holiday music gets a brisk, pop-music feel from Olivia Rodrigo (shown here in a previous concert), Niall Horan, Sza, Sabrina Carpenter and more. There’s Pentatonix, OneRepublic, Jelly Roll, AJR, Flo Ridda, Melanie Martinez, David Kushner, Doechii, Paul Russell and Big Time Rush. And alongside that youthful bunch, Cher, 77, performs “Believe,” her hit from 25 years ago. Read more…
