This is posted on Sunday, December 4, 2016 by Rodney Ho on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
NBC's live musical this year is "Hairspray Live" on Wednesday night, another excuse to make snarky comments on Twitter.
Steve Harvey is resurrecting the classic "Showtime at the Apollo" talent show he hosted from 1993 to 2000 for one night only Monday on Fox.
And there are multiple holiday concert celebrations. Hallmark's "National Tree Lighting Ceremony," VH1's "Divas Holiday" (both Monday) and "Taraji's White Hot Holidays" on Thursday on Fox. And angels in a sense are in flight during the "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" on CBS Monday.
Plus, Netflix brings back the sophomore season of "Fuller House" and AMC's "The Walking Dead" concludes its season 7 fall with more Negan goodness.
This covers Monday, December 5, 2016 through Sunday, December 11, 2016.
MONDAY
"National Christmas Tree Lighting" 7 p.m. Hallmark — Performers include James Taylor, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Kelly Clarkson and Yolanda Adams.
"The Great Christmas Light Fight" 8 p.m. ABC (fourth season debut) — Four families compete with holiday displays that include a home with 250,000 lights in Winter Park, Fla.
"Showtime at the Apollo" 8 p.m. Fox — Steve Harvey returns as host for this special reprise of the classic show.
"The Voice" 8 p.m. NBC — Atlanta's Aaron Gibson is in the top 8 after his third Instant Save win in a row.
"Mars" 9 p.m. NGC — A storm bears down on the crew's outpost. Back on Earth, a simulated Martian settlement is built in Antarctica.
"2 Broke Girls" 9 p.m. CBS — Randy and Max tire of Caroline being the third wheel on their FaceTime dates.
"Divas Holiday" 9 p.m. VH1 — Holiday-inspired musical numbers are featured. Performers include Mariah Carey; Patti LaBelle; Chaka Khan; Teyana Taylor; and Vanessa Williams.
"The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" 10 p.m. CBS — Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and The Weeknd perform.
"Timeless" 10:01 p.m. NBC — The time-traveling trio are on the run with the Barrow gang, and they must uncover Flynn's target in the Depression-era South.
TUESDAY
"The Voice" 8 p.m. NBC — The top 8 becomes the final four.
"NCIS" 8 p.m. CBS — The NCIS team investigates a series of escalating threats against congresswoman Jenna Flemming, while Director Vance oversees temporary protection detail.
"This is Us" 9 p.m. NBC — The Pearsons discover Dr. K alone at the hospital on Christmas Eve after Kate's afflicted with appendicitis.
"Bull" 9 p.m. CBS — Bull's ex-wife goes to court in a wrongful death suit and she asks Bull to help her case.
"Fresh Off the Boat" 9 p.m. ABC— Eddie takes Alison to see a modern remake of "Romeo and Juliet" for their anniversary.
"Good Behavior" 9 p.m. TNT — Letty rejoins Javier to elude fallout from the mess she inadvertently created in her hometown.
"The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" 9 p.m. Bravo (seventh season debut) — Lisa Vanderpump introduces her friend Dorit Kemsley, whose permanent houseguest is music star Boy George.
"Chicago Fire" 10 p.m. NBC — Casey and Dawson face a hurdle in their quest to adopt Louie.
"Knocked Up" 10 p.m. Lifetime (new series) — A former party girl unexpectedly gets pregnant after spending a night with an old friend, but the man refuses to be involved.
"NCIS: Los Angeles" 10 p.m. CBS — Pride takes temporary custody of a victim's nephew who witnessed the murder of his aunt.
"Shooter" 10 p.m. USA — Bob Lee plans his next moves; and Isaac ties up loose ends. In other events, Nadine investigates the Ukrainian connection.
"Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" 10 p.m. A&E — Leah visits the spiritual headquarters to meet with Mike Rinder, who was tasked with discrediting critics of the church before leaving it himself.
WEDNESDAY
"Shut Eye" 3:01 a.m. Hulu — Charlie Haverford (Jeffrey Donovan from "Burn Notice") is a scammer with a small chain of fortune-telling storefronts and contracts building tricks for a family that controls the business in the greater chunk of Los Angeles.
"Survivor" 8 p.m. CBS — The Zeke/Michael power struggle continues.
"Criminal Minds" 9 p.m. CBS — The BAU team travel to Yakima, Wash., after the remains of a dozen people are found along a creek bed.
"Hairspray Live!" 8 p.m. NBC — The cast includes Maddie Baillio; Kristin Chenoweth; Ariana Grande; Harvey Fierstein; Jennifer Hudson; Martin Short; Dove Cameron; and Sean Hayes. Atlanta's Kenny Leon directs.
"Duck Dynasty" 9 p.m. A&E — Little Will buys a motorcycle, much to Willie's chagrin.
"Empire" 9 p.m. Fox — In order to get Nessa into the spotlight, Andre sabotages Tiana's big appearance at a fashion event.
"Vikings" 9 p.m. History — Ragnar's difficulties raising a crew for the voyage to Wessex leaves Kattegat locals admonishing him that the gods have deserted him.
"Black-ish" 9"31 p.m. ABC — Dre's initially reluctant to help Zoey secure a fellowship using his connections, but he gets her an opportunity at Teen Vogue after learning that Bow found her a place at the hospital.
"Designated Survivor" 10 p.m. ABC — President Kirkman deals with classified government documents being leaked online by a group that have taken refuge inside a foreign embassy that's beyond his reach.
"Incorporated" 10 p.m. USA — Theo is forced into an important cage fight.
"Code Black" 10 p.m. CBS — A 13-year-old girl arrives at Angels Memorial following a seizure caused by spina bifida and the doctors are shocked to learn she is Campbell's daughter.
THURSDAY
"Taraji's White Hot Holidays " 8 p.m. Fox — Taraji P. Henson hosts the second annual music and variety special celebrating the Holiday season, featuring performances from Jussie Smollett; Taye Diggs; Pharrell Williams; Missy Elliott; Alicia Keys; Darryl McDaniels; Snoop Dogg; and TLC.
"Alone " 9 p.m. History (third season debut) — The 10 new adventurers are dropped in the remote wilderness of Patagonia and must acclimate to the new terrain in order to survive.
"Pitch " 9 p.m. Fox (first season finale) — Ross warns the Padres that Ginny's closing in on her pitching limit, but management is reluctant to end her season.
"The Great American Baking Show " 9 p.m. ABC — The bakers are challenged to make a dozen dinner rolls using unique flavors, recreate Johnny's Christmas stollen and construct elaborate sculptures using bread.
"Project Runway" 9 p.m. Lifetime — The designers take a trip to an unlikely destination in the twisting, turning final challenge, which determines which designers will compete at New York Fashion Week.
"Mom" 9:01 p.m. CBS — Christy and Bonnie grow concerned about Jill on the anniversary of her mother's suicide.
"Pure Genius" 10 p.m. CBS — James tries to give a teenage leukemia patient a Christmas miracle.
"Top Chef" 10 p.m. Bravo — Jamie Lynch, who recently opened 5Church restaurant in Midtown, is in the top 15.
"The Selection" 10 p.m. History (new series) — Thirty civilians begin the most intense physical and mental challenge of their life as they begin The Selection, led by six Special Operations veterans. Unrelenting physical training, interrogations, and tear gas exposure introduce these civilians to what lies ahead. Many will quit before day one comes to an end.
FRIDAY
"Captive" 3:01 a.m. Netflix (new series) —The producers of Captive have gained privileged access to the most challenging negotiations of our time -- revealing how hostage-taking, and the efforts to resolve it, have evolved to address an escalating international trend.
"Fuller House" 3:01 a.m. Netflix (second season debut) — Season one reportedly did very well for Netflix so the Tanner family returns.
"Mozart in the Jungle" 3:01 a.m. Amazon (new series) — Rodrigo (Gael Garcia Bernal) takes on a brand new artistic challenge: conducting the great opera diva Alessandra (Monica Bellucci) in her long-awaited return concert in Venice, Italy.
"Hell's Kitchen" 8 p.m. Fox — Pureed baby food is tasted by the blindfolded contestants during a challenge that offers the winning team the prize of massages and a nice lunch.
"MacGyver" 8 p.m. CBS — A prodigy is kidnapped in Mac and Bozer's hometown and Mac tries to rescue him with only a set of pliers and a speaker wire.
"Shark Tank" 9 p.m. ABC — Mark Cuban visits his Pittsburgh high school; and the Sharks receive a flurry of pitches for businesses and products geared for the holiday season.
"Hawaii Five-O" 9 p.m. CBS — Five-0 investigates the 10-year-old cold case of a missing teen.
"Madonna: Rebel Heart Tour" 9 p.m. Showtime — A collection of concert and behind-the-scenes footage from Madonna's seven-month, 55-city "Rebel Heart" world tour that culminates with performances at the Sydney Olympic Park in Australia. Katy Perry appears.
"Blue Bloods" 10 p.m. CBS — Rev. Potter's son is killed and Potter wants justice, even if that means making peace with Frank.
"Van Helsing" 10 p.m. Syfy (first season finale) — Vanessa learns secrets from her past and finds herself at a crossroads.
WEEKEND
"A Nutcracker Christmas" 8 p.m. Saturday Hallmark — A former ballerina faces her past when her ex-boyfriend directs a production of "The Nutcracker" and offers her talented young niece the lead role.
"Saturday Night Live" 11:29 p.m. Saturday NBC — John Cena hosts.
"22nd Annual Critics Choice Awards" 8 p.m. Sunday A&E — T.J. Miller hosts.
"Meant to Be" 8 p.m. Sunday Hallmark — Maddie, a high-powered marketing executive, is on her way to a client's wedding but her plans are derailed by car trouble. When a fork in the road leads her to Christmas Valley, a town in love with Christmas, an unexpected encounter and a group of strangers that start to feel like family will have her questioning what she's really been missing in life.
"The Librarians" 8 p.m. Sunday TNT — Baird sees a vision of her own death at the hands of an otherworldly assassin, so she sets out to stop the prophecy from coming true.
"Frozen" 8 p.m. Sunday ABC — Expect a lot of "Let it Go" sing a longs tonight.
"Mariah's World" 9 p.m. Sunday E! — A grueling tour schedule presents obstacles for Mariah.
"The Walking Dead" 9 p.m. Sunday AMC (seventh season fall finale) — With members out scavenging for supplies, Negan's unwelcome visit to Alexandria continues. With tensions high, things quickly spin out of control.
"Elementary" 10 p.m. Sunday CBS — Shinwell is framed for a gang killing.
"Divorce" 10 p.m. Sunday HBO (first season finale) — A stunt by Frances' new lawyer infuriates Robert just as the tension between them was letting up.
"The Affair" 10 p.m. Sunday Showtime — Alison's complicated return to Cole's life puts him in an increasingly impossible situation.
"The Royals" 10 p.m. Sunday E! — Scheming together, Queen Helena and Lord Chamberlain devise a plan to secure proof of Prince Liam and Princess Eleanor's paternity.
"The Making of 'Frozen' " 10:04 p.m. Sunday ABC — A behind-the-scenes look at the origins and production of the widely-acclaimed animated film "Frozen."
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