What's On Tonight (Saturday): Here we are in Steven Universe's Future

Steven Universe Future (via Giphy)

Greetings and welcome to the final Saturday of 2019 and the 2010s. 520 weeks and we are down to the final days of the decade. The pickings are incredibly slim, but Steven Universe Future is new, wrapping up the first round of episodes. Billed as a separate series but an epilogue to the concluded Steven Universe, the quality has been hit-and-miss. Some work wonderfully while others rely too much on old sitcom hijinks with lackluster payoff. Elsewhere, Pikachu arrives on pay cable, Father Dowling returns, and with Christmas done, murder is back on the menu at Lifetime. I can't believe we've come so far / Happily ever after, here we are, here's what's on television for tonight, Saturday, December 28!

💻 STREAMING / EARLY PRIMETIME

Columbo 📺 (Cozi TV, 7 p.m.): First, motivational researcher Robert Culp blackmails to further his career, kills a man, then frames the victim's wife. Later, publisher Jack Cassidy hires bomb enthusiast John Davis Chandler to murder a bestselling author of sex novels. Lt. Columbo is on both cases.

Hot Gimmick: Girl Meets Boy 🎥 (Netflix, 3 a.m.): In this Japanese import, a quiet teen's life is shaken up when she's forced to be her arrogant neighbor's slave. Uhhhh... He loves her, but they both have a lot to learn about trust.✔️

FOR THE RECORD: Chocolate (Netflix, 3 a.m.); Criminal Confessions (Oxygen, 6 p.m.); Homicide for the Holidays (Oxygen, 7 p.m., finale)

🕗 EASTERN / 🕖 CENTRAL

Brightburn 🎥 (Starz, 8 p.m.): "What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister?" Wonder no more! I forgot this movie was a thing.

Deadly Hollywood Obsession 🎥 (Lifetime, 8 p.m.): After saving a boy from a kidnapping attempt, a woman is hired to be the boy's home-school teacher. When the father and the woman start to fall in love, the father's stalker switches targets.

Pokémon Detective Pikachu 🎥 (HBO, 8 p.m.): In this cute and delightful popcorn flick, in a world where people collect Pokémon to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent talking Pikachu who seeks to be a detective.✔️

⭐ Steven Universe Future (Cartoon Network, 8 p.m.): Steven and the Gems celebrate Little Homeschool's first graduating class. Later, after leaving Little Homeschool, Steven turns to plants as a new hobby.

FOR THE RECORD: 90 Day Fiancé (TLC)

Pokémon Detective Pikachu (via Giphy)

🕘 EASTERN / 🕗 CENTRAL

This Weekend in Pop Culture (Pop Culture, 9:30 p.m.): There isn't much, so stop by and chat at this weekly feature about what pop culture you consumed recently.

FOR THE RECORD: Full Custom Garage (Motor Trend); Impact Wrestling (AXS TV)

🕙 EASTERN / 🕘 CENTRAL

Father Dowling Mysteries 📺 (Decades, 10 p.m.): Spend the weekend with Tom Bosley and Tracy Nelson as Father Dowling and Sister Stephanie (aka Steve). In this episode, Steve's brother Stephen Dorff is in trouble when he witnesses a murder but won't tell the police for fear of implicating himself.✔️

FOR THE RECORD: Bellator MMA Live (Paramount Network); Destination Fear (Travel Channel); Ready to Love (OWN)

🕚 EASTERN / 🕙 CENTRAL

Hill Street Blues 📺 (Heroes & Icons, 11 p.m.): In the trio of tonight's episodes, the highlight is the looming gang war that threatens to explode on the Hill as the Diablos and Blood gangs — the latter headed by recent mayoral appointee Marcus Peabody — stage pitched battles and count their casualties. Their struggle affects Belker’s undercover gig as a loan shark when Peabody pops in asking for $25,000 to finance the conflict. Later, Renko gets cold feet before his wedding.

FOR THE RECORD: Hawaii Life (HGTV); It Feels Evil (Travel Channel)

💤💤😴💤💤

Grace Under Fire 📺 (Laff, 1:30 a.m.): Grace is persuaded to accept a date with Ryan (William Fichtner in his second appearance on the series), which is a getaway weekend in Chicago.✔️

The Invaders 📺 (MeTV, midnight): Vincent recovers important information regarding the aliens just as a conspiracy targets his future.

Lost in Space 📺 (MeTV, 1 a.m.): When the men are away, a creepy creature stalks the Robinson women.

Raven 📺 (getTV, 2 a.m.): Last call for Raven on getTV! Raven and Ski find the son of a Navy commander who has gone A.W.O.L., then watch him disappear into the ocean in a surfing accident.

The Time Tunnel 📺 (MeTV, 4 a.m.): In this stupid episode, two aliens enslave Tony and Doug in a plan to strip 1885 Earth of all sustenance. Stupid.

Grace Under Fire (via Tumblr)

LATE-NIGHT TV

Austin City Limits (PBS, 11 p.m.): 6th annual Hall of Fame Honor
Greg Gutfeld (Fox News, 10 p.m.): Tom Shillue, Jonathan Morris, Kat Timpf, and Tyrus
Johnny Carson 📺 (Antenna TV, 10 p.m.): George Burns, Rodney Dangerfield, Michael Constantine, and Shana Alexander (30 Nov 1976)
SNL Vintage 📺 (NBC, 10 p.m.): Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake (21 Dec 2013)

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Note: All times are Eastern.

Key Sources: The Futon Critic (outline); Zap2it (descriptions); TV Passport (throwbacks)
⭐: Top pick(s)
📺: Throwback
🎥: Movie
✔️: Midlevel video/gif included

Happy watching, everyone!