Posted Sunday, December 31, 2017 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
The first week of the year means a flood or original programming.
Fox is rolling out a new drama ("9-1-1") starring Angela Bassett, a new music competition show ("The Four") that replaces "Idol" and the latest season of "The X-Files."
ABC's latest "Bachelor" returns. Among shows with Atlanta ties: the latest A&E season of "60 Days In" Monday set in Fulton County jail, the first episode of USA's "NFL Football Fanatic" Monday with the Atlanta Falcons, the latest season of A&E's "Intervention" in Cobb County Tuesday and the new "WAGS Atlanta" Wednesday.
Among other new shows: NBC's "Ellen's Game of Games" Tuesday, ABC's latest game show Friday features kids called "Child Support," Netflix's docu-series "Rotten" Friday and Showtime's "Chi," a scripted series on Sunday.
And the Golden Globes on NBC airs Sunday. Its ability to predict the Oscars race is relatively weak but it's a way to get a taste of the Oscar-worthy films coming out now.
This covers Monday, January 1 through January 7, 2018.
MONDAY
"The Bachelor" 8 p.m. ABC (22nd season debut) — Arie meets with Sean and Catherine Lowe and their son, Samuel, before his journey begins. At the mansion, he meets the bachelorettes, including a "kissing bandit" and a woman who gives him compliments in Dutch, his second language.
"Lucifer" 8 p.m. Fox — In a flashback episode that takes place when Lucifer first came to L.A., Amenadiel comes to retrieve his fallen brother, but is shocked when he is mugged.
"60 Days In" 9 p.m. A&E (third season debut) — With two participants already inside Atlanta Fulton County jail and three more entering, phase two will shatter expectations, open old wounds and put everyone's safety in jeopardy.
"Better Late Than Never" 9 p.m. NBC (second season debut) — A search of Terry Bradshaw's Viking roots uncovers a "Viking Island" that leads to a series of challenges that aren't for the faint of heart.
"The Gifted" 9 p.m. Fox — As tensions heat up among the team at Mutant HQ, no one knows who they can trust.
"NFL Football Fanatic" 11:05 p.m. USA (new series) — Scottish native Darren McMullen visits football teams to understand each team's culture. He starts with the Atlanta Falcons.
TUESDAY
"Ellen's Game of Games" 8 p.m. NBC (new series) — Games include "Bet Your Wife," "One Eyed Monster," "Master Blaster" and "Blindfolded Musical Chairs."
"NCIS" 8 p.m. CBS— Torres and Bishop go undercover as a criminal couple available for hire.
"Fresh Off the Boat" 8:30 p.m. ABC — Honey is excited to attend a parenting class that encourages moms to listen to their babies.
"Intervention" 9 p.m. A&E (18th season debut) — This season willl focus on the heroin and opioid epidemic in Cobb County.
"Major Crimes" 9 p.m. TNT — In the penultimate episode, Phillip Stroh and his young British accomplice edge closer and closer to their end game.
"Chicago Med" 10 p.m. NBC — When a young woman with HIV symptoms and no insurance refuses to take the test, Goodwin and Choi attempt to treat her without taking a toll on the hospital's resources.
"Kevin (Probably) Saves the World" 10 p.m. ABC — Reveling in his success after finding the first righteous soul, Kevin attempts to help a man start dating again after a bad break-up.
"NCIS: New Orleans" 10 p.m. CBS — After a deadly armed robbery and high-speed chase is connected to an undercover ATF operation, Percy reconnects with her former ATF partner, Jake Roman.
WEDNESDAY
"The Amazing Race" 8 p.m. CBS (30th season debut) — Joey Chestnutt, the famous competitive eater, is one of the 22 cast members.
"The Blacklist" 8 p.m. NBC — Liz abandons her old life and seeks out a fresh start in a place where no one knows her history, her name, or the depths of her grief.
"The X-Files" 8 p.m. Fox (11th season debut) — Mulder and Scully learned that they aren't the only ones desperately searching for their long-lost son, William.
"9-1-1" 9 p.m. Fox (new series) — A focus on first-responders and 911 dispatchers, including Det. Athena Grant; firefighter Bobby Nash; and dispatcher Abby Clark, who spends her days fielding emergency calls at the 911 call center while desiring to know what happens after she sends.
"Law & Order: SVU" 9 p.m. NBC — Emotions run high as the SVU squad embarks on a frantic search for Benson's missing son.
"Modern Family" 9 p.m. ABC — Claire's request to build a "She Shed" in their backyard is denied by the homeowners association and only Luke and Phil know the real reason why.
"Vikings" 9 p.m. History — Bjorn returns to Kattegat to learn that an attack is to take place during the next full moon.
"Catfish" 10 p.m. MTV (seventh season debut) — A concerned son reaches out when his mom's mysterious online boyfriend seems too shady for comfort.
"Criminal Minds" 10 p.m. CBS — The team tracks a serial killer who seems to follow the touring schedule of a Goth rock star (Gavin Rossdale), and the team suspects that the performer has become lost in his own stage person.
"Match Game" 10 p.m. ABC (third season debut) — Participants: Joel McHale, Niecy Nash, Mark Duplass, Caroline Rhea, Jason Ritter and Constance Zimmer
"WAGS Atlanta" 10 p.m. E! (new series) — The ladies of athletes including those of Harry Douglas, C.J. Mosley and Deontay Wilder.
THURSDAY
"The Big Bang Theory " 8 p.m. CBS — Penny gets mad at the guys when their full scale model of a time machine causes her to miss work, which prompts Leonard to give up all of his nerd memorabilia.
"The Four" 8 p.m. Fox (new series) — Four singers start a singing competition series where challengers try to knock them out.
"Superstore" 8 p.m. NBC — After a Cloud 9 employee posts a controversial video online, Dina (Lauren Ash) enlists Cheyenne to help police the rest of the staff's social media accounts.
"The Good Place" 8:30 p.m. NBC — Michael's boss shows up and the end appears near for the fearsome foursome.
"Young Sheldon" 8:31 p.m. CBS — When Sheldon moves to Dallas to attend a school for gifted children, the family struggles to cope with his absence.
"Truth and Lies: Waco" 9 p.m. ABC — An examination of the 1993 ATF raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, that resulted in the deaths of four ATF agents and six Branch Davidian members.
"Nashville" 9 p.m. CMT (sixth and final season debut) — After a public meltdown, Juliette seeks to change her life from an unlikely source. Scarlett and Maddie take a trip. Maddie meets Jonah Ford, a famous pop star. Scarlett struggles to find herself. Will coaches Gunnar. Deacon deals with loneliness.
"Project Runway All Stars" 9 p.m. Lifetime (sixth season debut) — Three Atlantans join in: Anthony Williams, Ken Laurence and Edmond Newton.
"Will & Grace" 9 p.m. NBC — Will and Grace try to convince themselves they are okay with dating the same man.
"Mom" 9:01 p.m. CBS — Bonnie is upset when her brother, Ray (Leonard Roberts) is arrested and calls Adam instead of her to bail him out.
"Chicago Fire" 10 p.m. CBS — Brett (Kara Killmer) attempts to make a lifesaving decision in the field to someone near and dear to the firehouse family.
"The Interrogation Room" 10 p.m. Discovery (new series) — This show covers all facets of crime and the clever tactics used by detectives to obtain criminal confessions
"Top Chef" 10 p.m. Bravo — In a competition first, Tom surprises the chefs with a twist that changes the game.
FRIDAY
"Rotten" 3:01 a.m. Netflix (new series) — Ths documentary series gives food the true crime treatment, diving deep into the food production underworld to expose the corruption, waste and real dangers behind your everyday eating habits.
"Child Support" 8 p.m. ABC (new series) — Young kids help adults answer trivia questions for a chance to win a large cash prize. Ricky Gervais hosts.
"Hell's Kitchen" 8 p.m. Fox — The all-stars get a late night call from Chef Gordon Ramsay with instructions on their next challenge.
"MacGyver" 8 p.m. CBS — When Mac and Jack are trapped inside Mac's house, which his nemesis, the Ghost, has rigged with explosives, Mac uses a karaoke mic and an audio transformer to let the team know that this bomb is a distraction for a bigger one.
"U.S. Figure Skating Championships" 8 p.m. NBC — The U.S. Championships women's competition from San Jose.
"Hawaii Five-O" 9 p.m. CBS — When an FBI agent who was cracking down on organized crime is killed, McGarrett rounds up every gang-related criminal on the island to find the culprit.
"Blue Bloods" 10 p.m. CBS — When a journalist disappears while working on an exposé about an innocent man serving time for murder, Danny and Baez hope that reexamining the original case will help find her.
"The Rap Game" 10:02 p.m. Lifetime — It's time to create a music video.
WEEKEND
"Say Yes to the Dress" 8 p.m. Saturday Lifetime (16th season debut) — Jenni Pulos and Barbara Corcoran are part of the new episode.
"Falling Water" 8 p.m. Saturday USA (second season debut) — Tess, Taka, and Burton try to move on with their lives, only to find themselves drawn back into the dangerous world of dreams and dreamers.
" The 75th Annual Golden Globes Award" 8 p.m. Sunday NBC — Seth Myers hosts.
"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" 8 p.m. Sunday Bravo — The ladies get some shocking new about Shereé.
"Shark Tank" 9 p.m. Sunday ABC — An entrepreneur from Brooklyn, New York, introduces an ingenious kitchen tool that solves one of the biggest gripes in cooking - the splatter that sprays your kitchen and clothes anytime you cook.
"Madam Secretary" 10 p.m. Sunday C BS —When Vice President Hurst (Jayne Atkinson) feels threatened that Secretary of State McCord is vying to be the next president, she attempts to set Elizabeth up for failure
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