Saturday, December 21, 2019

What's On Tonight (Sunday): Mr. Robot hits self-destruct

Mr. Robot (via Tumblr)
Hello dear humanoids, androids, droids, and cyborgs! We are mere hours from saying goodbye to Mr. Robot, a series that has definitely returned to form after that serious sophomore slump some years ago. While the drama seemed to be wonderfully (yet easily) coasting toward the finale, it threw a big 'ol wrench last week, introducing an alternative world where people are happy but others don't exist. I think it's the unknown-but-mentioned third persona. Elsewhere, The Price Is Right comes to primetime, Paul Watson gets documentary treatment, Idina Menzel celebrates adoption, the Resistance continues, Food Network wraps up the holiday competitions, and ABC looks back at 2019. Showtime is the only network with a full slate with none of its programs taking the holiday lull off, though Starz also continues to air episodes of its import Dublin Murders. And there are five new Christmas movies for you Christmas movie watchers. So come on down, here's what's on television for tonight, Sunday, December 22!

EARLY PRIMETIME

Christmas Crush πŸŽ₯πŸŽ„ (Ion, 7 p.m.): When Addie makes a Christmas wish for her neighbor, Sam, to fall in love with her, she's not expecting anything to happen... and she definitely isn't expecting the wish to go awry and cause her other neighbor, Pete, to fall in love with her instead.

Christmas Wedding Runaway πŸŽ₯πŸŽ„ (UPtv, 7 p.m.): A runaway bride does some soul-searching when she's trapped in a snowed-in cabin with her grandmother and an old flame... at Christmas!

60 Minutes (CBS, 7 p.m.): Tonight spotlights artist Mark Bradford, chef Massimo Bottura, and Ethiopian pilgrims who trek to rock-hewn churches.

Doctor Who πŸ“Ί (Retro TV, 7 p.m.): Morgaine (Jean Marsh), a sorceress from another dimension, summons the planet-devouring Destroyer (Marek Anton) in England, where she also seeks to take the sword Excalibur for herself. The Doctor and Ace gotta stop it. This was also the Brigadier's last appearance on the flagship show.✔️

Star Wars Resistance (Disney XD, 6 p.m.): If you can't make it to The Rise of Skywalker, you can try this animated Star Wars-universe series (that I tried but couldn't tolerate). Kaz, Yeager and Synara trace a distress call to a planet where a Resistance agent has gone missing. Things only get worse as a mysterious bounty hunter starts hunting them.

FOR THE RECORDAmerica's Funniest Home Videos (ABC, 7 p.m.); Killer Siblings (Oxygen, 7 p.m.); Snapped (Oxygen, 6 p.m.)
Doctor Who, "Battlefield" (via Tumblr)

πŸ•— EASTERN / πŸ•– CENTRAL

The Adventures of Paddington (Nick Jr., 8 p.m.): This new preschool series, which formally premiere next month (and this premiere aired a couple days ago on Nickelodeon), follows Paddington as he writes letters to Aunt Lucy celebrating the new things he has discovered through the day's exciting activities. Ben Whishaw still voices the title character.✔️

A Date by Christmas Eve πŸŽ₯πŸŽ„ (Lifetime, 8 p.m.): A brand stategist for the dating app The Nice List discovers the app has granted her magical powers. She uses her newfound ability to make all of the naughty people in her life learn how to be good again. So, like The Good Place, but a cable Christmas movie.

Dublin Murders (Starz, 8 p.m.): Everything comes to a head as Cassie confronts Lexie's killer, and Rob has a breakthrough regarding Katy's murder.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas πŸŽ₯πŸŽ„ (Hallmark Channel, 8 p.m.): White people fall in love.

The Price Is Right at Night πŸŽ„πŸ’² (CBS, 8 p.m.): SPECIAL. A holiday special with help from the cast of SEAL Team and an audience of active duty military and veterans.

Ray Donovan (Showtime, 8 p.m.): Bridget, Bunchy, and Jim Sullivan all need Ray to fix their problems. Terry and Smitty help Ray with some detective work. Ray struggles to stay on Mickey's trail.

Sunday Night Football (NBC, 8:15-ish p.m.): Native American leaders versus big cubs

Watson πŸŽ₯ (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.): SPECIAL. A profile of Sea Shepherd founder Capt. Paul Watson, who has sailed the globe to keep the oceans and their inhabitants safe, willing to put his own life at risk to protect the oceans and marine life. And somewhat controversially.

FOR THE RECORD90 Day FiancΓ© (TLC); Alaska: The Last Frontier (Discovery Channel); America in Color (Smithsonian Channel, finale); The Christmas Caroler Challenge (The CW); Heavy Rescue: 401 (Weather Channel); Kids Say the Darndest Things (ABC); Obsession: Dark Desires (Investigation Discovery); The Real Housewives of Atlanta (Bravo); Ridiculousness (MTV)

πŸ•˜ EASTERN / πŸ•— CENTRAL

A Family Christmas Gift πŸŽ₯πŸŽ„ (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, 9 p.m.): Hey! Not white people! Holly Robinson Peete falls for some guy, who sounds like he is a gift for the whole family?

A Home for the Holidays with Adele Dazeem Idina Menzel πŸŽ„ (CBS, 9 p.m.): SPECIAL. A special full of inspirational stories of lives changed through adoption, and performances from host Idina Menzel, Adam Lambert, Ne-Yo, and Kelly Rowland.✔️

⭐ Mr. Robot (USA, 10 p.m.): SERIES FINALE. In the two-hour finale, USA sums it up with: "Parts one and two of the series finale." No shit, USA. Thanks for nothing. We were at the moment that Whiterose's machine activated when we were introduced to this new world where lives were routine, maybe better, but even Elliot felt it was off. He is engaged to Angela, and Darlene doesn't exist. And then... hooded Elliot is sitting at his desk!(?) What does this mean? I have questions. We all do. Does Waystar Royco buy up the company and dismantle E/F-Corp to build up Pied Piper?

Shameless (Showtime, 9 p.m.): Debbie searches for her next payday. Frank meets the woman of his dreams. Ian and Mickey get roped into a dangerous scam for Paula. Kev and V go undercover to find new customers.

The Year: 2019 (ABC, 9 p.m.): SPECIAL. A look back at historic and memorable moments from 2019 via interviews with personalities of the year.

FOR THE RECORD: Aerial America (Smithsonian Channel); Before I Die (Investigation Discovery); Holiday Wars (Food Network, finale); Ice Pilots (Weather Channel); Married to Medicine (Bravo, 9:15 p.m., finale); Unearthed (Science)
Menzel in A Very Wicked Halloween (via Giphy)

πŸ•™ EASTERN / πŸ•˜ CENTRAL

The Sonny & Cher Show πŸ“Ί (getTV, 10 p.m.): Robert Keeshan and Bernadette Peters guest star.

The L Word: Generation Q (Showtime, 10 p.m.): Bette prepares for an important debate. Alice lands a huge guest. Shane visits a bar and gets embroiled with two of its employees. And Dani and Sophie's families clash.

FOR THE RECORD: 90 Day FiancΓ©: Pillow Talk (TLC); Expedition Bigfoot (Travel Channel); Holiday Gingerbread Showdown (Food Network, finale); On the Case with Paula Zahn (Investigation Discovery) Unexplained and Unexplored (Science); Unpolished (TLC, finale)


πŸ•š EASTERN / πŸ•™ CENTRAL

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour πŸ“Ί (getTV, 11 p.m.): Jack Benny and Nanette Fabray perform "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

The Twilight Zone πŸ“Ί (MeTV, 11 p.m.): In one of my favorite TZ episodes, a bandaged young woman awaits the outcome of an experimental treatment that has been administered to her in an effort to make her appear normal.

Work in Progress (Showtime, 11 p.m.): Abby and Chris plan to have sex for the first time at the end of a Bacchanalian day of three meals, four Lyft rides and an STD reveal.✔️

FOR THE RECORDUnpolished (TLC, finale)
Work in Progres (via Giphy)

πŸ’€πŸ’€πŸ˜΄πŸ’€πŸ’€

Thriller πŸ“Ί (MeTV, 1 a.m.): The suspense anthology cycles over tonight and while there are some good episodes early in its run, the best stuff comes along in the latter half when the series embraces the supernatural and dark side of storytelling. As sure as my name is Amadeus3000, this is worth checking out.✔️

FOR THE RECORDBlind Date (Bravo, 11:30 p.m.)
Thriller (via Giphy)

LATE-NIGHT TALK & SATIRE

Johnny Carson πŸ“Ί (Antenna TV, 10 p.m.): Bruce Dern, David Letterman, and Judith Blegen (20 Dec 1979)
Nightly Pop (E!, 10:30 p.m.)
Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (Netflix, 3 a.m.): FINALE.

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Note: All times are Eastern.
Key SourcesThe Futon Critic (outline); Zap2it (descriptions); TV Passport (throwbacks)
⭐: Top pick(s)
πŸ’²: Game show
πŸ“Ί: Throwback
πŸŽ₯: Movie
πŸŽ„: Holiday-themed program
✔️: Midlevel video/gif included

Happy watching, everyone!

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