SoCal TV, Dec. 1-7: ‘Black Doves,’ ‘Separated,’ ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ and more
TV shows, movies, sports and specials on broadcast, cable and streaming this coming week
Welcome to an all-new TV or Not TV roundup of new and noteworthy programming on broadcast, cable and streaming this coming week. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the Los Angeles Times’ Calendar.
Sunday — Dec. 1
A big-city lawyer inherits half of her late uncle’s maple sugar farm in the new TV movie “Home Sweet Christmas.” With Candace Cameron Bure and Cameron Mathison. 5 p.m. GAF
Mush! An American woman finds romance while competing in a sled-dog race in Finland in the new TV movie “The Finnish Line.” With Kim Matula. 6 p.m. Hallmark Channel
Elton John, John Legend and a capella group Pentatonix are among the performers slated for “The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular” hosted by Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro. 8 p.m. ABC
Lacey “Queen of Hallmark” Chabert plays an archaeologist who hooks up with a hunky linguist in the new TV movie “The Christmas Quest.” 8 p.m. Hallmark Channel
Nothing says lovin’ like somethin’ from the oven in the new TV movie “Make or Bake Christmas.” With Jackée Harry and Vivica A. Fox. 8 p.m. Lifetime
It’s the end of the world as they know it in “Earth Abides,” a new post-apocalyptic drama based on George R. Stewart’s 1949 sci-fi novel. “Heels’” Alexander Ludwig stars. 9 p.m. MGM+
“Haywire’s” Michael Fassbender plays a deep-cover CIA operative in the new espionage drama “The Agency.” Richard Gere, Jeffrey Wright and Jodie Turner-Smith also star. 9 p.m. Showtime
Monday — Dec. 2
Your friendly neighborhood poet/police inspector is back on the case in a third season of “Dalgliesh.” Bertie Carvel stars in this mystery drama set in England in the 1970s. Anytime, Acorn TV
Like sands through the hourglass indeed: The long, long, long-running daytime drama “Days of Our Lives” hits the 15,000-episode mark. Anytime, Peacock
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away … “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.” Four youngsters blast off for adventure in this new live-action franchise entry. With Jude Law. 6 p.m. Disney+
Kal-El, we hardly knew ye: The superhero drama “Superman & Lois” ends it run after four seasons. Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch star. 8 p.m. The CW
These couples have just one more chance to turn their relationships around in a second season of the reality franchise entry “90 Day: The Last Resort.” 8 p.m. TLC
Jay Leno, Nick Cannon, Lisa Vanderpump and Flavor Flav are among the stars commenting on the highs and lows of pop culture in 2024 in the new special “TMZ’s Merry Elfin’ Christmas.” 9 p.m. Fox
Tuesday — Dec. 3
Six young men set religious, political and cultural differences aside to form a boy band in the new reality series “as1one: The Israeli-Palestinian Pop Journey.” Anytime, Paramount+
The new standup special “Fortune Feimster: Crushing It” catches the veteran comic cracking wise about family, relationships, etc. Anytime, Netflix
As seen on late-night TV: The new docuseries “Girls Gone Wild: The Untold Story” charts the rise and fall of entrepreneur/convicted felon Joe Francis’ adult entertainment empire. Anytime, Peacock
British comic Jack Whitehall, he of “Travels with My Father” fame, is joined by Jimmy Fallon, Rebel Wilson, et al., in the new holiday special “Jack in Time for Christmas.” Anytime, Prime Video
Spend some quality time with 1/7th of the chart-topping South Korean boy band BTS in the new docuseries “Jung Kook: I Am Still.” Anytime, Disney+
Amy Grant and Trisha Yearwood pull double duty as co-hosts and performers for this year’s “CMA Country Christmas.” King + Country, Cody Johnson and CeCe Winans are also featured. 8 p.m. ABC
Ravens and Bengals and Steelers, oh my! A fourth season of the franchise entry “Hard Knocks in Season” gets up close and personal with the teams and players of the AFC North. 9 p.m. HBO
Wednesday — Dec. 4
The life and times of the resolute British leader widely regarded as the greatest prime minister in that nation’s history are recalled in the new docuseries “Churchill at War.” Anytime, Netflix
The new short documentary “The Only Girl in the Orchestra” profiles double bassist Orin O’Brien, the first female musician to become a full-fledged member of the storied New York Philharmonic. Anytime, Netflix
“SNL’s” Colin Jost has the answers and it’ll be up to the contestants to come up with the questions in “Pop Culture Jeopardy!,” a new iteration of the classic quiz show. Anytime, Prime Video
Ho ho ho! “Succession’s” Brian Cox supplies the voice of Santa Claus in the new animated tale “That Christmas” based on the children’s books by “Love Actually” filmmaker Richard Curtis. Anytime, Netflix
They’re on the slow train to Splitsville in new episodes of the reality competition “The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On” hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey. Anytime, Netflix
Kelly Clarkson is your hostess with the mostest as the big tree gets lit and Backstreet Boys, Megan Hilty, Jennifer Hudson, Little Big Town, et al. perform at the “92nd Annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center.” 8 p.m. NBC
A Salt Lake City real estate broker and her squad ply their trade in the capital of the Beehive State in the new reality series “Sold on SLC.” 9 p.m. Bravo
Dolly Parton, the Jonas Brothers and “Weird Al” Yankovic help the host of the “Tonight Show” spread a little holiday cheer in “Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Spectacular.” 10 p.m. NBC
Thursday — Dec. 5
The name’s Keira, Keira Knightley… The “Love Actually” actress plays an operative for a shadowy organization in the new London-set thriller “Black Doves.” Ben Whishaw and “Happy Valley’s” Sarah Lancashire also star. Anytime, Netflix
A spoiled heiress (China Anne McClain) must learn to not be so self-centered if she’s to inherit the family fortune in “Brewster’s Millions: Christmas,” a new holiday tale inspired by the 1985 Richard Pryor comedy. Anytime, BET+
When the Suicide Squad is unavailable, who you gonna call? “Creature Commandos,” that’s who, in this new adult animated series set in the DC Universe and featuring the voices of Alan Tudyk, David Harbour and Viola Davis. Anytime, Max
The four-part docuseries “Glitter and Greed: The Lisa Frank Story” casts a jaundiced eye on the company known for its founder’s brightly colored illustrations featured on school supplies, puffy stickers, etc. Anytime, Prime Video
A small-town teen must harness her supernatural gifts is she is to fight the forces of darkness in the new animated series “Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld” featuring the voices of Ali Wong, Lucy Liu and “SNL’s” Bowen Yang. Anytime, Netflix
There’s no place like home for the holidays in “Season’s Greetings from Cherry Lane,” the first of three new sequels to the 2023 TV movie “Christmas on Cherry Lane.” With Laura Soltis and Jonathan Bennett. Anytime, Hallmark+
A journalist (“Game of Thrones’” Natalie Dormer) investigates the murder of her estranged brother in “White Lies,” a new mystery drama set in Cape Town, South Africa. Anytime, Sundance Now
The search for a barista who went missing in Anchorage, Alaska in 2012 leads to a series of shocking revelations in the new franchise entry “Wild Crime: Eleven Skulls.” Anytime, Hulu
Sean Hannity hosts the sixth annual “Patriot Awards” celebrating the contributions made by everyday Americans to life in these United States. 5 p.m. Fox Nation
They’re decking the halls and that’s not all as the competition series “The Great Christmas Light Fight” returns for a 12th season. With Carter Oosterhouse. 8 p.m. ABC
We do declare, the Charleston, S.C.-set reality series “Southern Charm” is back with new episodes. 9 p.m. Bravo
“Scandal’s” Dan Bucatinsky and “SNL’s” Vanessa Bayer the guest star on a new episode of the “Good Wife” spinoff “Elsbeth.” Carrie Preston stars. 10 p.m. CBS
Hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg helps his daughter and her fiancé prepare for their big trip down the aisle in the new three-part series “Snoop’s Fatherhood: Cori and Wayne’s Story.” 10 p.m. E!
Friday — Dec. 6
Say something once, why say it again? Michael Keaton reprises his role from Tim Burton’s 1988 supernatural comedy in the belated 2024 sequel “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” With Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega and Catherine O’Hara. Anytime, Max
The new documentary “Biggest Heist Ever” recounts the curious case of a fame-seeking couple who made off with a fortune in the cryptocurrency known as Bitcoin. Anytime, Netflix
Families put their best holiday dishes forward under the watchful eye of “Cake Boss” star Buddy Valastro in the new culinary competition “Buddy’s Holiday Recipe Rumble.” Anytime, Hulu
Nepo baby alert! Sawyer Spielberg and Francesca Scorsese co-star alongside “Arrested Development’s” Michael Cera, et al., in the 2024 holiday romp “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point.” Anytime, AMC+
A marketing expert (Scarlett Johansson) is brought in to help a reluctant NASA director (Channing Tatum) spiff up the agency’s image ahead of the Apollo 11 lunar landing in the 2024 rom-com “Fly Me to the Moon.” Anytime, Apple TV+
A young Jewish woman (Noa Cohen) in Roman-occupied Israel learns she is to be mother to the Messiah in the 2024 biblical drama “Mary.” With Anthony Hopkins as King Herod. Anytime, Netflix
An American couple and their daughter probably should have passed on a British tourist’s invitation to stay at his family’s remote country house in the 2024 thriller “Speak No Evil.” James McAvoy and Mackenzie Davis star. Anytime, Peacock
Hell hath no fury like a Canadian maple syrup farmer scorned in the new fact-based, darkly comic crime drama “The Sticky.” Emmy winner Margo Martindale (“Justified”) stars. Anytime, Prime Video
The new special “A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter” features the former child actor turned pop star sharing the stage with the likes of Shania Twain and Chappell Roan. 6 p.m. Netflix
A self-centered royal is shipped off to a boot camp-style leadership training course in Colorado in the new TV movie “Private Princess Christmas.” With Ali Skovbye. 8 p.m. Hallmark Channel
The star of “Machete” and “Machete Kills” is your guide to the unexplained in the new unscripted series “Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo.” 10 p.m. History's Channel
The new documentary “The Honey Trap: A True Story of Love, Lies and the FBI” tells the bizarre tale of an FBI translator’s clandestine romantic relationship with a notorious German rapper/MMA fighter/ISIS recruiter. 10 p.m. Showtime
Saturday — Dec. 7
“Saved by the Bell’s” Mario Lopez stars opposite real-life wife Courtney Lopez in the new TV movie “Once Upon a Christmas Wish.” 5 p.m. GAF
Oscar-winning filmmaker Errol Morris examines the first Trump administration’s controversial family separation policy for undocumented migrants in the 2024 exposé “Separated.” 6 p.m. MSNBC
A put-upon mom gets a holiday assist from a TV-movie character come to life in the new TV movie “Sugarplummed.” With Maggie Lawson and Janel Parrish. 8 p.m. Hallmark Channel
The 2024 documentary “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” remembers the beloved actor who became an activist for people with disabilities following a 1995 horse riding accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. 8 p.m. HBO
“Sister, Sister’s” Tia Mowry stars as the proprietress of “A Very Merry Beauty Salon” in this new holiday romance. 8 p.m. Lifetime
“Gladiator II’s” Paul Mescal hosts and rapper Shaboozey performs on a new “Saturday Night Live.” 8:29 and 11:29 p.m. NBC
A sports reporter hooks up with a hunky freelance photographer in the new holiday romance “A Season to Remember.” With Michele Weaver. 9 p.m. OWN
(All times Pacific; programming subject to change without notice)