Mike Hughes on TV

1) “The Pitt,” 11:30 a.m. to 11:41 p.m, HBO. Here’s the first season in one gulp, portraying an intense, 15-hour hospital shift. The show has already won five Emmys — including best drama and actors Noah Wyle (shown here, second from right), Katherine LaNasa and Shawn Hatosy). Now, four days before the second season on HBO Max, it’s up for four Critics Choice Awards. Read more…

1) “TV We Love,” 8 and 9 p.m., CW. Long ago, TV gave us black-and-white comedies, done on cramped sets. Many were awful; a few gave sharp scripts to gifted actors. Here are profiles of the great “I Love Lucy” (1951-57), shown here. and the very good “Honeymooners” (1955-56). Read more…

1) “Citizen Kane” (1941), 8 p.m. ET Turner Classic Movies; “Barbie” (2023), 8 p.m., TBS. Remember “Barbieheimer,” with same-day arrivals of films about a nuclear scientist and a plastic doll? Here’s a similar pair: “Kane,” No. 1 on the American Film Institute’s all-time list, is brilliantly crafted and black-and-white; “Barbie” (shown here) is smart, fun and quite pink. Read more…

1) Rose Parade (shown here in a previous year), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET, ABC and NBC. The year gets off to a colorful and musical start. It opens with Magic Johnson as grand marshal and music by Bishop Briggs. Then we see 19 bands, plus floats, horse units and more. The closing music is by Capital Cities and by Dek of Hearts, the trio that finished third in this season’s “The Voice.” Read more…

(PLEASE NOTE: For more details on the New Year’s Eve choices, check the overview under Stories.)

1) “New Year’s Rockin’ Ev e,” 8-10 p.m., 10:30 p.m. to 4 a.m., ABC. Some 53 years after Dick Clark created it, this is longer than ever. It leaps between Times Square (shown here) — with Ryan Seacrest hosting and Diana Ross performs live — and beyond: Roselyn Sanchez in Puerto Rico (music by Daddy Yankee), Chance the Rapper in Chicago and a pre-taped Las Vegas concert that has approximately everyone. Read more…

1) “American Masters,” 8-10 p.m., PBS. Now that Dick Van Dyke (shown here) has turned 100, we can savor a rerun of this fun profile. We see his start, using his elastic face and body for a goofy lip-sync act. He had a string of failures on CBS, until Carl Reiner created the delightful “Dick Van Dyke Show.” Then came “Mary Poppins,” some OK comedies and even a few dramas. Read more…

1) “The Year: 2025,” 8-10 p.m., ABC. Others have taken one-hour looks at the year in pop culture, but now ABC takes two hours to do it both ways. There’s the serious side — wars, wildfires, domestic turmoil, new pope, etc. — and the light side. The latter has interviews with Robert Irwin (shown here), the Jonas Brothers, Luke Bryan, podcasters, influencers and more. Read more…