What's On Tonight (Wednesday): Melodrama and autism

The A Word (via Giphy)

[*throws door open*] [*Squiggy voice*] Hello! (RIP) Here's what's on television for tonight, Wednesday, December 9!

The Top Pick is the across-the-pond import The A Word, itself based on an Israeli show. It follows young Joe and his family coping with learning he is autistic. Parents Eddie and Nicola have their share of marriage problems (especially in this third season), and Joe's half-sister Rebecca felt ignored. Granddad Christopher Eccleston doesn't really get autism at first. The family is much larger with aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends on the edge of the ensemble. I watched the first season. It's really good.

Elsewhere, The Grinch sings, Nat Geo spotlights cocaine, Christmas specials end two Netflix comedies you probably didn't know existed, The Challenge is back (*LaFergs cheers*), The CW celebrates commercials, Christine Keeler's trial comes stateside, and the fight with Christmas lights begins again.

STREAMING & EARLY PRIMETIME

30 Days With: Why Don't We (YouTube, noon): SEASON ONE. This is a new documentary franchise and the first season profiles the members of Why Don't We (Daniel Seavey, Corbyn Besson, Jonah Marais, Jack Avery, and Zach Herron) over 30 days during the pandemic.

Ashley Garcia: Genius of Love (Netflix, 3 a.m.): SERIES FINALE. The Mario Lopez and Seth Kurland-created comedy about the genius rocket scientist Ashley Garcia comes to an end with a Christmas special.

The Big Show Show (Netflix, 3 a.m.): SERIES FINALE. This sitcom about Big Show and his crazy family comes to an end with a Christmas special.

Jeopardy! 💲 (Syndicated, check local listings): We are now less than a month from Trebek's final episode.

Rose Island 🎥 (Netflix, 3 a.m.): Based on a true story. "An idealistic engineer builds his own island off the Italian coast and declares it a nation, drawing the world's attention. Values are tested when the Italian Government declares him an enemy, but to change the world risks must be taken."

The Surgeon's Cut (Netflix, 3 a.m.): SEASON ONE. New docuseries about four surgeons who are pioneers in their fields and reflect on their lives and professions.

The Trial of Christine Keeler (HBO Max, 3 a.m.): LIMITED SERIES. "Story of Christine Keeler, who found herself at the heart of a political sex scandal that rocked British government in the 1960s." This is a BBC One series that aired in the UK several months ago.✔️

FOR THE RECORD: Tooning Out the News (CBS All Access, 3 a.m.)

🕗 EASTERN / 🕖 CENTRAL

The Amazing Race (CBS, 8 p.m.): A sprint in Manila, Philippines.

Assisted Living (BET, 8:30 p.m.): Lindor offers to be a helping hand around the living facility.

Devils (The CW, 8 p.m.): Determined to stop Dominic, Massimo forms an unlikely alliance with Subterranea to hack NYL's servers in his search for "smoking gun" evidence of Dominic's plans.

Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical (NBC, 8 p.m.): SPECIAL. An adaptation of the musical How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Broadway stars, led by Matthew Morrison, bring the quintessential Dr. Seuss story about the Grinch and the Whoville people to life. But the previews don't make it look that good.✔️

Family Time (Bounce, 8 p.m.): Lisa needs help for an upcoming catering gig, so Vivian recruits her former cellmate. Meanwhile, Rachel reunites with an unlikely relative.

The Great Christmas Light Fight (ABC, 8 p.m.): SEASON PREMIERE. Seeing this competition show as a regular thing makes me upset for some reason. This should be the title in Hallmark's War on Christmas Telefilm Universe.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York 🎥 (Freeform, 8:20 p.m.): The McCallister's leave Kevin alone again. Now, will Freeform show the movie uncut? You know... that one cameo.

House of Payne (BET, 8 p.m.): Jazmine tells Kaleb that she isn't ready to have sex.

FOR THE RECORD: AEW: Dynamite (TNT); The Challenge (MTV, season premiere); Josh Gates Tonight (Discovery Channel); The Masked Singer (Fox); WWE NXT (USA)

🕘 EASTERN / 🕗 CENTRAL 

Alabama Snake (HBO, 9 p.m.): "The story of Pentecostal minister Glenn Summerford, a man accused of attempting to murder his wife with a rattlesnake in a sleepy town in Alabama, and the investigation and trial that haunted Southern Appalachia for decades."✔️

The Dick Cavett Show 📺 (Decades, 9 p.m.): The second episode of the short-lived Dick Cavett Show variety series, this time with guests Peter Ustinov, Jean Stapleton, and Neil Sedaka.

SEAL Team (CBS, 9 p.m.): Bravo Team struggles to adjust to a new team dynamic after several members make life-altering career decisions.

Sistas (BET, 9 p.m.): Olonzo approaches Maurice again. Gary becomes obsessed with reconciling with Andi. Tensions grow as Hayden threatens Zac.

QUICK HITS:
I Can See Your Voice (Fox, season finale): Katharine McPhee, Joel McHale, and Niecy Nash

FOR THE RECORD: Bitchin' Rides (Motor Trend); Court Cam (A&E); Expedition X (Discovery Channel); Forged in Fire (History); The Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown 2020 (The CW, special); Guy's Grocery Games (Food Network); The Murder Tapes (Investigation Discovery); NFL: The Grind (Epix); Property Brothers: Forever Home (HGTV); The Real Housewives of Orange County (Bravo); Trafficked with Mariana Van Zeller (National Geographic)

🕙 EASTERN / 🕘 CENTRAL

For Life (ABC, 10 p.m.): As a favor to Jamal, Aaron defends a man in a witness tampering case. Tensions rise at home in the run-up to the Wallace family Thanksgiving.

Narco Wars (National Geographic, 10 p.m.): SERIES PREMIERE. "Interviews reveal how criminals pioneered the cocaine business in the '70s and early '80s." So... no Pedro Pascal.

S.W.A.T. (CBS, 10 p.m.): Hondo is conflicted when asked to be the public face of a new outreach campaign meant to improve the LAPD's stature within the Black community. *S.W.A.T. cares.* Meanwhile, the team's search for a lone bomber reminds Tan of a difficult chapter in his childhood.

QUICK HITS:

The Crimes That Changed Us (Investigation Discovery): Selena Quintanilla

FOR THE RECORD: Dating #NoFilter (E!); House Hunters/House Hunters International (HGTV); Lost Relics of the Knights Templar (Discovery Channel); The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (Bravo); Rescue Cam (A&E)

🕚 EASTERN / 🕙 CENTRAL 

FOR THE RECORD: Nightly Pop (E!, 11:30 p.m.); Ridiculousness (MTV); Vice News Tonight/Home for the Holidays with Vice (Viceland)

💤💤😴💤💤 

⭐ The A Word (Sundance TV, midnight): SEASON FINALE. When Rebecca goes into labor, it falls to Joe to help his sister. Alison makes a decision about Ben. Paul makes Mark an offer, and Maurice has a big question for Louise. Doctor who?

LATE-NIGHT TALK & SATIRE

Conan (TBS, 11 p.m.): Andrew Rannells
The Daily Social Distancing Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central, 11 p.m.)

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS, 10:30 p.m.)

Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC, 11:35 p.m.): Keegan-Michael Key, Isla Fisher, and Ingrid Andress
Johnny Carson 📺 (Antenna TV, 10 p.m.): Bob Hope, Jimmy Tingle, and Ellen Greene (15 Dec 1988)
The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS, 12:37 a.m.): Jamie Dornan and Michael Eric Dyson
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC, 12:36 a.m.): Aubrey Plaza and Natalie Palamides
A Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS, 11:35 p.m.): Rachel Maddow and Megan Thee Stallion
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, 11:34 p.m.): Jon Hamm, Meghan Trainor, and Earth, Wind & Fire
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen: @ Home (Bravo, 10 p.m.): Meredith Marks and Lisa Barlow

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Note: All times are Eastern.

Key Sources: The Futon Critic; IMDb; TV Passport; Zap2it
⭐: Top Pick
💲: Game show
🎥: Movie
📺: Throwback
✔️: Video/gif/photo included

🏈🥊⛳🏎️: Sportsballs

Happy watching, everyone!