TV Best Bets

Thursday, Dec. 29: The Selection: Special Operations Experiment

The Selection HISTORY Copyright 2016

All Times Eastern.

Thursday, Dec. 29

The Selection: Special Operations Experiment: “Weeding Out the Weak”
History, 10pm
In a stealth and concealment exercise, the participants go out on the ultimate game of hide-and-seek, where they are tasked with camouflaging themselves in a hide-site to evade detection by the instructors. If “capture,” they will suffer unimaginable consequences as they experience the mental rigors of Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training.

“Star Trek: The Original Series” Marathon
BBC America, beginning at 2:15am
Enjoy a two-day marathon of the original 1960s Star Trek TV series beginning Thursday morning with “The Return of the Archons” from Season 1 and including favorites like “Space Seed,” “The City on the Edge of Forever,” “Mirror, Mirror” and “The Trouble With Tribbles.”

College Football
ESPN, beginning at 2pm Live
College football bowl action on ESPN today features the Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., and the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

NBA Basketball
TNT, beginning at 8pm Live
TNT’s NBA doubleheader has Al Horford leading the Boston Celtics against LeBron James and the Cavaliers in Cleveland, followed by Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks in Los Angeles to face Luol Deng and the Lakers.

“America’s Got Talent” Holiday Spectacular
NBC, 9pm
If you were too caught up in holiday shopping to catch this on Dec. 19, tonight you can watch this festive, star-studded special, featuring this season’s America’s Got Talent winner, Grace VanderWaal, along with fan favorites The Clairvoyants, Brian Justin Crum, Olate Dogs and crooner Sal Valentinetti, who performs “Santa Baby” with Heidi Klum. Additional performances include Season 9 winner Mat Franco, special guests Penn & Teller, The Regurgitator and daredevil Professor Splash, who will perform a dive into a pool of eggnog.

Titanic: Mysteries at the Museum
Travel Channel, 9pm
Don Wildman dives into the Atlantic and explores ship artifacts to uncover key elements that sank the legendary ocean liner Titanic.

Friday, Dec. 30

Gold Rush Marathon
Discovery Channel, beginning at 9am
Enjoy over 12 hours of episodes from Gold Rush, Discovery’s top-rated series, which follows gold miners hoping to strike it rich.

College Football
ESPN & CBS, beginning at 12pm Live
ESPN airs the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn., the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn., and the Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami. The Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, airs on CBS.

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
TCM, 4pm
Cary Grant, Myrna Loy and a teenage Shirley Temple star in this Oscar-winning 1947 film about playboy Dickie Nugent (Grant), who charms beautiful judge Margaret Turner (Loy) out of convicting him for brawling at a nightclub. But the artist and the judge get more than they bargained for when Dickie gives a lecture at a high-school later that day and promptly becomes the object of Margaret’s teen sister’s affection.

MacGyver: “Can Opener”
CBS, 8pm
In a rebroadcast of the episode “Can Opener,” MacGyver (Lucas Till) is tasked to go undercover as an inmate in a maximum security prison to break out drug kingpin “El Noche” (guest star Raoul Trujillo) and track him to his cartel’s secret location.

Sherlock on Masterpiece: “The Abominable Bride”
PBS, 9pm
While you wait for the next month’s return of Sherlock, revisit last year’s holiday special, which found Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Dr. Watson (Martin Freeman) in 1890s London, investigating a murderous bride, who herself is (supposedly) dead.

Mysteries at the Museum: “North Pole Expedition, Iceberg Fleet and the Minnesota Iceman”
Travel Channel, 9pm
History explorer Don Wildman examines the icy stories behind an eccentric expedition to the North Pole, a frozen feat of nautical engineering and the cosmic conundrum surrounding an incredible icicle.

Saturday, Dec. 31

College Football
ESPN & ABC, beginning at 11am Live
New Year’s Eve college football action begins with the TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla., on ESPN and the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on ABC. Then the only bowl games with any real significance take place on ESPN with the College Football Playoff Semifinals: the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and the Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The semifinal winners play in the National Championship game in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 9.

Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2017
ABC, beginning at 8pm ET/7pm CT Live; 7pm MT/8pm PT Tape-delayed
Music’s biggest stars join host Ryan Seacrest and his guests to celebrate the arrival of 2017.

Live From Lincoln Center: “New York Philharmonic New Year’s Eve”
PBS, 8pm Live
Ring in the new year with a night of American classics, including beloved works by Rodgers & Hammerstein, featuring Joyce DiDonato with the New York Philharmonic.

Ghost Adventures: “Dakota’s Sanatorium of Death”
Travel Channel, 9pm
San Haven Sanatorium offered care to countless North Dakotans since 1912, but for thousands, this place was the last stop. There are entities lurking here one cannot even imagine, and the Ghost Adventures crew has come to investigate.

Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution
FOX, 11pm ET Live; 11pm CT/MT/PT Tape-delayed
Queen Latifah — currently appearing in the new FOX series Star — and entertainment icon Snoop Dogg host the third installment of Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution. The special will be broadcast live from Miami’s Bayfront Park as Pitbull and his special guests start the new year with a bash that highlights the city’s hip and hot style.

Austin City Limits Hall of Fame New Year’s Eve
PBS, 11pm
Celebrate New Year’s Eve as Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King and Kris Kristofferson are inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame. Performers include Willie Nelson, Rodney Crowell, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons and more. Hosted by Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally.

NBC’s New Year’s Eve With Carson Daly
NBC, 11:30pm ET Live; 11:30pm CT/MT/PT Tape-delayed
Carson Daly returns to his annual post in this special that rings in the new year with performances from top stars.

Sunday, Jan. 1

NHL Centennial Classic: Detroit at Toronto
NBC, 3pm Live

The Detroit Red Wings head to Toronto’s BMO Field for this outdoor game against the Maple Leafs in celebration of the NHL’s centennial year.

Great Performances: “From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2017”
PBS, 7:30pm
Julie Andrews hosts the traditional ringing in of the new year with the Vienna Philharmonic and guest conductor Gustavo Dudamel. Highlights include Strauss family waltzes and a picturesque range of Vienna landmarks.

Guy’s Grocery Games: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Tournament 2
Food Network, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Sixteen of Guy Fieri’s favorite “Triple D” chefs compete in a five-week Guy’s Grocery Games tournament that features new games, memorable moments and a grand finale featuring the most unforgettable twist yet — all for a payout of up to $40,000.

The Mick
FOX, 8pm
New Series!
In this new sitcom, Kaitlin Olson (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) plays Mackenzie “Mickey” Murphy, a rough-edged, hard-living woman who suddenly becomes temporary guardian to her wealthy sister’s three entitled, overindulged kids. The series begins in its regular date and time on Jan. 3.

A Rose for Christmas
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!
Rachel Boston plays a woman whose Pasadena family has built Rose Parade floats for generations. When her dad gets sick, she has no choice but to take the helm and supervise the construction and last-minute decoration of a float. She initially clashes with the client’s representative — who’s all business — but as they work side by side, they learn that the other is not who they seem.

Mommy, I Didn’t Do It
Lifetime, 8pm
Original Film!
This film is a sequel to the 2013 Lifetime original movie The Wrong Woman. Danica McKellar (The Wonder Years) reprises her role as Ellen Plainview, a single mother who raised her teenage daughter while getting her law degree. When her rebellious 17-year-old daughter is arrested for murdering her teacher, Ellen takes on the daunting task of trying to defend her daughter.

The Librarians:
And the Curse of Cindy”
TNT, 8pm

The obnoxious Cindy Kroger has suddenly become super-popular thanks to a magical love potion. The Librarians must stop her before she launches a love missile that would force the whole world to become her fan base.

Ransom
CBS, 8:30pm
New Series!
This new drama series follows crisis and hostage negotiator Eric Beaumont (Luke Roberts), who uses his insight into human behavior to nonviolently resolve the most difficult kidnap and ransom cases. The series is inspired by the professional experiences of distinguished crisis negotiators Laurent Combalbert and Marwan Mery. After tonight’s premiere, Ransom airs Saturdays beginning Jan. 7.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine
FOX, 8:30pm
Midseason Finale!
Tonight, the Nine-Nine airs its two-part winter finale. But won’t worry — the comedy will return this spring with new episodes.

To Tell the Truth
ABC, 9pm
Season Premiere!
Anthony Anderson (black-ish) is back as host of ABC’s modern update of the 1950s game show. In its second season, To Tell the Truth will feature a new celebrity panel for each episode, while Anderson’s mom, Doris, returns to egg on her boy as commentator.

Sherlock
PBS, 9pm
Season Premiere!
When Sherlock returns after a yearlong hiatus, Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch), his best friend, Dr. Watson (Martin Freeman), and Watson’s wife, Mary (Freeman’s real-life partner, Amanda Abbington), are expanding their trio with the birth of the couple’s first child. The premiere, based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1904 Holmes story “The Adventure of the Six Napoleons,” features the destruction of several sculptures of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. “We wanted a modern parallel to Napoleon,” explains co-creator Mark Gatiss. “Thatcher is an iconic politician, whatever you think of her.” Episode 2 introduces guest star Toby Jones as classic Holmes adversary Culverton Smith, a man whose rotten teeth reflect his dead soul. And the finale is a mind-bender, a nail-biter and a stomach-turner. “This season is our darkest yet, because we put the characters through an emotional ringer,” Gatiss says.

Xtreme Waterparks
Travel Channel, 9pm
Season Premiere!
Each Sunday in January, as part of Travel Channel’s “Dive Into Winter” event, this program will explore the wildest, most over-the-top and exhilarating water rides in the world.

Pure Genius: “Grace”
CBS, 9:30pm
In the new episode “Grace,” James (Augustus Prew) attempts a radical antiviral treatment on a young man who comes to Bunker Hill ravaged by a drug-resistant strain of HIV.

Top Secret Swimming Holes
Travel Channel, 10pm
This special tracks down 10 gorgeous swimming holes per week (another episode airs Jan. 8) — from Mexico’s mystical sinkhole caves, to the desert oases of Oman, to an invisible pool at the edge of the world’s largest waterfall in Zambia, and more.

The Affair
Showtime, 10pm

Noah’s (Dominic West) unexplained absence sends Helen (Maura Tierney) on a journey of increasingly troublesome discoveries. Noah’s compelled to return to a place he’s spent his life trying to escape. He attempts to repair his relationship with Martin (Jake Saciliano) with the sense that time is quickly running out.

Monday, Jan. 2

Countdown to the 128th Rose Parade
Hallmark Channel, 10am
This one-hour special captures the excitement of last-minute activity from the parade site in Pasadena, Calif., where more than 900 volunteers will have labored for a combined 80,000 hours to bring the amazing, gorgeous New Year’s spectacle to life.

The 128th Rose Parade
Hallmark Channel, 11am
This annual tradition moves to Jan. 2 whenever New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday. The parade features spirited marching bands, gorgeous floral floats and high-stepping horses marching down Colorado Boulevard.

College Football
ABC & ESPN, beginning at 1pm Live

With the NFL playing on New Year’s Day, the college football bowl games traditionally played on Jan. 1 take place today. Catch Florida vs. Iowa in the Outback Bowl (ABC), Western Michigan vs. Wisconsin in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (ESPN), USC vs. Penn State in the Rose Bowl (ESPN) and Auburn vs. Oklahoma in the Allstate Sugar Bowl (ESPN).

NHL Winter Classic: Chicago at St. Louis
NBC, 1pm Live

The ninth annual NHL Winter Classic outdoor game features the Chicago Blackhawks taking on the St. Louis Blues at Busch Stadium.

Paradise Run
Nickelodeon, 7pm
Season Premiere!
Daniella Monet hosts as three teams of kids compete in a series of funny and physically demanding challenges. Some of the wacky challenges facing the teams include propelling down 50­foot slippery slides, quenching the thirst of man­made volcanoes, digging through giant mud pits and racing on football­field-length zip lines.

The Bachelor
ABC, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Love him or hate him, there’s no question that 35-year-old Wisconsin native Nick Viall has made a name for himself — and a sort of mini-career — in the Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise. Now Viall scores his time in the true spotlight as the star of The Bachelor’s 21st season. Will he find lasting love? Does he want lasting love? Only Nick knows — and the show’s rabid fans are about to find out.

Kids Baking Championship
Food Network, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Twelve of the best young bakers in America compete for the title of Kids Baking Champion. Hosts and judges Valerie Bertinelli and Duff Goldman lead these culinarily gifted kids through tasty challenges — from volcano cakes to breakfast desserts to mobile-app cookies — designed to find the most impressive and creative baker, until just one kid rises to the top and claims his or her prize.

MasterChef Celebrity Showdown
FOX, 8pm
In a two-hour event, celebrities battle against each other to raise money for worthy charities. Empire stars Trai Byers and Grace Gealey face off against NeNe and Gregg Leakes. Son of Zorn’s Cheryl Hines wages culinary war against Designated Survivor’s Kal Penn. It’s twinsanity when former NFL stars Ronde and Tiki Barber challenge twin rockers Joel and Benji Madden to a test of brotherly love and cooking prowess. And finally, black-ish star Anthony Anderson and chef Gordon Ramsay throw down the cooking mitts vs. Lethal Weapon’s Jordana Brewster and chef Christina Tosi.

Shadowhunters
Freeform, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Season 2 of the series based on The Mortal Instruments book series by Cassandra Clare returns with a darker tone, new showrunners and more action. The Shadow World is in upheaval as Valentine (Alan Van Sprang) and The Circle continue to grow stronger and Clary Fray (Katherine McNamara) and her Shadowhunter friends become disillusioned with The Clave and their reaction to recent events.

A Surrogate’s Nightmare
Lifetime, 8pm
Angela (Poppy Montgomery, Without a Trace) returns to her hometown to reconnect with her estranged sister, Shelley (Emily Tennant, Cedar Cove) following the death of their mother. Trying everything to mend the relationship, Angela agrees to be a surrogate for Shelley and her husband, David (Steven Krueger, The Originals). But the secrets she worked so hard to cover up come back to haunt her — with deadly consequences.

The New Celebrity Apprentice
NBC, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Arnold Schwarzenegger takes over as boss of the boardroom at the show’s new state-of-the-art headquarters in Silicon Beach. Advising him are investment guru Warren Buffett, Los Angeles Clippers owner and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, supermodel Tyra Banks, actress and entrepreneur Jessica Alba, and Arnold’s trusted confidant and nephew, prominent entertainment attorney Patrick Knapp Schwarzenegger. “I’d never done reality TV before, so everything was new to me. Luckily, I’m always a fanatic about preparation and reps, reps, reps, so I wanted to be sure that before every episode I had studied every aspect of the teams, their individual responsibilities, and the challenge,” Arnold tells us when discussing the challenges of firing people. “But firing some of the cast was very difficult. You spend so much time with these people, you have to remind yourself that no matter what, you’re sending one home at the end of each show. And after a close challenge, it can take a lot of time and thought to figure out who to send home.”

Beyond
Freeform, 9pm
New Series!
After 12 years in a coma, Holden (Burkely Duffield) wakes and discovers that he has superhuman new abilities. As he tries to figure out what happened to him during his dozen years of dormancy, he also has to come to terms with a world that has moved on without him. And — oh yeah — bad guys are after him. Also stars Romy Rosemont, Michael McGrady, Jonathan Whitesell, Dilan Gwyn and Jeff Pierre.

Scorpion: “Ice Ca-Cabes”
CBS, 10pm
A mission in the desert results in exploding shrapnel that seriously wounds Cabe (Robert Patrick), and Team Scorpion must freeze his body in order to save his life in the new episode “Ice Ca-Cabes.”

Independent Lens: “Best and Most Beautiful Things”
PBS, 10pm
Join Michelle Smith, an unforgettable young woman who is legally blind and on the autism spectrum, on a journey of self-discovery that celebrates outcasts everywhere.

Tuesday, Jan. 3

The Dengineers
Discovery Family, 7pm
New Series!
In this series, an elite team dedicated to making out-of-this-world playrooms and playhouses for children travels the U.K. to bring youngsters’ dreams to life by building whatever (and wherever) their imagination takes them.

College Basketball
ESPN & ESPN2, beginning at 7pm Live

Catch some of the nation’s elite teams in action on ESPN and ESPN2 with Wisconsin at Indiana (ESPN), North Carolina at Clemson (ESPN2), Texas A&M at Kentucky (ESPN) and Kansas State at Kansas (ESPN2).

Post My Party
Discovery Family, 7:30pm
New Series!
Event expert and DIY maven Lynzie Kent helps up-and-coming hosts bring their dream parties to life by guiding them through a series of handmade projects guaranteed to make any event memorable and special.

NCIS: “Willoughby”
CBS, 8pm
An undercover NCIS operation to apprehend a businessman who uses acts of terror to manipulate the stock market is compromised in the new episode “Willoughby.”

New Girl
FOX, 8pm
New Time Slot!
Tonight, FOX’s adorkable comedy moves to a new time slot.

American Masters: “Sidney Lumet”
PBS, 8pm
Journey through the life’s work of the socially conscious director of Serpico, 12 Angry Men and Network in a never-before-seen interview. With candor, humor and grace, Sidney Lumet revealed what mattered to him as an artist and as a human being.

The Mick
FOX, 8:30pm

FOX’s new sitcom about rough-around-the-edges Mackenzie “Mickey” Murphy (Kaitlin Olson), who’s forced to play mom to her wealthy, spoiled niece and nephews, begins in its regular time slot tonight.

Fresh Off the Boat: “How to Be an American”
ABC, 9pm
During her interview for U.S. citizenship, Jessica (Constance Wu) reveals shocking details about her past that even Louis (Randall Park) knew nothing about.  Meanwhile, Eddie (Hudson Yang), Emery (Forrest Wheeler) and Evan (Ian Chen) have a day off from school and decide take the minivan for a joyride.

Bull: “E.J.”
CBS, 9pm
In the new episode “E.J.,” Bull (Michael Weatherly) discovers his client — the CEO of a company developing a self-driving car — is keeping a major secret that could sink the trial.

Bones: The Final Chapter
FOX, 9pm
Season Premiere!
Season 12 begins the countdown to the end of the forensic dramedy starring David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel as FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth and forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. The opener finds Booth in a desperate search for his wife, who was abducted in last season’s finale by a former squintern of the Jeffersonian team. Star Deschanel is helming the season premiere, in her directorial debut. “She’s been wanting to do this for a number of years,” reports executive producer Michael Peterson. “It’s no easy assignment, but she absolutely did great.”

Good Behavior: “For You I’d Go With Strawberry”
TNT, 9pm

Sean’s (Todd Williams) attempt at getting custody of Jacob (Nyles Julian Steele) causes Letty (Michelle Dockery) to falter in a weak moment that could drive a permanent wedge between her and Javier (Juan Diego Botto). Christian (Terry Kinney) presents Letty with a legitimate opportunity to change her life.

Killing Fields
Discovery Channel, 10pm
Season Premiere!
The true-crime series co-executive produced by Oscar-winning film director Barry Levinson is back for a second season. Shot in real time, the new season picks up as Rodie, Aubrey and the team zero in on the infamous 1997 homicide of former Louisiana State University student Eugenie Boisfontaine. Rodie is more determined than ever to close the case, which has haunted him for more than two decades.

Frontline: “President Trump”
PBS, 10pm
Examine the key moments that shaped President-elect Donald Trump. Interviews with advisers, business associates and biographers reveal how Trump transformed himself from real estate developer to entertainer to president.

Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen
Bravo, 11pm
Season Premiere!
Bravo’s late-night talk show, formerly Watch What Happens Live, debuts an official name change, a fresh, revamped studio and a new logo. In addition to doubling the size of the audience, the remodeled studio will also offer a designated performance space for musical guests. In its over 1,000 episodes, Andy Cohen has welcomed big names (including Oprah and Cher) and a gaggle of Bravolebrities to TV’s only live and interactive late-night series.

Wednesday, Jan. 4

Unsung: “SWV”
TV One, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Season 10 kicks off with a look at the group SWV (Sisters With Voices), which brought an edgy sound to female R&B groups that helped define the 1990s.

Modern Family: “Ringmaster Keifth”
ABC, 9pm
Guest Star Alert!
In an attempt to recover from his Thanksgiving debacle, Cam (Eric Stonestreet) decides to treat the family to a New Year’s Day feast. Realizing Cam’s about to fail again, Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) uses a “concierge” gift card that he got for Christmas to save the day, but Cam soon discovers that the concierge is none other than his ex-boyfriend, Keifth (guest star Kelsey Grammer), a former circus ringmaster who left him without saying goodbye. Meanwhile, Frank (Fred Willard) arrives with his new girlfriend, who happens to be Phil’s childhood babysitter, which sends Phil (Ty Burrell) into a tailspin.

Alaskan Bush People
Discovery Channel, 9pm
Season Premiere!
This season, Billy Brown, wife Ami and their seven grown children are focused on staying together at all costs. Matt Brown returns, rejoining the family and their new cow Sabrina. When the nest is full, it’s all hands on deck to find sustainable food and resources. The Browns take their “bushcraft” to new levels, creating homemade dynamite and building their own sawmill. The family grapples with tough choices, as the Brown boys continue their search for love. They also face challenges as they endure the elements of Alaska, including storms, more bears and grueling trips to protect their livelihood.

Star
FOX, 9pm
New Episodes!
After a special premiere in December, the latest musical smash from Empire co-creator Lee Daniels and The Whole Truth creator Tom Donaghy moves to its regular time slot. The stunning series follows three talented and ambitious singers (stars-in-the-making Jude Demorest, Brittany O’Grady and Ryan Destiny) as they navigate the cutthroat music business with the dream of music stardom. Queen Latifah stars as the girls’ surrogate mother, and Benjamin Bratt plays a down-on-his-luck manager who sees the girls as a means to jump-starting his career.

NOVA: “Secrets of the Sky Tombs”
PBS, 9pm
A team of daring scientists reveals ancient secrets of the first people to settle the forbidding Himalayas. Join them as they climb into mountain tombs that preserve evidence of strange rituals designed to ward off the restless spirits of the dead.

black-ish: “Their Eyes Were Watching Screens”
ABC, 9:30pm
Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross) take action when Diane (Marsai Martin) stumbles onto some websites that are more than she bargained for — and deal with the fallout when they make their home a internet-free zone.

Code Black: “One in a Million”
CBS, 10pm
In the new episode “One in a Million,” Leanne (Marcia Gay Harden) defies Campbell’s (Boris Kodjoe) order and uses the hospital helicopter to reunite a family for the last time.

Match Game
ABC, 10pm
Season Premiere!
ABC’s bawdy and irreverent Match Game reboot, hosted by Alec Baldwin, returns for a second season of brave contestants trying to match wits — and answers — with celebrity cut-ups for a $25,000 payout.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
FXX, 10pm
Season Premiere!
The gang is back for Season 12 of It’s Always Sunny with the premiere episode “The Gang Turns Black.” After an electric heating blanket shorts out while the gang watches The Wiz, they look in the mirror and realize they’ve turned black. They have to figure out how to get back to being themselves by going through all the classic body-switch movie shenanigans they encounter.

Vivica’s Black Magic
Lifetime, 10pm
New Series!
In her new reality series, the actress and entrepreneur is on the hunt for a group of steamy male dancers to headline her exotic male revue, Black Magic, and getting them ready to perform in Las Vegas. But after finding her steamy dream team, getting the six-pack-blessed, elite eight ready to perform will take a lot of drama-infused work. “The goal of Vivica’s Black Magic is to create the ultimate girls’ night out,” reveals Fox. But forget leaving the comfort of your couch — this hot series seems like the perfect night in!

Too Close to Home
TLC, 10pm
Season Premiere!
Eight new episodes of TLC’s bold Tyler Perry drama continue the story of Anna (Danielle Savre), a young woman whose life is turned upside down when her affair with the president of the United States is broadcast worldwide, forcing her to return to her modest beginnings in an Alabama trailer park. Heather Locklear returns in the recurring role of first lady Katelynn Christian.

Man Seeking Woman
FXX, 10:30pm
Season Premiere!

This season will see Josh Greenberg (Jay Baruchel) face his toughest challenge yet: a serious, long-term relationship with Lucy (Katie Findlay). Together, Josh and Lucy take on anniversaries, merging friend groups, ruthless drug lords, friendly forest creatures, student loans and even God himself.

Thursday, Jan. 5

Hell’s Kitchen
FOX, 8pm
New Time Slot!
TV’s toughest kitchen competition series moves to Thursdays with back-to-back new episodes.

Superstore: “Lost and Found”
NBC, 8pm
New Episodes!
At the beginning of every year, Cloud 9 employees hold a “lost and found bin cleanout” to get rid of all the unclaimed items. Amy (America Ferrera) unknowingly walks away with a huge wad of cash, and Jonah (Ben Feldman) is determined to help her find the best use for it. Meanwhile, Cheyenne (Nichole Bloom) proves she is never one to keep a secret, and Dina (Lauren Ash) pushes Garrett (Colton Dunn) over the edge.

Nashville
CMT, 9pm
Season Premiere!
The music-centric ABC soap finds new life in its fifth season, with a new cable-network home and seasoned new showrunners that should make for some intriguing character development for Nashies’ favorite folks.

Chicago Med: “Uncharted Territory”
NBC, 9pm
New Episodes!
Goodwin (S. Epatha Merkerson) tasks Dr. Charles (Oliver Platt) with evaluating a patient as a possible heart recipient, while Jeff (guest star Jeff Hephner) makes a confession to Dr. Manning (Torrey DeVitto). Dr. Choi (Brian Tee) deals with two MMA fighters who are brought into Chicago Med in bad shape. Elsewhere, Dr. Stohl (guest star Eddie Jemison) returns to the hospital from his sabbatical leave and immediately offers up a different medical opinion regarding the treatment of a patient under the care of Dr. Halstead (Nick Gehlfuss). April (Yaya DaCosta) discovers her TB medication may lead to further complications.

Alcatraz: Mysteries at the Museum
Travel Channel, 9pm
Head to San Francisco to uncover the real story behind the notorious prison break on Alcatraz Island. Host Don Wildman investigates new evidence that may prove once and for all whether the escapees lived or died that infamous night.

Bringing Up Bates
UP TV, 9pm
Season Premiere!
In Season 5, members of the super-sized Bates family take on new challenges. Zach and Whitney experience life as parents of two kids, Erin and Chad adjust to a new baby and a new puppy, and Lawson launches his own concert tour. Meanwhile, Alyssa has exciting news, Tori’s relationship with Bobby evolves, and Carlin and Josie adjust to a new college and possible new careers. Also, Trace chases his dream of working at the Dixie Stampede, and parents Gil and Kelly Jo focus on their dream of building a church.

The Blacklist: “Lipet’s Seafood Company”
NBC, 10pm
New Episodes!
An investigation into an international terrorist operating on American soil tests the allegiances of the task force. As Aram (Amir Arison) faces the consequences of his girlfriend hacking into the FBI computer systems, Red (James Spader) cashes in on a favor.

Friday, Jan. 6

One Day at a Time
Netflix
New Series!
This reimagining of the classic Norman Lear sitcom stars Justina Machado as a recently separated former military mom navigating her new single life while raising a radical teenage daughter and a tween son with the “help” of her old-school Cuban-born mom (Rita Moreno) and friend-without-benefits building manager Schneider (Todd Grinnell).

MacGyver: “Screwdriver”
CBS, 8pm
In the new episode “Screwdriver,” MacGyver (Lucas Till) must find the mole who is leaking classified intel to the organization that is trying to take down the Phoenix Foundation.

Ginormous Food
Food Network, 8pm
New Series!
Funnyman food fanatic Josh Denny sets out on a quest to find the biggest, tastiest foods in America. Josh mines the minds (and kitchens) of the passionate people who come up with these oversized edibles — from a 5-foot pizza to an 8-pound barbecue sandwich to a burrito too big to wrap his arms around — and sinks his teeth into the culinary monsters.

Rosewood
FOX, 8pm
New Time Slot!
The hot Miami-based medical drama moves to a new night and time.

Grimm
NBC, 8pm
Season Premiere!
The drama begins its sixth and final season tonight. The nefarious forces of Black Claw have been silenced, and Nick (David Giuntoli) faces an all-too-familiar foe in Capt. Sean Renard (Sasha Roiz). Now in the seat of power as the mayor-elect of Portland, Renard is poised to bring rise to his own brand of law and order. Nick must take a stand to protect his city and those closest to him, especially his child with Adalind (Claire Coffee). It will take the full force of Nick and his allies to find a way to bring the peace. Meanwhile, Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) and Rosalee (Bree Turner) grapple with bringing a child into a new and tumultuous world, and Eve (Bitsie Tulloch) faces unsettling identity issues as her former self lurks below the surface.

Dr. Ken: “Ken’s New Intern”
ABC, 8:30pm
Allison (Suzy Nakamura) starts to feel a bit insecure when Ken’s (Ken Jeong) attractive — and flirty — new intern, Erin (guest star Gillian Jacobs), arrives at Welltopia. Meanwhile, Damona’s (Tisha Campbell-Martin) boyfriend, Eric (Jerry Minor), wants her to confront her musical past when he learns she was the lead singer on C+C Music Factory’s 1990 hit “Gonna Make You Sweat.” And Molly’s (Krista Marie Yu) first date with Jae (Justin Chon) leaves her wondering if he really likes her, so matchmaker D.K. (Dana Lee) launches a secret investigation.

Hawaii Five-0: “Ka ’aelike (The Deal)”
CBS, 9pm
Chin (Daniel Dae Kim) is kidnapped by a Mexican cartel in the new episode “Ka ’aelike (The Deal), and Five-0 must find and rescue him before he is executed.

Sleepy Hollow
FOX, 9pm
Season Premiere!
After last season’s controversial decision not to kill off lead actress Nicole Beharie’s character, we’re feeling a bit like headless horsemen — unable to see where this show is going. In Season 4, Ichabod finds himself in our nation’s capital and trying to save it from otherworldly threats.

Emerald City
NBC, 9pm
New Series!
Swept up into the eye of a tornado, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale (Adria Arjona) is transported to another world — a mystical land where an all-powerful ruler (Vincent D’Onofrio) has outlawed magic and faces not only the wrath of a growing cauldron of witches but also a looming disaster brought on by a mythical force. This retelling of the classic Oz tale also stars Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Ana Ularu and Joely Richardson.

In Jackson Heights
PBS, 9pm
Examine the daily life of residents in an ethnically and culturally diverse community in Queens, New York. Witness the conflict between retaining ties to the traditions of their countries of origin and the desire to learn and adapt to American mores.

Saturday, Jan. 7

College Basketball
CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, FOX & FS1, beginning at 12pm Live

Top Saturday college hoops games include Butler at Georgetown (FOX), Texas A&M at South Carolina (CBS), St. John’s at Xavier (FS1), Tennessee at Florida (ESPN2), Texas Tech at Kansas (ESPN2), Marquette at Villanova (FS1), NC State at North Carolina (ESPN) and Texas at Iowa State (ESPN2).

NFL Playoffs: Wild Card Playoffs
ABC/ESPN, CBS, FOX & NBC, beginning at 4:15pm Live

The NFL playoffs begin today with wild-card games on ABC (simulcast on ESPN) and NBC. Wild-card games continue Sunday with an AFC game on CBS and an NFC game on FOX.

Ransom
CBS, 8pm
Inspired by the work of world-renowned negotiators Laurent Combalbert and Marwan Mery, Ransom follows crisis and hostage negotiator Eric Beaumont (Luke Roberts), who’s called on to nonviolently resolve the most difficult kidnap and ransom cases. The series begins in its regular time slot tonight.

Under the Bed
Lifetime, 8pm
Inspired by true events, Under the Bed tells the cautionary tale of a young woman (Hannah New, Black Sails) in the throes of a recent breakup, whose new friend on social media turns out to be an obsessed stalker who stows away in her home and begins to wreak havoc. Beverly D’Angelo costars.

Love on Ice
Hallmark Channel, 9pm
Original Film!
Emily James (Julie Berman) is a former Olympic figure skating hopeful who walked away from it all. Now in her late 20s, she is considered a relic in the world of figure skating, but a handsome and energetic coach (Andrew Walker) sees that she still possesses a spark of greatness, and gives her a shot to reclaim her skating glory. As they work together, the pair discovers that their love goes beyond skating.