By RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com, filed January 11, 2015
Lifetime likes to tackle controversial film subjects. Just a few weeks ago, the network tackled the late R&B singer Aaliyah. Now it's the late even greater R&B legend Whitney Houston with "Whitney" on Saturday night.
It focuses on the tumultuous relationship between Whitney and Bobby Brown, heavy on the Bobby Brown.
This week also features the beginning of the end of "Parks & Recreation" on NBC Tuesday and the returns of FXX's "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and Comedy Central's "Broad City" on Wednesday.
And on Friday, Syfy debuts a TV version of the Terry Gilliam film "12 Monkeys."
Plus, on Sunday, the AFC and NFC championship games will inform us who will end up in the Super Bowl.
MONDAY
"The Bachelor" 8 p.m. ABC — An eliminated bachelorette tries to get back in.
"Celebrity Apprentice " 8 p.m. NBC — Geraldo Rivera's ego could practically topple Donald Trump's!
"BCS Championship" 8:30 p.m. ESPN — Oregon vs. Ohio State.
"Mike & Molly " 8:31 p.m. CBS — When Mike flirts with a rookie cop -- and she reciprocates -- guilt sets in.
" Fashion Police " 9 p.m. E! — Kathy Griffin takes over for the late great Joan Rivers.
"Major Crimes " 10 p.m. TNT (third season finale) — The division races to stop a serial killer targeting female sex workers.
" State of Affairs " 10 p.m. NBC — The team must locate Jack Dawkins when he is kidnapped and held for ransom.
" Friends to Lovers? " 10 p.m. Bravo (new series) — Five sets of real-life friends try to take their relationships to the next level.
" Castle " 10:01 p.m. ABC — Unable to work alongside Kate or the 12th Precinct, Castle gets his private investigator license.
TUESDAY
"Shark Tank" 8 p.m. ABC — A vest with a twist that was inspired by a girl's science project; baking healthy, homemade cookies.
"Parks & Recreation" 8 p.m. NBC (seventh and final season debut) — Leslie launches a competition with a tech company for a large parcel of land.
"Masterchef Junior" 8 p.m. Fox — Three of the junior cooks race to be the first to top their pies with whipped meringue.
"NCIS " 8 p.m. CBS — The team searches for a home-grown terrorist.
"Kate Plus 8 " 9 p.m. TLC (third season debut) — Kate and the kids leave for one more summer outing; the family stops at Plimoth Plantation.
"Marvel's Agent Carter " 9 p.m. ABC — As Carter gets closer to Stark's stolen technology, a secret could unravel her mission.
"NCIS : New Orleans" 9 p.m. CBS — A Navy Admiral's daughter is the prime suspect in a double murder on a research boat.
"Person of Interest " 10 p.m. CBS — The government's head of Samaritan starts to question the methods and intentions of the program.
"Big Giant Swords " 10 p.m. Discovery (new series) — A six-foot sword shaped like a lightning bolt; a large Indian chakram.
"Forever " 10 p.m. ABC — Henry and Jo investigate an ex-con with a connection to Jo's late husband.
"My Big Fat Fabulous Life " 10 p.m. TLC (new series) — Whitney is determined to show the world she can still move even after her weight gain.
"Wrestling With Death " 10 p.m. WGN (new series) — No existentialism here. It's funeral home owners by day, wrestlers by night.
"Cougar Town " 10:30 p.m. TBS — Chick's Civil War re-enactment; Bobby's job opportunity is in another state; baby name choices.
WEDNESDAY
"The Mysteries of Laura" 8 p.m. NBC — Arson leads to the death of a teenage boy; chemistry sparks between Jake and a former flame.
"The Mentalist " 8 p.m. CBS — A murder investigation turns personal when Lisbon learns that her younger brother is a witness.
"Melissa & Joey " 8 p.m. ABC Family (fourth season debut) — A cabin getaway for Mel and Joe turns into a nightmare; Lennox hides her relationship with Marco.
"American Idol " 8 p.m. Fox — Kansas City auditions.
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit " 9 p.m. NBC — A teenager is sexually assaulted and left for dead in an alley after attending a movie star's party.
"Modern Family " 9 p.m. ABC — Phil calls in his father and his retired friends to help in a war with the neighbors.
"Empire " 9:01 p.m. Fox — Lucious has to defend Empire's IPO launch after one of his artists is involved in a shooting.
"Duck Dynasty " 9:30 p.m. A&E — Willie and Jase decide to test an old theory whether the latter can outrun a truck.
"Black-ish " 9:31 p.m. ABC — While on the way to the family's annual ski trip, Dre teaches the kids about Martin Luther King Jr.
"American Horror Story " 10 p.m. FX — Dandy gives the Twins troubling information about Chester; Maggie proves her loyalty to Jimmy.
"Hindsight " 10 p.m. VH1 — After Becca calls off her wedding to Sean, her parents are angry, and Sean is distraught.
"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia " 10 p.m. FXX (10th season debut) — The gang tries to break a legendary beer drinking record; Mac oversees the execution.
"Man Seeking Woman " 10 p.m. FXX (new series) — Josh struggles in the aftermath of being dumped by his now ex-girlfriend Maggie.
"Broad City" 10:30 p.m. Comedy Central (second season debut) — Ilana searches for the perfect gift for Lincoln; Abbi tries to track down an air conditioner.
"Top Chef " 10 p.m. Bravo — The chefs are thrown for a loop when family members join them to assist in an Elimination Challenge.
THURSDAY
"American Idol" 8 p.m. Fox — Adam Lambert subs as a judge in New York.
"The Biggest Loser" 8 p.m. NBC — A Clark-Atlanta University graduate will pop up early on and makes a quick impression.
"Mom" 8:30 p.m. CBS — Realizing she has been a waitress longer than she intended, Christy moves toward a career change
"Two and a Half Men" 9:01 p.m. CBS — Alan tries to help Walden keep Louis after the social worker makes a discovery.
FRIDAY
"Undercover Boss" 8 p.m. CBS — EmpireCLS CEO David Seelinger goes under cover to see if his business is running smoothly.
"Cold Justice " 8 p.m. TNT — Kelly and Yolanda are faced with the difficult task of finding the killer of a young mother.
"Constantine " 8 p.m. NBC — John summons a demon into himself to help fend off an attack.
"World's Funniest Fails " 8 p.m. Fox (new series) — A celebrity panel, featuring Erik Griffin, Jessimae Peluso and Josh Wolf, analyzes videos.
"12 Monkeys " 9 p.m. Syfy (new series) — Inspired by the classic blockbuster film, this drama explores a time traveler from a decimated future in a high-stakes race against the clock.
"Hawaii Five-O " 9 p.m. CBS — Five-O uncovers the truth behind a disappearance of four reform school boys 40 years ago.
"Glee " 9 p.m. Fox — Kurt and Rachel are faced with struggles as they try to rebuild and co-direct the glee club.
"Shark Tank " 9 p.m. ABC — An elegant lighting solution; wearable sleep technology; a food bar for dogs.
"Banshee " 10 p.m. Cinemax — Lucas and Carrie investigate the tunnels under Camp Genoa; thugs threaten Proctor and Rebecca.
"Blue Bloods " 10 p.m. CBS — A homeless teenager claims his aunt was murdered by her boyfriend.
"Helix " 10 p.m. Syfy — Those who survived the horrors of Arctic Biosystems attempt to move on with their lives.
WEEKEND
"Whitney" 8 p.m. Saturdya Lifetime — Singer Whitney Houston (Yaya DaCosta) skyrockets to fame and has a tumultuous marriage with fellow entertainer Bobby Brown (Arlen Escarpeta).
"Love By The Book" 9 p.m. Saturday Hallmark — A man (Kristopher Turner) bets the owner (Leah Renee) of a bookstore that she will lose interest in her new beau (Ryan Bittle) after one month.
"Saturday Night Live" 11:29 p.m. Saturday NBC — Kevin Hart hosts.
"NFC Championship Game" 3:05 p.m. Sunday Fox — Seattle vs. Green Bay.
"AFC Championship Game" 6:40 p.m. Sunday CBS — Indianapolis vs. New England.
"Galavant" 8 p.m. Sunday ABC — The trio finally nears Valencia and finds shelter with monks who have taken a vow of singing.
"The Librarians" 9 p.m. Sunday TNT (first season finale) — Baird begins moving through alternate timelines that reveal the destinies of the librarians.
"Downton Abbey" 9 p.m. Sunday GPB — Mary and Lord Gillingham's love is tested; Bates faces a trial; Cora finds a new friend.
"Girls" 9 p.m. Sunday HBO — Hannah discovers she can get more for her money in Iowa; Hannah prods Marnie for information.
"Shameless" 9 p.m. Sunday Showtime — Frank tries to talk Sheila out of an offer; Lip has his first day of work; Kev and Svetlana bond.
"Resurrection" 9:01 p.m. Sunday ABC — Some inexplicable events cause Bellamy to fear for Rachel and her unborn child; an alliance forms.
"Togetherness" 9:30 p.m. Sunday HBO — Tina tries to get Alex out of his funk by enlisting him to help with her business.
"House of Lies" 10 p.m. Sunday Showtimes — Marty proves his business savvy in a meeting with an electric-car mogul.
"Scorpion" 10 p.m. Sunday CBS — The team works to stop the launching of weapons of mass destruction.
"Episodes" 10:30 p.m. Sunday Showtime — Matt tries to solve his financial troubles; networks compete for Sean and Beverly's new show.
About the Author
