Posted Sunday, December 3, 2017 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Nearly four years after "Psych" ended on USA Network, the gang is back together again with the jokes, the pineapples and the goofy banter led by Dule Hill and James Roday. It's a one-time film deal but fans will rejoice just to have Shawn and Gus even for a couple of hours.
And if you want Christopher Meloni in a much different role from his days on "Law & Order SVU," try Syfy's "Happy!" on Wednesday. He's a hitman in a bad place who ends up befriending a cartoon blue unicorn who is also in a bind. (The unicorn is voiced by Patton Oswalt.)
Netflix's Emmy nominated series "The Crown" returns Friday for a second season. And 'Top Chef" is back on Bravo Thursday for its 15th season.
This covers Monday, December 5 through Sunday, December 11, 2017.
MONDAY
"The Great Christmas Light Fight" 8 p.m. ABC — The Waters family's wireless light show in DeSoto, Texas; the Tomasello family's life-sized gingerbread house in Ronkonkoma, N.Y.; the Heindel family's magical.
"The Voice" 8 p.m. NBC — The top 10 perform.
"The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee" 8 p.m. HBO — A profile of Ben Bradlee (1921-2014), the executive editor of the Washington Post from 1968 to 1991 who was largely credited with taking down President Nixon in 1974 after the paper broke the Watergate story.
"Superior Donuts" 9 p.m. CBS — Franco considers giving up admission to his dream school after he learns Arthur included his ethnicity on the application despite Franco's desire to be accepted solely on the merits of his art.
"The Good Doctor" 10 p.m. ABC — Members of the hospital's surgical team are initially impressed with a charming young doctor, but his true character puts one of them in an awkward position at work.
"Cash Cab" 10 p.m. Discovery (return of the series) — Ben Bailey brings back the classic game show.
"The Wall" 10:01 p.m. NBC — A holiday-themed episode.
TUESDAY
"The Middle" 8 p.m. ABC (200th episode) — When Orson is named as one of the top 200 most livable cities in Indiana, Frankie is reminded that she has to come up with something to place in the time capsule that will be buried in the base of the newly rededicated Orson Cow.
"Major Crimes" 9 p.m. TNT— The murder of a well-known attorney points to bevy of high-profile suspects, including her son, her ex-husband, a film director whose career she helped destroy and a former football player whose sports bars-restaurant chain features scantily clad women.
"Will & Grace" 9 p.m. NBC — Will, Grace, Karen and Jack wish they could have experienced Christmas in old New York City, but realize the past was not quite as romantic or open to diversity as they pictured it.
"Superstore" 9:30 p.m. NBC — Trying to prove how "wild" she can be, Amy turns a boring Christmas Eve at Cloud 9 into a holiday adventure.
"Kevin (Probably) Saves the World" 10 p.m. ABC — Kevin is forced to choose between completing his mission, which involves helping a talented artist find the courage to believe in himself, and attending the opening night of Reese's play.
"Who Killed Tupac?" 10 p.m. A&E — The investigative team dives into the chaotic relationship between Tupac Shakur and his label head, Marion "Suge" Knight and if Tupac's departure from Death Row was motive for Suge to turn on their friendship.
WEDNESDAY
"Shut Eye" 3:01 a.m. Hulu (second season debut) — As Linda struggles with Gina's (Emmanuelle Chriqui) death, her concern over Charlie's sanity, and the thinning thread of faith she has for her husband's "plan" to save their lives and livelihood, Charlie plots to get out from under Fonso (Angus Sampson), Rita (Isabella Rossellini) and Eduardo's (David Zayas) thumbs.
"Survivor" 8 p.m. CBS — Who would have thought Devin had a strategic mind? And Ben is working on an Oscar-winning performance.
"Empire" 8 p.m. Fox — Cookie and Lucious take matters into their own hands as they watch Diana DuBois' master scheme unfold.
"The Goldbergs" 8 p.m. ABC — Adam and Barry decide to write a song like the iconic "Parents Just Don't Understand" and call it "Dads Just Don't Care."
"Dynasty" 9 p.m. the CW — Everything is shiny and bright at the city's annual tree lighting, but behind the scenes, the Carringtons struggle with ghosts from their past.
"Law & Order: SVU" 9 p.m. NBC — The cops get tangled in an elaborate online hoax that leads to the rape of a popular social media star.
"Modern Family" 9 p.m. ABC — After leaving his real estate firm to strike out on his own, Phil decides a solo camping trip in the wild will be just what he needs to boost his confidence.
"Chicago PD" 10 p.m. NBC — The death of a judge's daughter puts Intelligence on the track of a pill mill spreading into the suburbs of Chicago and the doctor enabling it.
"Criminal Minds" 10 p.m. CBS — When two members of a conspiracy group in Roswell, N.M., perish in quick succession, the BAU is called to investigate.
"Happy!" 10 p.m. Syfy (new series) — A hit-man (Christopher Meloni) is forced to partner with an imaginary blue-winged horse to rescue a missing child.
"Knightfall" 10 p.m. History (new series) — A chronicle of the 14th-century demise of the Knights Templar, who were persecuted, tortured and burned at the stake in 1307.
THURSDAY
"The Big Bang Theory " 8 p.m. CBS — Sheldon and Amy try to eliminate stress from wedding planning by applying math to the process.
"32 Pills: My Sister's Suicide " 8 p.m. HBO — Documentarian Hope Litoff remembers her sister Ruth, a New York artist whose struggle with mental illness ended with her suicide.
"Psych: The Movie " 8 p.m. USA — Old friends reunite when one of them is targeted by an unknown assailant.
"Gotham " 8 p.m. Fox — Things get complicated for Gordon, Sophia and Penguin when Carmine Falcone comes to town.
"Young Sheldon " 8:31 p.m. Fox — The kids brainstorm ways to resolve a family feud when Meemaw refuses to give George Sr. her brisket recipe.
"A Very Discovery Christmas " 9 p.m. Discovery — Join your favorite Discovery families as they share their favorite Christmas traditions. From trimming the tree to making bush gifts to hunting holiday meals, and even making some moonshine, it's time to get in the Christmas spirit.
"The Great American Baking Show " 9 p.m. ABC (third season debut) — Bakers from across the country battling through 18 total challenges with six challenges throughout each two-hour themed episode.
"Pearl Harbor Special " 9 p.m. History — Survivors remember.
"Mom" 9:01 p.m. CBS — Bonnie insists on meeting Adam's estranged brother, Patrick, and things get weird when he takes a romantic interest in Christy.
"S.W.A.T." 10 p.m. CBS— Hondo puts aside his misgivings about Jim Street's recklessness and allows the newbie to go undercover as a broker in a luxury car theft ring to bust a ruthless trafficker.
"Top Chef" 10 p.m. Bravo (15th season debut) — The chefs are in Colorado and none of them are from the South.
FRIDAY
"The Crown" 3:01 a.m. Netflix (second season debut) — The second season sees Queen Elizabeth growing more assured in her role while her relationship with her husband looks anything but secure.
"Blindspot" 8 p.m. NBC — The team goes undercover on a movie set to stop a terrorist plot with unlikely backers.
"MacGyver" 8 p.m. CBS — When 32 college students are stranded on a research ship in the Arctic Ocean with no heat and erupting fires, Mac develops an emotional connection to the group leader, via video chat, as he relays how to stay alive as they await a rescue ship.
"Hell's Kitchen" 8 p.m. Fox — Special guest judge and fish-cooking expert chef Michael Cimarusti joins chef Ramsay, as the remaining contestants compete in a special challenge involving creatures of the sea.
"Hawaii Five-O" 9 p.m. CBS — When investigating a deserted yacht adrift at sea, McGarrett, Danny, Tani and Junior are exposed to a deadly bioweapon and the rest of Five-0 have only eight hours to find an antidote.
"Blue Bloods" 10 p.m. CBS — Erin is conflicted when Jamie and Eddie ask her to help drop old charges against a man, Parker Mack, who just bravely rescued a woman from a local hostage situation.
WEEKEND
"Christmas in Mississippi" 8 p.m. Saturday Lifetime — The town is resurrecting their traditional holiday light show for the first time since a terrible hurricane struck five years earlier. Holly volunteers to pitch in, but soon has second thoughts when she discovers the festival is run by her high school sweetheart, Mike.
"Saturday Night Live" 11:29 p.m. Saturday NBC — James Franco hosts.
"Outlander" 8 p.m. Sunday Starz (third season finale) — Claire is forced to play a game of cat and mouse with an old adversary as she searches for Young Ian. The Frasers race through the jungles of Jamaica to prevent the unthinkable.
"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" 8 p.m. Sunday Bravo — The ladies surprise Kenya with a wedding celebration.
"Search Party" 10 p.m. Sunday TBS — While the gang's distance grows, Dory drops in on Keith's funeral, Drew investigates the threatening flowers left at his work, Portia severs ties with her mother, Elliott endures group therapy, and Julian realizes Mary may be an imperfect role model.
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