TV best bets with 'Major Crimes' series finale, David Bowie, Tonya Harding

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Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

Posted Sunday, January 7, 2018 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog

The big goodbye finally happens on Tuesday for TNT's 'Major Crimes," which was a major success for a network that is now opting for edgier fare in 2018.

Two other shows hit major milestones: "Modern Family" on ABC lands its 200th episode, the second-longest running non-animated sitcom on broadcast TV only behind "The Big Bang Theory." And on Sunday, "Family Guy" - which was cancelled once and came back - hits its amazing 300th episode Sunday.

The late legendary artist David Bowie gets some love on HBO Monday while disgraced ice skater Tonya Harding gets to speak her truth on ABC Thursday.

Two Atlanta-based reality shows return this week on WE-TV: "Growing up Hip Hop Atlanta" on Thursday and "Mama June: From Not to Hot" Friday.

This covers Monday, January 8 through Sunday, January 14, 2018.

MONDAY

"The Bachelor" 8 p.m. ABC — Arie's search for love gets off to a fast start with back-to-back one-on-one dates with Becca K. and Krystal.

"Antique Roadshow" 8 p.m. GPB (22nd season debut) — The season opens Harrisburg, Pa. Items include a Pennsylvania Dutch coffeepot; an 1892 H. F. Farny painting; and a René Lalique necklace.

"David Bowie: The Last Five Years" 8 p.m. HBO — A profile of David Bowie (1947-2016) focuses on the output from his last three years, including the albums "The Next Day" (2013) and "Blackstar " (2016), and the musical "Lazarus" (2015).

"Better Late Than Never" 9 p.m. NBC — The guys head to Berlin in the hopes of finding Henry's roots.

"The Brave" 10 p.m. NBC — Dalton and what remains of his team try to escape with their lives as they process a devastating loss.

"The Good Doctor" 10:01 p.m. ABC — Dr. Marcus Andrews enlists Dr. Neil Melendez on a very sensitive kidney transplant between a pair of twins whose lives intersect in more ways than one.

TUESDAY

"America's Next Top Model" 8 p.m. VH1 (24th season debut) — Tyra Banks returns as host alongside returning judges Ashley Graham, Law Roach and Drew Elliott.

"NCIS" 8 p.m. CBS— After a seemingly happy and successful Navy lieutenant appears to have taken her own life, Gibbs and the team conduct a thorough investigation.

"Fresh Off the Boat" 8:30 p.m. ABC — Eddie gets annoyed when he catches Nicole changing her opinions in order to impress her new crush, Jackie.

"Major Crimes" 9 p.m. TNT (series finale) — Lt. Tao is stuck in a room with a potential bomb; Provenza finally identifies the real Ms. Bechtal; and Major Crimes comes face-to-face for the very last time with Phillip Stroh.

"The Haves and the Have Nots" 9 p.m. OWN (fifth season debut) — Hanna is in mourning after a deadly shooting; Candace rejects Benny's pleas to help her; and Veronica and Melissa find themselves in danger.

"This is Us" 9 p.m. NBC — The Pearsons come together under unexpected circumstances.

"Kevin (Probably) Saves the World" 10 p.m. ABC — As the newest substitute teacher at La Salle High School, Kevin tries to help an introverted student named Adam become more self-assured and popular.

"NCIS: New Orleans" 10 p.m. CBS — Sebastian receives a plea for help from his high-school friend Adrian Conner after her business partner is killed at the Crescent City Gaming Convention.

"Chicago Med" 10:01 p.m. NBC — Ethan attempts to diagnose a man with no symptoms while Sarah's paranoia goes to the extreme when she uses pepper spray on an aggressive patient.

WEDNESDAY

"The Amazing Race" 8 p.m. CBS — The race continues in Antwerp, Belguim.

"The Blacklist" 8 p.m. NBC — When Red directs the Task Force to find a Blacklister who uses his position of power to sell sensitive information, Ressler finds himself at risk of exposure.

"The X-Files" 8 p.m. Fox — An old friend reaches out to Mulder and Scully in a seemingly impossible way, revealing a chilling secret.

"Alone Together" 8:31 p.m. Freeform (new series) — Esther and Benji are platonic best friends who want nothing more than to be accepted by the vain and status obsessed culture of Los Angeles.

"9-1-1" 9 p.m. Fox — A night at an amusement park takes a deadly turn when a rollercoaster malfunction leaves lives hanging in the balance.

"Law & Order: SVU" 9 p.m. NBC — When the SVU investigates a case involving two students in a special needs school, Rollins discovers that one child's medical issues stem from a surprising source.

"Modern Family" 9 p.m. ABC (200th episode) —Gloria has to rush Phil to the hospital for an emergency surgery after he experiences some intense stomach pains and rallies the entire family to be by his side.

"Vikings" 9 p.m. History — The battle for Kattegat begins, and as the two armies line up to fight, the Great Heathen Army must decide between a final plea for peace or all-out war.

"Criminal Minds" 10 p.m. CBS — The BAU team's investigation into the home invasion and attempted homicide of a police chief's wife uncovers a world of secrets in a small town in Virginia.

"Rooster & Butch" 10 p.m. A&E (new series) — Self-made millionaires, Mike "Rooster" McConaughey and Butch Gilliam, believe in the American Dream and are looking for ambitious entrepreneurs to spread their wealth.

"Match Game" 10 p.m. ABC — Jack McBrayer, NeNe Leakes and Kenny G are among the participants.

THURSDAY

"The Big Bang Theory " 8 p.m. CBS — When Sheldon kicks Amy out to work solo, she and Leonard bond during a series of science experiments.

"The Four" 8 p.m. Fox — The show feels younger, hipper and a bit harsher than "The Voice" or 'American Idol."

"Inside the Actors Studio" 8 p.m. Bravo — Ted Danson is the focal.

"The 23rd Annual Critics Choice Awards" 8 p.m. the CW — Olivia Munn hosts.

"The Good Place" 8:30 p.m. NBC — Michael finds himself in a bind.

"Young Sheldon" 8:31 p.m. CBS — A worried Mary sends Sheldon to Sunday school after she finds him playing Dungeons and Dragons with his friends Tam and Billy.

"Truth and Lies: The Tonya Harding Story" 9 p.m. ABC — The real Tonya Harding speaks in advance of the film "I, Tonya."

"Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta" 9 p.m. WE (second season debut) — Who will pay the price when shocking secrets, betrayal and a faceoff between Bow and JD spin their worlds out of control.

"Nashville" 9 p.m. CMT — Deacon goes on a date with a familiar face; Juliette dives into a self-help movement; Will and Gunnar invite Avery to perform with them; Scarlett is reminded how her career has had a positive influence on fans.

"Project Runway All Stars" 9 p.m. Lifetime — Designers tear, dye and burn to create distressed fashion for a post-apocalyptic runway.

"Will & Grace" 9 p.m. NBC — Will and Grace's old friend Larry decides he's in love with Will.

"Mom" 9:01 p.m. CBS — When Christy's long-distance relationship begins to fizzle, she seeks the company of a former fling.

"Chicago Fire" 10 p.m. CBS — After saving a young girl, Dawson is forced to make a tough decision when she finds out the girl's father is addicted to painkillers.

"Top Chef" 10 p.m. Bravo — Padma and Richard Blais challenge the chefs to transform the most laborious dishes from their own menus into accessible thirty-minute dishes for home cooks.

FRIDAY

"Somebody Feed Phil3:01 a.m. Netflix (new series)  — The new original documentary series from the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, Phil Rosenthal, takes viewers on a goodwill eating tour of the world (Tel Aviv, Lisbon, Saigon, Mexico City, New Orleans and Bangkok.) Along for the ride are Phil's friends, family and his trademark sense of humor.

"Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams3:01 a.m. Amazon (new series)  — Each of the ten standalone episodes are set in a different and unique world - some which lay in the far reaches of the universe, and others which are much closer to home.

"Hell's Kitchen"  8 p.m. Fox  — The remaining chefs compete for the coveted black jacket in three challenges, including "Taste It, Now Make It," in which contestants must use their senses to recreate a dish.

"MacGyver"  8 p.m. CBS  — While Mac participates in a challenge for government operatives to create robotic combat machines, Mac must help his biggest competitor, Allie, when her vehicle is hacked and heads to the Pentagon.

"Mama June: From Not to Hot"  8 p.m. WE (second season debut)  — She's still thin! Honey Boo Boo is entering puberty, too.

"Hawaii Five-O"  9 p.m. CBS  — When a man accused of killing his wife threatens to commit suicide, Grover reveals how he too was once on the brink of taking his own life.

"Blue Bloods"  10 p.m. CBS  — After Anthony is shot while interviewing a witness for an upcoming murder trial, Erin enlists Anthony's archenemy, Danny, to find out who was responsible.

WEEKEND

"Saturday Night Live" 11:29 p.m. Saturday NBC— Sam Rockwell hosts.

"Shark Tank" 9 p.m. Sunday ABC —  Husband and wife entrepreneurs from Atlanta introduce the Sharks to their famous seafood breading mix business.

"Madam Secretary" 10 p.m. Sunday C BS — After President Dalton hears about a sonic attack at the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria, he thinks Russia is to blame and uncharacteristically threatens them with military force.