Originally posted Sunday, December 30, 2018 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
It’s a new year and plenty of TV shows to choose from.
There are two big-time new reality shows on broadcast TV: Fox’s “The Masked Singer” where famous folks in hidden outfits sing to a celebrity panel, who then try to figure out who they are. And The Rock hosts “The Titan Games” on NBC for folks who think “American Ninja Warrior” is too easy.
The Oscar race also begins in earnest with the Golden Globes on Sunday on NBC.
And on a more serious note, a six-part documentary on Lifetime unspools the reality of R. Kelly and his sexual proclivities. Will this be his final undoing?
This covers Monday, December 31, 2018 through January 6, 2019.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
"Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2019" 8 p.m. ABC — Among the performers: Christina Aguilera, Post Malone, Bastille, Dan + Shay, New Kids On The Block, Lauren Alaina, Kelsea Ballerini, Bazzi, Kane Brown, Camila Cabello, The Chainsmokers, Foster the People, Halsey, Dua Lipa, Ella Mai, Shawn Mendes, Charlie Puth and Weezer.
"Fox's New Year's Eve With Steve Harvey" 8 p.m. Fox — Performers: Sting, Jason Aldean, Robin Thicke and Florence + the Machine, among others.
"NBC's New Year's Eve" 10 p.m. NBC —
Carson Daly hosts with Chrissy Teigen and Leslie Jones with performances by Jennifer Lopez, Bebe Rexha, Urban, Diana Ross, Kelly Clarkson, Andy Grammer, Brett Young, John Legend and Blake Shelton.
"New Year's Eve Live " 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. CNN — Anderson Cooper pals it up with his buddy Andy Cohen.
"All-American New Year" 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fox News — Hosts will be Fox Business Network's Lisa "Kennedy" Montgomery and "Fox & Friends Weekend's" Pete Hegseth.
NEW YEAR’S DAY
"A Series of Unfortunate Events" 3:01 a.m. Netflix (series finale) — This season promises to tackle all questions regarding the death of of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny's parents and the secret organization V.F.D.
"Rose Bowl" 5 p.m. ESPN — Ohio State vs. Washington.
"Lethal Weapon" 8 p.m. Fox — Cole finds himself on the rebound after Natalie's engagement, and his new romantic interest, Julie, has an unexpected connection to A.D.A.
"Sugar Bowl" 8:45 p.m. ESPN — Texas vs. Georgia
"The Gifted" 9 p.m. Fox — The Mutant Underground wrestles with the idea of recruiting the Inner Circle to assist them.
WEDNESDAY
"Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back" 8 p.m. Fox (second season debut) — Gordon Ramsay's "Hell On Wheels" travels to the Trolley Stop Café, a classic Cajun-inspired restaurant located in New Orleans.
"My 600 lb Life" 8 p.m. Fox (seventh season debut) — Octavia has been bedbound for nearly a year when she decides to make the trip to Houston to get help from Dr. Now, but when it turns out that her best friend is also her worst enabler, Octavia will have to choose between old habits and a new life.
"The Masked Singer" 9 p.m. Fox (new series) — A new singing competition in which celebrity singers face off against each other while wearing elaborate costumes to hide their identitie
"Project Runway: All Stars" 9 p.m. Lifetime (seventh season debut) — All stars go global in the final season on Lifetime.
"SEAL Team" 9:01 p.m. CBS — Bravo Team partners with the British Special Air Service to rescue passengers on a hijacked plane who are taken hostage by terrorists.
"Criminal Minds" 10 p.m. CBS — The BAU team heads to Portland, Ore., to investigate a chilling abduction that may be linked to a local couple killed in their home a week earlier.
"Family By the Ton" 10 p.m. TLC (second season debut) — The Anderson family is back and continuing their incredible weight loss journey with the guidance of Dr. Procter but a new family is also introduced.
THURSDAY
"The Big Bang Theory" 8 p.m. CBS — Penny and Leonard organize a paintball game that results in mayhem when Sheldon is jealous of Amy.
"Gotham" 8 p.m. Fox — Jim Gordon and Bruce Wayne face the chaos Gotham City has become.
"The Titan Games" 8 p.m. NBC (new series) — The Rock hosts this massive Gladiator-style competition that is like a steroid-amped "American Ninja Warrior."
"Top Chef" 8 p.m. Bravo (new time slot) — The mayhem and drama continues during the biggest Restaurant Wars in the history of ""Top Chef."
"Young Sheldon" 8:31 p.m. CBS — Sheldon experiments on Missy, and Georgie joins Mary's bible study to spend more time with his crush.
"The Last Days of JFK Jr." 9 p.m. ABC — A remembrance of John F. Kennedy Jr. He, his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and her sister Lauren Bessette died in a plane crash on July 16, 1999.
"Dr. Pimple Popper" 9 p.m. TLC (second season debut) — This is such a draw-droppingly grotesque show and for that reason, it's back!
"Surviving R. Kelly" 9 p.m. Lifetime — The R&B singer has been dogged by accusations of sexual abuse and exploitation of under-aged girls. Here's a six-part documentary featuring many of the survivors.
"60 Days In" 10 p.m. A&E (fifth season debut) — The show leaves Atlanta and ventures to Arizona.
"The Blacklist" 10 p.m. NBC — Red and the Task Force search for a plastic surgeon who creates new identities for wanted criminals.
FRIDAY
"Beautiful Boy" 3:01 a.m. Amazon — Steve Carell plays a dad coping with his son struggling with addiction.
"Fresh Off the Boat" 8 p.m. ABC — Louis and Jessica think they've won a weekend getaway at a posh resort, but instead they're stuck at a marriage retreat where troubled couples work out their relationship problems with the help of Guru Sheela.
"Last Man Standing" 8 p.m. Fox — When Mike offers to take Boyd on a fishing trip, Ryan objects because the plans interfere with an existing trip he had made with his son.
"MacGyver" 8 p.m. CBS — Mac and Jack hit the road for a weekend of relaxation in Las Vegas, but their mini-vacation is cut short when someone from their past abducts them and locks them in a concrete room.
"The Blacklist" 9 p.m. NBC (time slot debut) — Liz and the Task Force race to stop an imminent bombing by an elusive Blacklister.
"Hawaii Five-O" 9 p.m. CBS — Steve and Catherine are still reeling from the murder of one of their ohana and, along with Danny, Junior and some old friends, Harry Langford and Wade Gutches, hunt down the killer.
"Blue Bloods" 10 p.m. CBS — Frank questions whether a run-in with community activists was an accident or a setup.
WEEKEND
"Say Yes to the Dress" 8 p.m. Saturday TLC (17th season debut) — The sister of NBA star Stephen Curry hunts for her dream wedding dress; Cami Lee returns with her over-the-top mom in search of the perfect black dress.
"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" 8 p.m. Sunday Bravo — Porsha and Kandi clash while we finally meet Cynthia's boyfriend in the flesh.
"Outlander" 8 p.m. Sunday Starz — Jamie and Claire keep secrets from one another as they try to help Brianna process her recent trauma; however, the secrets they keep cause a bigger familial rift once they are revealed.
"God Friended Me" 8 p.m. Sunday CBS — Miles turns to his dad for help when he learns that his latest friend suggestion was adopted after being dropped off at Arthur's church as a baby.
"76th Annual Golden Globes" 8 p.m. Sunday NBC — Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg host.
"Ray Donovan" 9 p.m. Sunday Showtime — It's all-out war between cops and family.
"Worst Cooks in America" 9 p.m. Sunday Food (15th season debut) — Fifteen bad cooks enter boot camp with dreams of putting their kitchen nightmares behind them.
"Shark Tank" 9 p.m. Sunday ABC — A husband and wife pitch their rooftop assistance design that helps access a vehicle's roof with one easy step.
"Madam Secretary" 10 p.m. Sunday CBS — Elizabeth goes head to head with a U.S. governor over the state's new policy of separating unauthorized immigrants from their children.
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