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Thursday, Dec. 27: College Football Bowl Game Tripleheader on ESPN

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

ALSO SEE: NFL Regular Season Schedule 2018

All Times Eastern.

Thursday, Dec. 27

College Football
ESPN, beginning at 1:30pm Live

ESPN airs a trio of college football bowl games today with Temple vs. Duke in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., Wisconsin vs. Miami in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., and Baylor vs. Vanderbilt in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium in Houston.

NHL Hockey: Philadelphia at Tampa Bay
NBCSN, 7:30pm Live

Claude Giroux leads the Philadelphia Flyers into Tampa Bay to face Steven Stamkos and the Lightning on NBCSN.

Happy New Year, Charlie Brown!
ABC, 8pm

In this classic animated special from 1986, poor Charlie Brown’s holiday vacation is ruined by a book report assignment on Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Good grief — what grade are these kids in again?! The 1,136-page tome is so heavy, he needs a handcart to schlep it around. Meanwhile, the rest of the gang is learning to foxtrot in preparation for a New Year’s Eve shindig.

I Feel Bad: “I Don’t Know My Dad”
NBC, 8pm
Season Finale!

When Emet (Sarayu Blue) realizes she doesn’t know very much about her father, she goes to extreme measures to learn more about him. Meanwhile, the guys at work try to open up more to each other. Another new episode follows.

NBA Basketball
TNT, beginning at 8pm Live

The Boston Celtics visit the Houston Rockets in the first game of TNT’s Thursday NBA doubleheader. The second game has the Philadelphia 76ers at the Utah Jazz.

Top Chef: “Surprise … It’s Restaurant Wars”
Bravo, 9pm

On the reality competition’s menu tonight: delicious mind games! The fan-favorite Restaurant Wars challenge gets served up early this season, and it’ll be three teams (rather than the usual two) trying to open eateries on the fly. “The chefs knew it was coming, so we added another twist,” says judge Tom Colicchio. “I don’t think the surprise affected the food, but now they’re never going to get comfortable!”

Friday, Dec. 28

Selection Day
Netflix
New Series!

This original drama from India is based on the novel by Aravind Adiga. It’s a coming-of-age story about a 14-year-old boy named Manju, who tries out for Mumbai’s under-19 cricket team. When he meets his older brother’s rival, everything in his world begins to change.

College Football
ESPN, beginning at 1:30pm Live

The parade of college football bowl games marches on with Purdue vs. Auburn in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, West Virginia vs. Syracuse in the Camping World Bowl and Iowa State vs. Washington State in the Valero Alamo Bowl.

Garth: Live at Notre Dame!
CBS, 8pm

CBS presents this encore of the Garth: Live at Notre Dame! concert event. Country legend Garth Brooks takes the stage for the first concert ever at the University of Notre Dame’s 88-year-old football stadium. Filmed in October, the special includes Brooks’ greatest hits as well as some unexpected covers, all in front of an enthusiastic sold-out crowd of over 84,000.

Midnight, Texas: “Yasss, Queen”
NBC, 8pm
Series Finale!

With Midnight, Texas, now under the rule of Dark Witches, the surviving Midnighters must band together in one last, desperate attempt to save their town. NBC did not renew Midnight, Texas for a third season, so the season finale “Yasss, Queen” will also serve as the series finale.

Songs on Screen
TCM, beginning at 8pm

Turner Classic Movies airs three classic music-filled films: The Beatles starring in A Hard Day’s Night (1964), Elvis Presley leading Jailhouse Rock (1957) and the big-screen version of The Who’s rock opera Tommy (1975).

Popstar’s Best of 2018
The CW, 9pm

Hosts Elizabeth Stanton and James Maslow count down the greatest and most memorable moments and trends of 2018, as decided by polls from Popstar! Magazine.

Great Performances: “Leonard Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood”
PBS, 9pm

Celebrate Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday with this tribute concert at Tanglewood. Featuring the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the concert is hosted by Audra McDonald and includes guest artists Midori, Yo-Yo Ma, Thomas Hampson and others.

Z Nation: “The End of Everything”
Syfy, 9pm
Series Finale!

After five seasons, the zombie apocalypse drama ends tonight with the appropriately titled “The End of Everything.” In the story, humans, Talkers and Blends join Warren (Kellita Smith) and the heroes to help George (Katy M. O’Brian) defeat Estes and Pandora (Jack Plotnick, Lydia Hearst). Newmericans finally are given the right to vote, but before Warren can take a well-deserved break, Cooper (Mario Van Peebles) reappears with something important to tell her. While Z Nation won’t go on, Netflix has ordered eight episodes of a prequel spinoff series called Black Summer.

Van Helsing: “Birth Ritual”
Syfy, 10pm
Season Finale!

The action-horror series brings its third season to a close.

Extreme Love
WE tv, 10pm
New Series!

Based on the popular digital show of the same name, this eight-episode series includes tales of incredible and unusual relationships where traditional notions of romance are reimagined for the 21st century. Stories include a young Florida woman who spends time as an “adult baby,” a 4-foot-tall weightlifter who finds love with a transgender woman, and real-life vampire couples.

Extreme Cake Makers: “Prince of Cakes”
Cooking Channel, 11pm

There’s no place like home — even if, as a member of the British royal family, you happen to have five of them. Husband-and-wife bakers Phil and Christine Jensen counted on that sentimental adage for their latest challenge on Extreme Cake Makers.

Saturday, Dec. 29

Brunch Weekend
Food Network, 11am

Mix up the mimosas and couch out with a trio of new brunch-themed episodes, starting with The Kitchen’s pre-New Year’s menu featuring chef Jeff Mauro’s strawberry and prosecco scones. Next, Trisha’s Southern Kitchen has cornmeal pancakes worth singing about, followed by Guy’s Ranch Kitchen and a Northern Cali spread that includes spicy deviled eggs and avocado toast.

“American Gods” Marathon
Starz, beginning at 3pm

The Gods have spoken. Before Season 2 arrives March 10, you can marathon the trippy eight-episode first round of this fantasy drama, about the impending war between dormant old gods hiding among us and vibrant new gods (like Technical Boy!). The series, based on Neil Gaiman’s 2001 novel, is a visual stunner, and with a fantastic Ian McShane stirring the pot as the mysterious Mr. Wednesday, it’s also never dull.

College Football Playoff Semifinals
ESPN, beginning at 4pm Live

The nation’s top four teams battle in the College Football Playoff semifinal games for the right to play in the national championship Jan. 7. The No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on the No. 2 Clemson Tigers in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Then the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners go up against the defending national champion and No. 1 seed Alabama Crimson Tide in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida.

“The Fast and the Furious” Franchise Marathon
Syfy, beginning at 5:30pm

Airing tonight and picking up again tomorrow afternoon, several entries from the popular action film series will air on Syfy. Titles shown include The Fast and the Furious (2001), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006).

A Midnight Kiss
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!

With only one week to prepare, Mia (Adelaide Kane) and her family of party planners are given the biggest job in their company’s history: a massive New Year’s Eve party for tech entrepreneur Kate Clark. When her brother breaks his leg and her parents head off on a planned vacation, Mia reluctantly enlists the help of her brother’s visiting college buddy (Carlos PenaVega) to help her pull off the event.

The Alec Baldwin Show
ABC, 10pm

Emmy-winning actress Regina King joins Alec for a conversation about her impressive career on both sides of the camera and the fear she had to overcome when she decided to direct. King talks about her return to the big screen after many years in her newest project, If Beale Street Could Talk. Next, Gloria Allred shares her sense of duty for her work, the privilege she feels to be an attorney and her philosophy that guides her life. The successful lawyer and feminist discusses her early life as a single parent and why she delayed her application to law school until she was in her 30s. She shares her thoughts on #MeToo and whether things have gotten better, the Bill Cosby case, the importance of equal pay and her continued fight for equal rights.

2019 Winterfest Preview Special
Hallmark Channel, 10pm

Taylor Cole and Rukiya Bernard host a sneak peek at all five original movies coming to Hallmark Channel this January as the network celebrates new beginnings during Winterfest.

Sunday, Dec. 30

Martina’s Table: “New Mom Brunch Basket”
Food Network, 12pm

Martina McBride is putting together a basket of food, which includes hashbrown casserole and individual chocolate-cherry cheesecakes, for a family friend who just had her first baby.

NFL Football
Beginning at 1pm Live

It’s the final week of the NFL regular season, and there are still a few playoff berths up for grabs. Sunday’s games with playoff implications are N.Y. Jets at New England (1pm, CBS), Jacksonville at Houston (1pm, CBS),
San Francisco at L.A. Rams (4:25pm, FOX), Chicago at Minnesota (4:25pm, FOX), Philadelphia at Washington (4:25pm, FOX), Oakland at Kansas City (4:25pm, CBS), L.A. Chargers at Denver (4:25pm, CBS), Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (4:25pm, CBS) and Indianapolis at Tennessee (8:20pm, NBC). CBS and FOX games air regionally.

The Orville
FOX, 8pm
Season Premiere!

This special episode airs immediately after FOX’s NFL football doubleheader. The sci-fi series, which follows the action of the humans and aliens aboard a mid-level exploratory spaceship, moves to Thursday nights beginning Jan. 3. In Season 2, the relationship between Ed (series creator and star Seth MacFarlane) and Kelly (Adrianne Palicki) takes a turn, while the ship’s crew will meet never-before-seen aliens, face old adversaries the Krill, make first contact with a new civilization and revisit the planet Moclus.

Escape at Dannemora
Showtime, 10pm
Series Finale!

Showtime’s limited series based on the stranger-than-fiction account of a prison break in upstate New York comes to its explosive end. Patricia Arquette was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in this series.

“The Twilight Zone” New Year’s Marathon
Syfy, beginning at 10:54pm

This year, Syfy’s popular annual programming event will give viewers 56 straight hours (running through early morning Jan. 2) of Rod Serling’s classic sci-fi/fantasy anthology series, including fan-favorite episodes airing in primetime on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Monday, Dec. 31

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

Get your New Year’s Eve celebration started early with a full day of college football bowl games: the Military Bowl (ESPN), Hyundai Sun Bowl (CBS), Redbox Bowl (FOX), AutoZone Liberty Bowl (ESPN), San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl (FS1) and TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (ESPN).

“The Simpsons” New Year’s Marathon
FXX, beginning at 6pm

“Welcome to T.G.I. McScratchy’s, where it’s constantly New Year’s Eve!” FXX helps you ring in the new year with The Simpsons Movie, followed by a marathon of episodes running through New Year’s Day.

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Primetime Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest
ABC, 8pm & 11:30pm Live

Let’s do the Time Zone again! Host Ryan Seacrest drops the ball on the East Coast from Times Square with Jenny McCarthy, while Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars) does the Central countdown from New Orleans. Out on the West Coast, Ciara is joined by performers Kelsea Ballerini, the Chainsmokers, Dua Lipa and more.

New Year’s Eve Live With Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen
CNN, 8pm Live

Last year Andy Cohen went hatless in 9-degree temps and admittedly offended some guests with his questions. But he returns to Times Square to try, try again with pal Anderson Cooper. We can’t wait.

FOX’s New Year’s Eve With Steve Harvey: Live From Times Square
FOX, 8pm & 11pm Live

It’s an eclectic bunch at the Fox party: host Steve Harvey, the Fox NFL Sunday team and musical guests including Sting, Jason Aldean and Florence + the Machine.

A Toast to 2018!
NBC, 8pm

Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb host this star-studded two-hour special that looks back at the year’s biggest pop-culture moments, videos and trends. An all-star cast of celebrities — from Michael Bublé and Ellie Kemper to Kenan Thompson and Busy Philipps — will dish on the most talked-about stories that made for an unforgettable 2018.

New Year’s Eve Entertainment Movie Marathon
TCM, beginning at 8pm

Ring in the new year by tapping your toes to a marathon of notable documentary films featuring compilations from classic Hollywood musicals. TCM will air That’s Entertainment! (1974), That’s Entertainment! II (1976), That’s Entertainment! III (1994), That’s Dancing! (1985) and It’s Showtime (1976).

Live From Lincoln Center: “New York Philharmonic New Year’s Eve With Renée Fleming”
PBS, 9pm

A New Year’s Eve tradition continues with the New York Philharmonic, led by new music director Jaap van Zweden, welcoming opera great Renée Fleming for an evening of elegance and sophistication celebrating the intersection of classical music and dance.

NBC’s New Year’s Eve
NBC, 10pm & 11:30pm Live

One year ago, a pregnant Chrissy Teigen didn’t even stay up until midnight to watch the ball drop on December 31. Now the model and Lip Sync Battle commentator is cohosting NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly from Times Square. Saturday Night Live’s Leslie Jones also lends a hand in New York City, with Keith Urban heading up the festivities in Nashville. The special airs for an hour before breaking for local news, and then returns for the final countdown to the new year.

Tuesday, Jan. 1

A Series of Unfortunate Events
Netflix
Season Premiere!

The series based on the bestselling books by Lemony Snicket (a.k.a. Daniel Handler) launches its third and final season. After foiling the many dastardly plans and disguises of their evil relative Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris), the Baudelaire orphans — Violet, Klaus and Sunny — might finally discover the truth about their parents’ mysterious deaths while unraveling the layers of a clandestine organization and revealing the secrets of the coveted missing sugar bowl.

Comedians of the World
Netflix
New Series!

This global first-of-its-kind event brings together 47 comedians from 13 regions in eight languages for an unprecedented standup comedy series. The comedians are diverse in style, gender and ethnicity with performers from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, United Kingdom, France, the Middle East, Mexico, Brazil, the Netherlands, Germany and India.

“The Walking Dead” New Year’s Marathon
AMC, beginning at 9am

AMC’s marathon of the hit postapocalyptic series continues with episodes from Seasons 8 and 9.

Countdown to the 130th Rose Parade Presented by Honda
Hallmark Channel, 10am

This one-hour special captures the excitement of last-minute activity from the Pasadena, Calif., parade site.

Abby Hatcher
Nickelodeon, 10am
New Series!

This bright and cheerful animated series follows 7-year-old Abby — a little girl with a big heart — as she helps her Fuzzly friends fix their mishaps, learn from their mistakes and negotiate their emotions. In the series premiere, “When Abby Met Bozzly/Hair Flair Everywhere,” Abby meets her best Fuzzly friend Bozzly for the first time. Then, when the hotel’s salon owner Mrs. Melvin closes the salon for the day, Abby tries to help Harriet, a hair-obsessed Fuzzly, find a new hobby.

The 130th Rose Parade Presented by Honda
Hallmark Channel, 11am Live

Celebrate New Year’s Day with the 130th Tournament of Roses Parade. This year’s parade, themed “The Melody of Life,” celebrates the universal language of music and will be led by parade grand marshal Chaka Khan. Floral-covered floats, spirited marching bands and high-stepping equestrian units traverse a 5.5-mile route along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, Calif.

College Football
ESPN2, ESPN & ABC, beginning at 12pm Live

In the College Football Playoff era, New Year’s Day bowl games feel a little like consolation games for teams left out of the top four. Still, today’s games should be compelling with No. 18 Mississippi State vs. Iowa in the Outback Bowl (ESPN2), No. 11 LSU vs. No. 8 UCF in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl (ESPN), No. 14 Kentucky vs. No. 12 Penn State in the VRBO Citrus Bowl (ABC), No. 9 Washington vs. No. 6 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl (ESPN) and No. 15 Texas vs. No. 5 Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl (ESPN).

NHL Winter Classic: Boston vs. Chicago
NBC, 1pm Live

David Pastrnak and the Boston Bruins battle Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL Winter Classic outdoor game at Notre Dame Stadium. It’s the first NHL game played at the iconic college football venue.

ID’s Premiere New Year Marathon
Investigation Discovery, beginning at 4pm

True-crime channel ID rings in 2019 with an eight-hour programming event that includes sneak peeks of its new series. Making their premieres during the marathon are new programs Deadly Secrets, Killing Time, American Nightmare and Hometown Homicide. Current series making their season premieres during the marathon include Your Worst Nightmare (which kicks off the marathon) and Evil Lives Here. Also featured are new episodes of Deadly Deception and Body Cam.

AKC National Championship Dog Show
Animal Planet, 6pm

Find out who wins Best in Show in the 2018 installment of this renowned annual dog show, taped in December.

Doctor Who: “Resolution”
BBC America, 8pm

In this Doctor Who New Year’s Day special titled “Resolution,” a terrifying evil is stirring from across the centuries of Earth’s history. Will the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), Ryan (Tosin Cole), Graham (Bradley Walsh) and Yaz (Mandip Gill) be able to overcome this threat to the planet? Doctor Who will return to BBC America for a new season in early 2020.

Street Outlaws: Bristol: “Race to 200K”
Discovery Channel, 8pm
Season Premiere!

Thirty-two of the fastest male and female racers in Street Outlaws history compete at the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee with $200,000 on the line. The night of racing action is preceded by a one-hour special, Street Outlaws: Bristol Road to 200K.

Lethal Weapon: “There Will Be Bud”
FOX, 8pm

It’s a new year and a new time slot. Cole (Seann William Scott) finds himself on the rebound and his new romantic interest, Julie (guest star Haley Strode), has an unexpected connection that complicates things at work. Meanwhile, Murtaugh (Damon Wayans) worries about the connection between the murder he’s investigating and a new opportunity for Trish (Keesha Sharp) to serve as co-counsel on a high-profile lawsuit with Leo Getz (guest star Thomas Lennon).

Love, Gilda
CNN, 9pm

This intimate documentary shares the life of legendary comedian and entertainer Gilda Radner, presenting her successes and her struggles in her own words.

The Gifted: “eneMy of My eneMy”
FOX, 9pm

The winter premiere moves the series to a new time slot and finds the Mutant Underground and Inner Circle trying to put aside their differences in order to save John (Blair Redford) from the Purifiers.

Married at First Sight
Lifetime, 9pm
Season Premiere!

In back-to-back episodes, eight Philadelphia singles legally marry a stranger the moment they first meet at the altar, and then get to know each other as they navigate married life.

Great Performances: “From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2019”
PBS, 9pm

Ring in the new year with the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of conductor Christian Thielemann at the Musikverein. Hosted by Hugh Bonneville and featuring favorite Strauss family waltzes accompanied by the dancing of the Vienna City Ballet.

Bad Chad Customs
Discovery Channel, 10pm
New Series!

Car artist Chad Hiltz, a.k.a. “Bad Chad,” runs a small, hand-built shop in a rural town and incorporates just about anything into his car builds — parts from a boat, airplane, even an old locker. This series chronicles the master builder and his tight-knit team as they turn metal from junkyards into award-winning cars.

Symphony for Nature: The Britt Orchestra at Crater Lake
PBS, 10:30pm

Join classical musicians and Klamath drummers for a performance inspired by Oregon’s breathtaking Crater Lake, forging deep connections among people, art and nature in an environment rich with historic and spiritual significance.

Wednesday, Jan. 2

The Senate – Conflict and Compromise
C-SPAN, 8pm

This original production from C-SPAN uses original interviews, Peabody Award-winning video archives and unique access to the Senate chamber during a session to look at the history, traditions and roles of the United States Senate. From the Senate as a legislative body, to its power of advice and consent, to its role in impeachment proceedings and investigations, viewers will learn about this congressional chamber’s constitutional mandates and how the institution has evolved historically to better understand the body today.

Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back
FOX, 8pm
Season Premiere!

Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant makeover series returns for a second helping. In each episode, Ramsay drives his state-of-the-art mobile kitchen and command center, Hell on Wheels, across the country to help bring a failing restaurant back from the brink of disaster. Ramsay and his team have only 24 hours to transform these restaurants with spectacular renovations and fresh new menus before reopening to the public.

grown-ish
Freeform, 8pm
Season Premiere!

Last season, this black-ish spinoff followed Zoey (black-ish star Yara Shahidi) and her friends (played by Trevor Jackson, Francia Raisa, Emily Arlook, Jordan Buhat, Luke Sabbat, and Chloe and Halle Bailey) as they experienced the wide-eyed firsts of their freshman year at Cal U. Season 2 starts as they begin sophomore year with confidence and swagger. And although they assume they’ve got their second year on lock, they quickly realize that they’re not as grown as they think.

Special Theme: Directed By Elia Kazan
TCM, beginning at 8pm

Tonight, Jan. 9 and Jan. 16, Turner Classic Movies remembers legendary director Elia Kazan with an evening of his classic films. It kicks off tonight with 1954’s On the Waterfront, which earned Kazan his second Best Director Oscar, and continues with A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), Viva Zapata! (1952) and The Sea of Grass (1947).

Love & Hip Hop: Miami
VH1, 8pm
Season Premiere!
Returning favorites including Trick Daddy, Keyara Stone, Young Hollywood, Jojo and Liz Fuentes are joined by comedian and viral sensation Jessie Woo and underground rapper/songwriter Khaotic as they strive to make their mark on Miami’s music scene.

SEAL Team: “Backwards in High Heels”
CBS, 9pm

Bravo Team partners with the British Special Air Service to rescue passengers on a hijacked plane who are taken hostage by terrorists in the new episode “Backwards in High Heels.”

The Masked Singer
FOX, 9pm
New Series!

A dozen brave celebrities don outlandish costumes while trying to impress the audience and the celebrity judging panel of Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke with their best vocal performance. Each week, one costume-clad celeb will be eliminated from the competition and forced to reveal his or her identity. FOX teases that among them, this season’s secret contestants have earned a combined 65 Grammy Award nominations, 16 Emmy Award nominations, four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and four Super Bowl titles. Nick Cannon hosts.

Project Runway All Stars
Lifetime, 9pm
Season Premiere!

In the final season of the Project Runway All Stars franchise, 14 designers and winners — seven from the U.S. and seven who have won international versions of Project Runway from Australia, Brazil, the Netherlands, the U.K. and Canada — compete in design challenges in order to be named world champion. Alyssa Milano returns as host, with Isaac Mizrahi and Georgina Chapman judging the competition and Anne Fulenwider serving as mentor. Celebrity guest judges include Debra Messing, Olivia Culpo, Lily Aldridge, Vanessa Williams, Danica Patrick, Anna Camp and more.

MythBusters Jr.
Science Channel, 9pm
New Series!

Adam Savage returns to his myth-busting ways and is joined by six of the nation’s leading young “makers” to use STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) to test legends. In the series premiere, Savage and the junior MythBusters explore the many uses for duct tape. They test whether it can be used to build a serviceable car tire, and if the sticky stuff can be used to create a functioning, lifesaving parachute. (This doesn’t bode well for the series’ crash-test dummy, Buster, who will inevitably take a great fall.)

Black Ink Crew: Chicago
VH1, 9pm
Season Premiere!

This season, new artists emerge and familiar faces return as the crew strives to salvage the true identity of 9Mag.

Criminal Minds: “Night Lights”
CBS, 10pm

A week after a D.C. couple is murdered in their home, someone is abducted in Portland, Ore. The Behavioral Analysis Unit heads west to investigate a possible link. If only they had this hint from the writers about tonight’s unsub: “He lets you go, you taste freedom — but is it all a game?”

American Beauty Star
Lifetime, 10pm
Season Premiere!

The beauty competition series returns with 14 hair and makeup artists who will compete in a series of intense challenges, from creating high-end editorial looks to the latest red carpet beauty trends. International supermodel Ashley Graham will serve as the Season 2 host and welcomes this season’s new panel of judges — supermodel Christie Brinkley, Cosmopolitan’s chief beauty director Leah Wyar and acclaimed photographer Yu Tsai. Celebrity makeup artist Sir John returns as mentor.

Thursday, Jan. 3

The Big Bang Theory: “The Paintball Scattering”
CBS, 8pm

Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) organize a paintball game that results in mayhem in the new episode “The Paintball Scattering.”

Gotham
FOX, 8pm
Season Premiere!

The 12-episode fifth and final season, dubbed “Legend of the Dark Knight,” will complete Bruce’s (David Mazouz) transformation into Batman. In the season opener, “Year Zero,” Bruce aids Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) and the police in taking back Gotham City after the catastrophic events of the Season 4 finale.

The Titan Games
NBC, 8pm
New Series!

Watch as The Titan Games puts both male and female athletes in physically and mentally taxing obstacles to prove that they have what it takes to be the next Titan and to potentially walk away with $100,000. Created by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, it’s an emotional, personal battle designed to push the competitors beyond their limits and reward those who exemplify hard work and determination.

Young Sheldon: “A Race of Superhumans and a Letter to Alf”
CBS, 8:30pm

Sheldon (Iain Armitage) experiments on Missy (Raegan Revord), and Georgie (Montana Jordan) joins Mary’s (Zoe Perry) bible study to spend more time with his crush, Veronica (Isabel May), in the new episode “A Race of Superhumans and a Letter to Alf.”

Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles
Bravo, 9pm
Season Premiere!
Powerhouse agents Josh Flagg, Josh Altman, Tracy Tutor, James Harris and David Parnes continue to navigate huge deals, huge homes and huge egos in one of the hottest real estate markets in the world. The agents are pulling out all the stops to close the biggest deals of their careers with some of the biggest names in the business.

The Orville
FOX, 9pm

After this past Sunday night’s post-football peek at Season 2, Seth MacFarlane’s sci-fi dramedy moves to its regular day and time period tonight.

Hitler’s Secret Tunnels
History, 9pm

Over 70 years after the end of World War II, hundreds of miles of tunnels built by the Nazis may still be protecting Adolf Hitler’s final secrets. When explorers Mike Scott and Luke Mahoney uncover a hidden document that reveals a sealed Nazi underworld, they search these unexplored tunnel complexes for answers.

Surviving R. Kelly
Lifetime, 9pm
New Miniseries!

This three-night documentary event reveals the stories of women who have fallen under the spell of — and fallen victim to — R&B singer R. Kelly. The documentary also features over 50 interviews including civil rights activist Tarana Burke, members of the Kelly family, survivors of Kelly’s alleged abuse, and friends and musical peers of the singer including John Legend, Sparkle and Wendy Williams. The miniseries continues tomorrow night and wraps up Saturday.

Impossible Engineering
Science Channel, 9pm
Season Premiere!

The 10 episodes of this series’ fourth season will again look into some of the world’s most exciting and innovative engineering creations. Stories this season will include the biggest construction project ever undertaken in New York City, an aircraft carrier that is as long as the Empire State Building is tall, and the New Safe Containment being constructed around Chernobyl’s damaged nuclear reactor.

Bringing Up Bates
UP TV, 9pm
Season Premiere!

America’s favorite super-sized family is back for Season 8 as the Bates family continues to grow through new relationships, weddings and babies. Follow Josie as she plans her wedding and shares her gorgeous big day; rejoice as Zach and Whitney renew their vows; experience the progression of Carlin and Evan’s relationship; and grow with Tori as she shares her pregnancy journey and several Bates family members share stories of their fertility struggles.

60 Days In
A&E, 10pm
Season Premiere!

Seven innocent people, including a gang member turned minister, go undercover for two months in an Arizona jail. When one goes rogue, will it blow their cover?

Music City
CMT, 10pm
Season Premiere!

The docuseries that follows a group of young adults chasing their Nashville dreams returns for Season 2. Returning to the cast are fledgling musician Kerry and his wife, Rachyl; personal trainer Jackson and his pageant queen cousin, Alexandra; and musicians Jessica and Alisa. New faces joining the cast include Rachyl and Kerry’s old friend Jeremiah, Kerry’s new publicist Tori, and Jackson’s childhood friend Stephen. Alexandra’s outspoken friend Molly also enters the mix as an instigator for drama.

The Blacklist: “Dr. Hans Koehler”
NBC, 10pm
Season Premiere!

The hit drama begins its two-day, two-part Season 6 premiere tonight. Following the revelation that Red (James Spader) isn’t who he says he is, Elizabeth (Megan Boone) is torn between the relationship she’s developed with the man assumed to be her father and her desire to get to the bottom of years of secrets and lies. Meanwhile, Red leads Liz and the FBI to some of the strangest and most dangerous criminals yet. Part 2 of the season premiere airs tomorrow, and starting Jan. 11, the series will settle into its regular Friday night time slot.

Friday, Jan. 4

Beautiful Boy
Amazon

Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet star in the heartbreaking and inspiring story of a family as one member struggles with addiction. The film is based on the best-selling memoirs from David and Nic Sheff.

Fresh Off the Boat: “Just the Two of Us”
ABC, 8pm

Louis (Randall Park) and Jessica (Constance Wu) think they’ve won a posh weekend getaway. Instead, they’re stuck at a retreat where troubled couples work out their marriage problems with the help of Guru Sheela (guest star June Diane Raphael).

MacGyver: “Mac + Fallout + Jack”
CBS, 8pm

In the new episode “Mac + Fallout + Jack,” Mac (Lucas Till) and Jack (George Eads) hit the road for a weekend of relaxation in Las Vegas, but their vacation is cut short when someone from their past abducts them and locks them in a concrete room.

NBA Basketball
ESPN, beginning at 8pm Live

Friday’s NBA doubleheader on ESPN has the Dallas Mavericks in Boston to face the Celtics and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Pacific Northwest to battle the Portland Trail Blazers.

Last Man Standing: “Three for the Road”
FOX, 8pm

When Mike (Tim Allen) offers to take Boyd (Jet Jurgensmeyer) on a fishing trip, Ryan (Jordan Masterson) objects, as his plans interfere with an existing trip he made with his son. Boyd insists the three take a trip together, forcing Mike and Ryan to get along.

Speechless: “J-A—JAVIER’S P-A– PANTS”
ABC, 8:30pm

When Maya (Minnie Driver) lends a helping hand to frenemy Melanie (Sarah Chalke), she finds her life taking a surprising turn. Dylan’s (Kyla Kenedy) lousy sportsmanship gets results when she joins the basketball team. Jimmy (John Ross Bowie) and Ray (Mason Cook) make up for lost father-son time.

The Cool Kids: “Funeral Crashers”
FOX, 8:30pm

In the winter premiere, Hank (David Alan Grier) finds out his ex-wife will be at a mutual friend’s funeral, so Margaret (Vicki Lawrence) volunteers to be his “hype man” and lie about his success to impress her. Charlie (Martin Mull) and Sid (Leslie Jordan) love a good funeral, and crash it against Hank’s orders.

Hawaii Five-0: “Hala I Ke Ala O’i’ole Mai”
CBS, 9pm

Carl Weathers directed the new episode “Hala I Ke Ala O’i’ole Mai (Gone on the Road From Which There Is No Returning),” in which Catherine (returning guest star Michelle Borth) helps McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) with a very personal mission.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame Honors
The CW, 9pm

This special celebrates those awarded with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018 — a long list of greats including Gillian Anderson, Minnie Mouse, Mark Hamill, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Zoe Saldana and ’N Sync.

Blue Bloods: “Disrupted”
CBS, 10pm

Frank (Tom Selleck) questions whether a run-in with community activists was an accident or a setup, in the new episode “Disrupted.”

Gold Rush: White Water
Discovery Channel, 10pm
Season Premiere!

The Gold Rush spinoff is back for Season 2 as Dakota Fred and his son Dustin are mining for nuggets in the raging torrents of glacier-fed McKinley Creek using heated wet suits to dive beneath the freezing plunge pools. But has the father-and-son duo taken on more than they can handle in this brutal Alaskan wilderness?

Saturday, Jan. 5

Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy
Discovery Family Channel, 9am
New Series!

This animated preschool series follows the first ever class of recruits as they arrive on Earth from their home planet of Cybertron and begin training at the Rescue Bots Academy. Under the tutelage of instructors Heatwave the Fire-Bot, Chase the Police-Bot, Blades the Copter-Bot and Boulder the Construction-Bot, and with encouragement from Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Grimlock, the new recruits learn how to become a highly skilled team of first responders.

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

Michigan State at Ohio State (FOX), St. John’s at Georgetown (CBS), Kentucky at Alabama (ESPN), Florida State at Virginia (ESPN2) and Kansas at Iowa State (ESPN2) are among the best games on Saturday’s college basketball slate.

NFL Football: AFC and NFC Wild Card Playoffs
CBS & ABC/ESPN, beginning at 4:30pm Live

The NFL playoffs begin with wild-card weekend as eight of the 12 teams in the hunt for Super Bowl LIII try to advance to next weekend’s Divisional Playoff round. CBS and ABC/ESPN air games today. Tomorrow’s games air on NBC and FOX.

Colombiana
AMC, 8pm

Olivier Megaton’s 2011 French film makes its network premiere. In Bogotá, Colombia, in 1992, a little girl (Amandla Stenberg) watches a crime lord and his henchman murder her parents. Fifteen years later, the now-grown Cataleya (Zoe Saldana) works as a contract killer for her Chicago-based uncle (Cliff Curtis) and dreams of avenging her family.

Winter Castle
Hallmark Channel, 8pm
Original Film!

When Jenny (Emilie Ullerup) attends a wedding at a magical ice hotel, she connects with the best man (Kevin McGarry) and his daughter.

Vanished
History, 8pm

Using seasoned investigation skills, cutting-edge technology and the help of non-traditional resources in the fields of science, anomaly and paranormal research, former police detective Dave Paulides opens the books on two unsolved missing-persons cases that have haunted the families, investigators and search-and-rescue teams involved in each case. Over the course of this two-hour presentation, can Paulides succeed in closing the cases when conventional police procedures and methods have failed to produce any answers?

Cousins for Life
Nickelodeon, 8:30pm
New Series!

Cousins and best friends Stuart (Dallas Dupree Young) and Ivy (Scarlet Spencer) navigate life under one roof with their families in Portland. In the premiere episode, Ivy and Stuart’s life is disrupted after their dads, Clark (Ishmel Sahid) and Lewis (Ron G.), have a disagreement and Clark ends up moving into their hangout space in the garage. If the cousins want to reclaim their space, they’ll need to resolve their dads’ argument.