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…
Rippling through “NCIS: Origins” are all the usual elements – murder, arson, treason and generally impolite behavior.
But there’s one thing more: “There’s so much humor in the show,” David North, one of the two showrunners, told the Television Critics Association.
Well … not “Big Bang” or Three Stooges humor, but neat niches of levity from Caleb Foote (shown here) and others. Viewers can sample that as “Origins” reruns the start of its season.
So far, 10 episodes have aired. Before the second half of the “Origins” season starts (Jan. 27), all will have had a second run.
Two reran early. Now come the others – one on Monday, Dec. 30; three on Wednesday, Jan. 1; one Monday, Jan. 6; the other three on Sunday, Jan. 12. 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…
Here’s a list of 42 shows — debuts or season-openers — coming this mid-season. Some are terrific (“The Americas” is shown here), some aren’t, but all provide fresh choices. The story below this has more details.
NEW SCRIPTED SHOWS
— “Going Dutch,” 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, Fox. The career of a tough colonel (Denis Leary) implodes. He’s sent to a gentle Dutch base, run by his estranged daughter. The opening episode is flat; the second is better.
— “Doc,” 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, Fox. Here’s a brilliant concept, beautifully executed. Recovering from a traffic crash, a doctor has lost eight years of memories. Now she must update her knowledge … and adjust to her misdeeds during those years. Molly Parker leads a terrific cast. Read more…
As the New Year confetti gets swept away, TV starts its in-between phase.
At the worst, that can mean reruns and time-fillers. At the best, there’s a burst of new-show energy.
Listed separately (see story above this) are 42 shows coming to broadcast networks, ranging from the compelling “Doc” (shown here) and gorgeous “Americas” to the so-so “Watson” and “Going Dutch.” 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…
Best-bets for March 27: greats of dance & basketball 
Best-bets for March 26: sports surge, plus music 
Best-bets for March 25: End is here for “Fear,” near for “Singer” 
