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| Doctor Who, "The Ghost Momument" (via Giphy) |
- 2,691st official What's On Tonight*;
- 922nd WOT since this community was created, separate from The AV Club;
- 861st WOT since the Kinjapocalypse;
- 130th WOT at our current home and;
- 100th WOT I've written
A few random Top Pick factoids: Saturday Night Live (25), The Flash (23), and Steven Universe (21) are the most Top Pick'd programs; despite only airing 10 episodes, Heartbeat was in the Top Picks 11 times (miss you LaFergs) and; in the first WOT, the top picks were Suburgatory, Psych, and the long-forgotten Discovery Life special Sex Robot.
Tonight's Top Pick is Doctor Who, its 18th time at the top spot not including the animated reconstruction specials. The Doctor returns in an James Bond-esque espionage story and is said to be one of the best Who episodes with current Doctor actor Jodie Whittaker. It sounds like a delightful way to ring in the new year. Elsewhere, the scripted options are slim on traditional TV, but streaming has several probably mediocre offerings. Jesus, included. Sorta. However, there are more than a dozen premieres, mostly from unscripted programs. Home building, parenting, true crime, engineering, explosions, marriage, police, Argentina, and more are all the focus of at least one series that premieres tonight. Also getting prime treatment are Linda Ronstadt, RBG, and doggos. Don't try to confuse me with the facts, here's what's on television for tonight, Wednesday, January 1!
Tonight's Top Pick is Doctor Who, its 18th time at the top spot not including the animated reconstruction specials. The Doctor returns in an James Bond-esque espionage story and is said to be one of the best Who episodes with current Doctor actor Jodie Whittaker. It sounds like a delightful way to ring in the new year. Elsewhere, the scripted options are slim on traditional TV, but streaming has several probably mediocre offerings. Jesus, included. Sorta. However, there are more than a dozen premieres, mostly from unscripted programs. Home building, parenting, true crime, engineering, explosions, marriage, police, Argentina, and more are all the focus of at least one series that premieres tonight. Also getting prime treatment are Linda Ronstadt, RBG, and doggos. Don't try to confuse me with the facts, here's what's on television for tonight, Wednesday, January 1!
💻 STREAMING
The Circle (Netflix, 3 a.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. It's MeowMeowBeenz come to life in this horrid sounding reality show. Contestants live in an apartment building but not together. They interact, compete, and rate one another through social media apps. There is no face-to-face.
Ghost Stories 🎥 (Netflix, 3 a.m.): This Indian anthology film import is comprised of four shorts. All creepy. Allegedly.
The Gulf (Sundance Now, 3 a.m.): The death of Hoani Casey sparks ferocious tension on the island. An informant suffers dire consequences and Jess' amnesia lifts to reveal a shocking truth.
Messiah (Netflix, 3 a.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. This new thriller is about the modern world's reaction to a man who claims to be the eschatological return of Jesus. Some people are suspicious. Did he arrive in a giant egg and glow the color blue? The thinking cow must contemplate this scenario.✔️
Nisman: Death of a Prosecutor (Netflix, 3 a.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. This docuseries details the suspicious death of Alberto Nisman, investigator of the 1994 bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association building.
Spinning Out (Netflix, 3 a.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. Kaya Scodelario plays a up-and-coming skater who has an accident and finds the only way she can keep going is to find a skating partner, who turns is a bad boy. Whatcha gonna do? January Jones plays mom.✔️
Wisting (Sundance Now, 3 a.m.): Wisting and the FBI suspect serial killer Godwin could be linked to twelve other missing person cases in Norway. Convicted killer Vidar Haglund, released from prison after 17 years, comes to confront Wisting.
EARLY PRIMETIME
American Kennel Club National Championship (Animal Planet, 6 p.m.): Highlights from the 2018 AKC National Championship Dog Show in Orlando where more than 5,000 good doggos and 190 breeds compete for Best in Show.
Bigger (BET, 8 p.m.): This series aired on the pricey BET+ this fall. Now it airs on regular BET. Earlier in the day, the streamer's adaptation of The First Wives Club also airs.
Jeopardy! 💲 (Syndicated, check your local listings): That Karen is proving to be a pretty good player. Can she keep it going into the 2020s? Let chat.
NewsRadio 📺 (Antenna TV, 6 p.m.): Ring in the New Year with the WNYX gang in this all-day marathon. In this season four episode, when Catherine decides to leave WNYX, each staff member recalls a different version of the event, which inspires Joe's last romantic effort. (The "Super Karate Monkey Death Car" episode airs right before primetime.)
Self-Made Mansions (HGTV, 6:30 p.m.): SPECIAL. This new series is sure to appeal to everyone. Appearing on Shark Tank, the Speciale family makes millions on their blanket/sweatshirt, The Comfy. Now the family wants to upgrade to a larger home with a chef's kitchen, home offices, a pool, batting cage, and putting green. You know, just like everybody else in America.
FOR THE RECORD: My Lottery Dream Home (HGTV, 7:30 p.m.)
🕗 EASTERN / 🕖 CENTRAL
⭐ Doctor Who (BBC America, 8 p.m.): PREMIERE. Grab your jelly babies and reverse the polarity, the Doctor is back! The twelfth season of NuWho opens with the two-parter "Spyfall." Intelligence agents around the world are under attack from alien forces, so MI6 turn to the only people who can help: the Doctor and her friends. Allons-y because the tea's getting cold.✔️
Escaping My Stalker 🎥 (Lifetime Movie Network, 8 p.m.): After being rescued from a dangerous life on the streets, 17-year-old Taylor now lives as the adopted daughter of Larry and Sandy Stewart. But things are about to take a nefarious turn, as a mysterious threat is developing against the family.
Flirty Dancing (Fox, 8 p.m.): Strangers dance with each other as blind dates. This will never not sound stupid.
HGTV Dream Home 2020 (HGTV, 8 p.m.): SPECIAL. Tamara Day and Brian Patrick Flynn build and unveil a waterfront home in the high-priced resort town of Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Killer Bods (Investigation Discovery, 8 p.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. The latest in the sea of crime docuseries, but this time it's about people with great bodies.
FOR THE RECORD: Alaskan Bush People (Discovery Channel); All Elite Wrestling (TNT); Black Ink Crew: Chicago (VH1); The First 48 (A&E); Locked Up Abroad (National Geographic); Married at First Sight (Lifetime, premiere); My 600-Lb Life (TLC, premiere); The Real Housewives of New Jersey (Bravo); WWE NXT (USA)
🕘 EASTERN / 🕗 CENTRAL
Almost Family (Fox, 9 p.m.): The Cancellation League favorite and most surely dead-show-walking dumpster fire returns for a final month. Roxy is released from rehab and begins to make amends with those she hurt. Donovan decides it's time for Julia to meet his kids. Meanwhile, Edie and Amanda's personal relationship blossoms, but Edie struggles to make a worthwhile deal for Leon's sentence.
Home Improvement 📺 (Laff, 9 p.m.): Pilot! Tim comforts Jill after a bad job interview, and he powers up the dishwasher.
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice 🎥 (CNN, 9 p.m.): A documentary chronicling the life and career of singer Linda Ronstadt, from her childhood in Tucson through her decades-long career and to her retirement in 2011 due to Parkinson's disease.✔️
On the Basis of Sex 🎥 (Showtime, 9 p.m.): A biopic of Ruth Bader Ginsburg... that didn't garner any awards love.
FOR THE RECORD: Forged in Fire (History); Guy's Grocery Games (Food Network); Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda (Investigation Discovery); Impossible Engineering (Science, premiere); Man vs. Bear (Discovery Channel); NFL: The Grind (Epix, finale); Paranormal Caught on Camera (Travel Channel); Property Brothers: Forever Home (HGTV); The Real Housewives of Dallas (Bravo)
🕙 EASTERN / 🕘 CENTRAL
100 Day Dream Home (HGTV, 10 p.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. Brian and Mika build people their dream homes with all the extravagances in 100 days. First up, some soon-to-be newlyweds.
1000-Lb Sisters (TLC, 10 p.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. The Slatons sisters, Amy and Tammy, have always relied on each other and food for support. One wants kids but hasn't been able to due to her weight. The other is one step away from being bedridden.
Aileen Wuornos: Mind of a Monster (Investigation Discovery, 10 p.m.): SPECIAL. If serial killers are your thing, ring in the new year with a profile of serial killer Aileen Wuornos, who wrote down her darkest secrets for her best friend while on Florida's death row.
Alaska PD (A&E, 10 p.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. Move over Chicago, it's time for Alaska to get the police spotlight. In the latest A&E docuseries, Jaime Ramos from Virginia becomes Kodiak PD's only female police officer, and soon has her first encounter with the infamous Kodiak bear. Now I wanna rewatch Northern Exposure. Fairbanks officer Gerrit Butler, a former MMA professional, encounters a suspect who also knows martial arts. Coming next year, Alaska Fire, Alaska Justice, and Alaska Med!✔️
The Explosion Show (Science, 10 p.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. Things probably go boom in this new series. In the first outing, Tory Belleci and Streetbike Tommy meet experts using cutting-edge explosives to turn entire mountains into gravel-sized bits essential for construction. Their investigation reveals the high-powered, hi-tech process behind this dangerous work.
The Twilight Zone 📺 (Syfy, 10:30 p.m.): Aliens with ulterior motives show humans how to live and serve peacefully with one another.
Vikings (History, 10 p.m.): One description I saw stated the generic: "The adventures of Ragnar Lothbrok as he rises to become King of the Viking tribes." Wow, that basic series synopsis is outdated.
FOR THE RECORD: Five Day Biz Fix (CNBC); Supernanny (Lifetime, premiere); To Catch a Smuggler (National Geographic)
🕚 EASTERN / 🕙 CENTRAL
HGTV House Party (HGTV, 11 p.m.): SPECIAL. A preview of HGTV's programming slate for 2020.
Star Trek: Enterprise 📺 (Heroes & Icons, 11 p.m.): Even though it's a new year, H&I's All Star Trek block remains intact. Start off the new with the series finale of Enterprise. Tomorrow, the pilot!✔️
FOR THE RECORD: Blind Date (Bravo)
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| Star Trek: Enterprise (via Giphy) |
Late-Night Talk & Satire
Johnny Carson 📺 (Antenna TV, 10 p.m.): Craig T. Nelson, Michael Crawford, and Bob Costas (2 Apr 1992)
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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
🎥: Movie
✔️: Midlevel video/gif included
Happy watching, everyone!
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* This number doesn't include the What's On Tonights that were written by this community prior to the formal split from The AV Club, which was effective beginning with the 24 August 2016 WOT. While this community had Saturday WOTs from its inception, the AVC's are classified as the only official ones during its time as our main place of congregation. Also, during The AV Club years, there were occasionally spans when WOT would take a some days off for a holiday, so another WOT would include more days than usual. However, two dates remains a mystery: 7 April 2013 and 28 July 2013, both Sundays. There is not a WOT in The AV Club archive and no listings to be found from a previous day.
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