What's On Tonight (Wednesday): Live in Front of a Studio Audience, it's Norman Lear remakes, part deux

All in the Family / Live in Front of a Studio Audience (via Giphy)

Dy-no-mite tidings to all you dingbats and meatheads. Yes, tonight is the second Live in Front of a Studio Audience special, which recreates a couple episodes from the Norman Lear library. This time there will be a All in the Family episode followed by an episode of its grandchild show, Good Times. The core cast for the earlier remains intact while the latter makes its LIFOASA debut. I've got my money on the masterpiece episode "The Draft Dodger" for the AITF portion. Elsewhere, there are a lot of streaming options. Sifting for the scripted programs, there's a new Mandalorian, more Mad About You, The Gulf, and new import Wisting. On the traditional tube, A&E's excellent Born This Way concludes, singers are unmasked, survivors survive, illusionists allude, and Vikings... viking? Whatever. I don't care what anyone says, they are standing in a chow line, here's what's on television for tonight, Wednesday, December 18!

💻 STREAMING

The Age of A.I. (YouTube, 3 a.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. A new docuseries about artificial intelligence and maybe how we are all doomed to die because of it.

Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (Netflix, 3 a.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. In this oddly titled program, a group of online justice seekers track down a guy who posted a video of him killing kittens.

The Gulf (Sundance Now, 3 a.m.): Jess is running out of time to piece the puzzle together. (*starts humming Muse song*) Meanwhile, Ruby is hiding something.

Mad About You (Spectrum, 3 a.m.): FINALE. A month after the premiere, the final half of the revival season arrives to those who have Spectrum. If you don't have Spectrum... TOO BAD!

The Mandalorian (Disney+, 3 a.m.): In episode seven, an old rival extends an invitation for The Mandalorian to make peace.

Soundtrack (Netflix, 3 a.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. This romantic musical drama follows the love stories connecting an eclectic group of people in modern-day Los Angeles.

Wisting (Sundance Now, 3 a.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. This Norwegian murder mystery import arrives stateside courtesy Sundance. In the first episode, Detective William Wisting makes a terrifying discovery: a corpse among the spruces at a Norwegian Christmas tree farm is connected to a wanted American serial killer. America!

FOR THE RECORD: The X Factor UK (Hulu, 3 a.m.)

🕗 EASTERN / 🕖 CENTRAL

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer 📺🎄 (The CW, 8 p.m.): This stupid special from 2000 needs to go away.

⭐ Live in Front of a Studio Audience (ABC, 8 p.m.): SPECIAL. Why was this a thing in the first place? Oh well. Let's see if ratings lightning can strike twice. The cast to All in the Family remains intact with Kevin Bacon, Jesse Eisenberg, and Justina Machado guesting. If this is "The Draft Dodger," the earlier two play people joining the Bunkers for Christmas dinner, and Macado as the boarder Teresa. There is a lot of drama as the episode is a highlight of not just the series, but also the 1970s. On the Good Times side, Viola Davis and Andre Braugher play James and Florida while Jay Pharoah, Corinne Foxx, and Asante Blackk play the kids and Tiffany Haddish as Thelma. Jharrel Jerome also performs. IIRC, there was only one Christmas episode during the time that James Evans was a character, which means "Sometimes There's No Bottom in the Bottle" is a candidate, but not one I put money on. Anthony Anderson and Patti LaBelle will sing the theme song. And remember, this special lives and dies on how good the performers are in front of a live sitcom audience, a difficult craft. At 90 minutes, there will be padding, so expect the audience to get really excited and laugh too much.✔️

The Masked Singer (Fox, 8 p.m.): FINALE. The final masked singer takes it all* off and we find out who they are. Wait, that should be "we" because I don't give a shit. Does this show steal from furry culture? I really want your thoughts. (*just the mask)

Survivor (CBS, 8 p.m.): FINALE. The 39th survivor survives and is rewarded $1 million. It's definitely not that guy who was booted from the show. A reunion special follows this two-hour finale.

FOR THE RECORD: Alaskan Bush People (Discovery Channel); All Elite Wrestling (TNT); The Big Interview with Dan Rather (AXS TV, finale); Black Ink Crew: Chicago (VH1); Extinct or Alive (Animal Planet); The Real Housewives of New Jersey (Bravo); WWE NXT (USA)

🕘 EASTERN / 🕗 CENTRAL

Born This Way (A&E, 9 p.m.): SERIES FINALE. A&E's Emmy Award-winning docuseries (it's really good you guys!) about the daily lives of seven people with Down syndrome comes to an end. The series really closed with a short-form series earlier this fall. In this special finale, the cast reunites and reflects on their growth over the past four seasons.✔️

Family Time (Bounce TV, 9 p.m.): FINALE. Season seven wraps up with back-to-back episodes titled "We Are Family" and "No Stallworth Child Left Behind." That's as much as I know.

Finding the Way Home 🎥 (HBO, 9 p.m.): The stories of eight children who have been reunited with family members or placed in loving foster homes after being exposed to the distressing conditions prevalent in orphanages and institutions around the world.

Masters of Illusion 🎄 (The CW, 9 p.m.): A special episode featuring holiday magic acts.

The Oval (BET, 9 p.m.): The episode title is "The Fish Bowl." That's all I got.

FOR THE RECORD: America Says 💲 (Game Show Network); Bitchin' Rides (Motor Trend); The Challenge (MTV); Engineering Catastrophes (Science); Forged in Fire (History); Guy's Grocery Games (Food Network, premiere); Holmes & Holmes (DIY); Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda (Investigation Discovery); Man vs. Bear (Discovery Channel); NFL: The Grind (Epix); Property Brothers: Forever Home (HGTV, premiere); The Real Housewives of Dallas (Bravo, finale)

🕙 EASTERN / 🕘 CENTRAL

Becky Lynch: The Man (WWE 24) (USA, 10 p.m.): SPECIAL. A profile of Becky Lynch. LaFergs is most likely going to be watching.✔️

Sistas (BET, 10 p.m.): Andi's suspicions are raised concerning her lover. Sabrina and Calvin start to make progress. Danni still has a chip on her shoulder but sets it aside to help Andi.

Vikings (History, 10 p.m.): Lagertha leads her village's response to the recent attacks, but despite her best efforts, the consequences are tragic. Olaf has a bold new plan for the future of Norway, and now I'm picturing Frozen's Olaf on this show and am laughing...  a lot. Ivar discusses Oleg's ambitions for Scandinavia.

FOR THE RECORD: Deadly Engineering (Science); Five Day Biz Fix (CNBC); The Great Food Truck Race (Food Network, finale); Jungle Life (HGTV); Paranormal Caught on Camera (Travel Channel, premiere); The Real Housewives of Orange County (Bravo); Shattered (Investigation Discovery, finale)

🕚 EASTERN / 🕙 CENTRAL

Fresh Out Presents: Playlist of the Decade (MTV, 11 p.m.): Sway, Nessa, and Kevan host this special counting down the top things of the 2010s... songs, movies, TV, sneakers, social media, etc.

FOR THE RECORD: American Mystery (Travel Channel, finale); Blind Date (Bravo, 11:30 p.m.); Copwatch America (BET); House Hunters International/House Hunters (HGTV)

The Mandalorian (via Giphy)

💤💤😴💤💤

Growing Pains 📺 (Antenna TV, 2 a.m.): Part one of the two-part series finale where Maggie gets a job offer to work in Washington, D.C., as a media relations director for a U.S. senator.

Murphy Brown 📺 (Antenna TV, midnight): In the show's second episode, Murphy's choice assignment turns into a nightmare when she is paired with Corky.

Late-Night Talk & Satire

Conan (TBS, 11 p.m.): Whitney Cummings
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central, 11 p.m.): Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
The Dick Cavett Show 📺 (Decades, 9 p.m.): Benny Goodman, Rudy Behlmer, and Celeste Holm (20 Oct 1972)
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS, 10:30 p.m.)
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC, 11:35 p.m.): Brie Larson, Jamie Foxx, Bryan Stevenson, Molly Hopkins, and Yola
Johnny Carson 📺 (Antenna TV, 10 p.m.): Sandy Duncan, Steve Mittleman, and Irv Kupcinet (14 Oct 1988)
The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS, 12:37 a.m.): guest host Melissa McCarthy with Laura Dern and Mark Duplass
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC, 12:37 a.m.): John Mulaney and Rodrigo Santoro
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS, 11:35 p.m.): Charlize Theron and Martha Stewart
Lights Out with David Spade (Comedy Central, 10:35 p.m.): Adam Sandler
A Little Late with Lilly Singh (NBC, 1:38 a.m.): Malala Yousafzai
Nightly Pop (E!, 11:30 p.m.)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 p.m.): Paul Reiser, Helen Hunt, Dua Lipa, and James Blake
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (Bravo, 11 p.m.): Margaret Josephs, Vicki Gunvalson, and Brandi Redmond

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Note: All times are Eastern.

Key Sources: The Futon Critic (outline); Zap2it (descriptions); TV Passport (throwbacks)
⭐: Top pick(s)
💲: Game show
📺: Throwback
🎄: Holiday-themed program
✔️: Midlevel video/gif included

Happy watching, everyone!

Saturday Night Live (via Giphy)