1) “Golden Globes,” 8-11 p.m. ET, CBS. After two sub-par hosts, the show can bounce back with comedian Nikki Glaser in charge. Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya each have two best-picture nominees: their “Dune: Part 2” (shown here) … her “Challengers” (she’s up for best actress in a comedy) and his “A Complete Unknown” (he’s up for best actor in a drama, for his amazing work as Bob Dylan). Read more…
1) “Doc” debut, 9 p.m. Tuesday, Fox. Surviving a car crash, a doctor (Molly Parker, shown here) has lost eight years of memory. Now she’ll re-learn modern medicine – and adjust to the tragedies and mistakes in her personal life. This sounds like a soap opera, but it’s one of the year’s best new broadcast-network shows, written smartly and acted with subtle perfection. Read more…
Two remarkable talents fuel the movie “A Complete Unknown.”
One is Bob Dylan, the eternal enigma. The other is Timothee Chalamet, who doesn’t seem enigmatic at all; he’s simply in the Hanks/Streep/Newman mode, combining steep talent and hard work.
Now that pays off at the Golden Globes (8-11 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 5, on CBS). Of the six nominees for best motion picture drama, two – “Dune: Part 2” and “A Complete Unknown” – star Chalamet.
In the latter, he’s also nominated for best actor. This is the film where he becomes Dylan and, at 29, shows his range as an actor. Read more…
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…
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…
Best-bets for June 30: R.J., T and soccer 
Best-bets for June 29: The July 4th build-up begins 
Best-bets for June 28: music, young comic, old Mel 
