Weekly Previews

1) “Survivor” opener, 8-10 p.m. Wednesday, CBS. The 40th edition is full of winners. All 20 contestants(show here with host Jeff Probst) have been champions before; one (Sandra Diaz-Twine) has done it twice. They go back as far as Ethan Zohn, who won the third edition, in 2001 … and are as recent as the 2018 winners, Nick Wilson and Wendell Holland. Rob and Amber Mariano are also back. She won in 2004, right after accepting his proposal; he won in 2011. Leaving their four daughters (ages 5 to 10) behind, they both headed to Fiji. Read more…

1) Academy Awards, 8 p.m. Sunday, ABC. The bad news is that there will again be no host; at times (including this year’s Emmys), the result can be drab and dreary. And the good? It’s a wide-open field, with no sure winners … and the music should be great. We’ll hear some powerhouse voices – Cynthia Erivo(shown here) will do a song she co-wrote for “Harriet,” Idina Menzel will do a song from “Frozen II.” We’ll also hear Elton John (“Rocketman”), Randy Newman (“Toy Story 4”) and Chrissy Metz (“Breakthrough”). Read more…

1) Super Bowl, 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox. The Kansas City Chiefs were at the Read more…

1) Grammy awards, 8-11 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS. Alicia Keys (shown here) hosts a night filled with music stars. Ariana Grande and Demi Lovarto will be singing; so will Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani. Bonnie Raitt will perform a tribute to Lifetime Achievement Award-winner John Prine; another lifetime award-winner, Run-D.M.C., will perform with Aerosmith. There’s much more, including Camilla Cabello, the Jonas Brothers, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, H.E.R., Charlie Wilson, Rosa, Lizzo, Tyler the Creator and late additions. Read more…

1) “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” (shown here) debut, 10 p.m. Tuesday, NBC. Lab accidents used to Read more…

1) “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” 8-11 p.m. Tuesday and 11:30 p.m. to 2:13 a.m., ABC. Here’s the plan Dick Clark created 47 years ago: Tape music in advance … put someone (now Ryan Seacrest) live at Times Square … then blend them. This year that adds live music from Times Square (BTS, shown here, plyus Post Malone, Sam Hunt and Alanis Morissette), Miami (Jonas Brothers) and New Orleans (Usher, Sheryl Crow). Ciara heads the taped party, with Paula Abdul, Kelsea Ballerini, Green Day, Dan + Shea and more. Read more…

1) “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (shown here), 8 p.m. Wednesday, NBC. Consider this a great way to wrap up Christmas Day – one more chance to see a TV gem. It started with Dr. Seuss’ book, which ripples with both humor and (in its final minutes) warmth. Chuck Jones – the genius behind Road Runner and some of the best Bugs Bunny cartoons – added great animation, Boris Karloff narrated and Thurl Ravenscroft boomed the song. It’s a tidy 30 minutes – followed by two-and-a-half hours of Jim Carrey’s “Grinch.” Read more…

1) “Saturday Night Live,” 11:29 p.m. Saturday, NBC. Eddie Murphy reached “SNL” in 1980, when it was reeling. The original stars and producer were gone; their replacements faltered. Then Murphy was added – first as an extra, then as a regular. He was 19, raw … and brilliant. He stayed for four seasons, then became a movie star. He slumped, but now has drawn raves (and a Golden Globe nomination) for Netflix’s “Dolemite is My Name” (shown here). Murphy hosts for the first time in 35 years; Lizzo is the music guest. Read more…

1) “Kennedy Center Honors,” 8-10 p.m. Sunday, CBS. It’s easy to confuse Sally Field with Linda Ronstadt (shown here). Both are 73, 5-foot-3, bubble-faced, passionate and extremely talented. Field has two Oscars, Ronstadt has 12 Grammys; now both will be honored, in an annual show known for brilliant performances and smart little profile films. Also honored will be conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, R&B group “Earth, Wind and Fire” and “Sesame Street,” the first time a TV show is included. Read more…

1) “Madam Secretary” series finale, 10 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 8), CBS. Back in 1974, Cicely Tyson won two Emmys for playing Jane Pittman. Tyson, then 49, portrayed the fictional Pittman, 110, recounting a life that went from slavery to civil rights. And now? Tyson, 94, plays someone who was born 99 years ago, when women got the right to vote; she watches a female president (Tea Leoni, shown here in the Dec. 1 episode) start a landmark initiative. The finale also has Tyne Daly, the U.S. women’s soccer team and music from Peter Frampton. Read more…