TV Best Bets

Wednesday, Jan. 4: Vivica’s Black Magic Bows on Lifetime

Vivica's Black Magic © 2016 Lifetime Credit: Joseph Viles

All Times Eastern.

Wednesday, Jan. 4

Vivica’s Black Magic
Lifetime, 10pm
New Series!
In her new reality series, actress and entrepreneur Vivica A. Fox 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!

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.

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.