Originally posed Sunday, December 1, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
If watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas” isn’t enough for you, there is no shortage of new shows to watch on both streaming, broadcast and cable.
ABC has both a special featuring Brad Paisley and an annual CMA Christmas led by Trisha Yearwood on Tuesday.
Netflix has a new stand-up special with Tiffany Haddish, the return of the fifth and final season of "Fuller House" and a star-studded film "The Marriage Story" featuring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver.
Amazon's award-winning "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" returns Friday while Apple+ offers up a new Octavia Spencer/Aaron Paul crime series "Truth Be Told."
NBC's annual "Christmas at Rockefeller Center" and ABC's annual "Christmas Light Fight" return. And ABC is airing a made-for-TV holiday film starring Lea Michele on Thursuday, "Same Time, Next Christmas." Fox introduces "The Moodys," a six-episode show starring Denis Leary and Elizabeth Perkins focused on Christmas and airing three consecutive weeks in December.
For the fourth week in a row, there's something new featuring Dolly Parton. This time, Hallmark gets the love with the film "Christmas in Dollywood" which also stars Christmas movie regular Danica McKellar.
CBS is ending "Madam Secretary" starring Tea Leoni after six seasons this Sunday while HBO finishes up "Silicon Valley" the same night, also after six seasons.
This covers Monday, December 2 through Sunday, December 9, 2019.
MONDAY
"9-1-1" 8 p.m. Fox —The 118 responds to holiday-themed incidents, including a shopper pushed over the edge, a woman who is literally having a "Blue Christmas" and a luggage handler accident on a tarmac.
"The Great Christmas Light Fight" 8 p.m. ABC (seventh season debut) — The decorating competition continues to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with celebrity judges: lifestyle expert, Carter Oosterhouse, and famed interior designer, Taniya Nayak.
"Garth Brooks: The Road I'm On" 9 p.m. A&E (new series) — This "Biography" special offers an intimate look into Brooks' life as a musician, father, and man, as well as the moments that have defined his decades-spanning career and seminal hit songs.
"His Dark Materials" 9 p.m. HBO — The alethiometer sends Lyra and Iorek on a new path, leading to a shocking but vital clue.
"Prodigal Son" 9 p.m. Fox — Knowing that the "Junkyard Killer" was in cahoots with his father, Malcolm goes against the FBI's wishes and continues to investigate.
"Making It" 10 p.m. NBC (second season debut) — Ten new Makers join Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman in the craft barn to show off their making skills.
TUESDAY
"Tiffany Haddish: Black Mitzvah" 3:01 a.m. Netflix — On her 40th birthday, Haddish's special features singing, dancing and raunchy reflections on her long road to womanhood.
"Brad Paisley Thinks He's Special" 8 p.m. ABC — Guests include Darius Rucker, the Jonas Brothers and Kelsea Ballerini.
"The Resident" 8 p.m. Fox —Conrad comes under fire when a former patient files a malpractice lawsuit against him, putting Bell in a difficult position with Red Rock.
"Empire" 9 p.m. Fox — Hakeem raises concerns over Lucious' changes to the Empire movie script, causing Lucious and Cookie to come together to recount the events that lead to the evolution of Empire.
"CMA Country Christmas" 9 p.m. ABC — Country superstar Trisha Yearwood hosts and performs on the 10th annual special with artists including Kristin Chenoweth, for King & Country Chris Janson, Tori Kelly, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Runaway June, CeCe Winans, Brett Young
"The Voice" 9 p.m. NBC — The top 10 eliminations. Will Lithonia's Hello Sunday survive?
"Making It" 10 p.m. NBC — The Makers will craft projects for both inside and outside the home.
WEDNESDAY
"Survivor" 8 p.m. CBS — Will Dan Spilo finally get his comeuppance?
"87th Annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center" 8 p.m NBC — Performers include Chicago, Brett Eldredge, Derek and Julianne Hough, John Legend, Idina Menzel, Lea Michele, Ne-Yo and Gwen Stefani,
"The Goldbergs" 8 p.m ABC — Beverly is approached by a publishing company for her cookbook, but they don't like how she writes, so Adam must rewrite her work.
"The Masked Singer" 8 p.m Fox — Only seven contestants left.
"Modern Family" 9 p.m. ABC — The Dunphy house is bursting at the seams when Dylan's hippie mom moves in and Claire's lonely stepdad Jerry wants to pay them a visit.
"The Moodys" 9 p.m. Fox (new three-night series) — Freshly single, Dan returns to his childhood home for Christmas to find it's in various stages of disarray, with one functioning bathroom. It stars Denis Leary and Elizabeth Perkins.
"Seal Team" 9:01 p.m. CBS — Bravo team is on a mission to protect aid convoys in an Ebola hot zone after a warlord steals preserved samples of the virus that can be weaponized.
"Stumptown" 10 p.m. ABC — Dex is confronted with unresolved feelings from her past when she is hired by Sue Lynn to investigate a case with the widow of Dex's former flame.
THURSDAY
"Young Sheldon" 8 p.m. CBS —Mary gets Pastor Jeff involved when Sheldon isn't invited to Billy's birthday party.
"A Charlie Brown Christmas" 8 p.m. ABC — Charlie Brown: This little green one here seems to need a home.Linus Van Pelt: I don't know, Charlie Brown. Remember what Lucy said? This doesn't seem to fit the modern spirit.Charlie Brown: I don't care. We'll decorate it and it'll be just right for our play. Besides, I think it needs me.
"Court Cam" 9 p.m. A&E (new series) — A look at some of the wildest courtroom moments
"Mom" 9:01 a.m. CBS — Christy and the ladies rally around Tammy when she has trouble adjusting to early release from parole.
"Same Time, Next Christmas" 9 p.m. ABC — Olivia Anderson (Lea Michele) is a successful young woman who met her childhood sweetheart during her family's annual Christmas visit to Hawaii. After being separated by distance and years, the two reunite at the same Hawaiian resort years later.
"Project Runway" 9:30 p.m. Lifetime (18th season debut) — Asma Bibi of Athens is one of the designers.
FRIDAY
"The Confession Killer" 3:01 a.m. Netflix — This documentary series explores whether Henry Lee Lucas was one of the worst serial killers ever or a big liar.
"Fuller House" 3:01 a.m. Netflix (fifth season debut, part A) — Lori Laughlin? Nowhere in sight!
"Marriage Story" 3:01 a.m. Netflix — Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, Alan Alda, Ray Liotta and Laura Dern star in a film about a marriage breaking apart.
"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" 3:01 a.m. Amazon (third season debut) — Midge starts her tour with Shy Baldwin. Sterling K. Brown shows up for a three-episode arc.
"Truth Be Told" 3:01 a.m. Apple+ (new series) — True crime podcaster Poppy Parnell (Octavia Spencer) is called to investigate the case of convicted serial killer Warren Cave, a man she incriminated after he murdered the father of identical twins. Aaron Paul also stars.
"Hawaii Five-O" 8 p.m. CBS — When Adam's girlfriend, Tamiko, is kidnapped right in front of him, he shuts out Five-0 and breaks all the rules in order to get her back.
"The Blacklist" 8 p.m. NBC— Red and Liz investigate Orion Relocation Services, an organization that surreptitiously facilitates the disappearance and relocation of criminals.
"Magnum P.I." 8 p.m. CBS— Magnum, flooded with memories of his tour in Afghanistan, helps his fallen friend's brother search for a now-grown Afghan boy who may have been a victim of trafficking
"Blue Bloods" 8 p.m. CBS — After a woman is found dead at a men's-only club, Danny and Baez investigate if her death was an accident or the result of foul play
WEEKEND
"Saturday Night Live" 11:29 p.m. Saturday NBC — Jennifer Lopez hosts.
"2019 Miss Universe" 7 p.m. Sunday Fox — This year's pageant shooting at Tyler Perry Studios for the first time.
"Ray Donovan" 8 p.m. Sunday Showtime — Mayor Feratti ups the ante in his negotiations with the Sullivans, and Ray must step in to finish the deal.
"Christmas at Dollywood" 8 p.m. Sunday Hallmark— A NYC event planner (Danica McKellar) returns to Tennessee to plan the Christmas celebration at Dollywood to find she is paired with the head of operations who thinks he can handle the party just fine on his own. And Dolly Parton is part of it!
"Shameless" 9 p.m. Sunday Showtime— Frank hatches the idea for a new scheme when an unexpected visitor shows up at the Gallagher house.
"Watchmen" 9 p.m. Sunday HBO — Angela's mysterious past in Vietnam is at last revealed.
"NCIS: Los Angeles" 9:30p.m. Sunday CBS — While the team investigates the theft of a computer virus, Callen and Sam consider their future at the agency.
"Silicon Valley" 10 p.m. Sunday HBO (series finale) — In the series finale, Richard and the Pied Piper team look to pull off a spectacular feat on the day of a big launch.
"The L Word: Generation Q" 10 p.m. Sunday Showtime (new series) — Bette, Shane, and Alice are getting on with their lives and careers, along with Dani Núñez, girlfriend Sophie Suarez, best friend Micah Lee, and former Olympic swimmer Sarah Finley.
"The Rookie" 10 p.m. Sunday ABC— Officer Nolan and team are charged with escorting a notorious female serial killer to the graves of her previously unrecovered victims.
"Madam Secretary" 10:30 p.m. Sunday CBS (series finale)— In the series finale, Elizabeth kicks off a new landmark political initiative with help from members of the U.S. women's soccer team.
About the Author
