SoCal TV, Dec. 8-14: Elton John, Maggie Smith, ‘A Motown Christmas,’ ‘The Real Full Monty’ 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. 8
Seasoned greetings: The cooking show “Rachael Ray’s Holidays” debuts with back-to-back episodes, followed by the premiere of Ms. Ray’s home renovation series “Rachael Ray’s Rebuild.” 10, 10:30 and 11 a.m. A&E
Everyday do-gooders collect their due and “Family Ties’” Michael J. Fox is singled out for special honors at this year’s “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” hosted by Anderson Cooper and Laura Coates. 5 p.m. CNN
Elementary! The new three-part series “Lucy Worsley’s Holmes vs. Doyle” finds the British historian comparing and contrasting author Arthur Conan Doyle with his most famous literary creation, the legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes. 8 p.m. KOCE
Oy vey! A nice Jewish girl (Emily Arlook, “Grown-ish”) spends Christmas in Connecticut with her new beau’s stuffy and WASP-y family in the new TV movie “Leah’s Perfect Gift.” 8 p.m. Hallmark Channel
A Martha Stewart-like lifestyle maven (“Desperate Housewives’” Teri Hatcher) hooks up with a hunky photographer in the 2023 TV movie “How to Fall in Love by Christmas.” 8 p.m. Lifetime
I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore… “Somebody Somewhere,” the award-winning comedy set in the Sunflower State, ends its run after three seasons. Bridget Everett stars. 10:30 p.m. HBO
Monday — Dec. 9
The new sports docuseries “Pulisic” gets up close and personal with soccer star and captain of the U.S. men’s national team Christian Pulisic. Anytime, Paramount+
Cowabunga! A contest between the Bengals and Cowboys gets animated in real time in the style of Springfield’s favorite family in the live simulcast “The Simpsons Funday Football.” Or you can watch it the regular boring way. 5 p.m. ESPN+
“Home Alone?” “It’s a Wonderful Life?” “Die Hard?” “Bad Santa?” See if your favorite makes the list in the new special “Best Christmas Movies Ever!” 8 p.m. The CW
Anthony “black-ish” Anderson and James “Dawson’s Creek” Van Der Beek are among the male celebs stripping off to raise awareness of prostate, testicular and colorectal cancer in the new special “The Real Full Monty.” 8 p.m. Fox
The 2024 exposé “Sugarcane” documents the abuses suffered by Indigenous children living at a church-run boarding school in Canada over several decades. 8 p.m. National Geographic
Tuesday — Dec. 10
The new standup special “Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…” includes the comic and Oscar winner speaking candidly about his mystifying 2023 medical ordeal. Anytime, Netflix
Hold your horses! The sport of kings, or one of them anyway, is the subject of “Polo,” a new docuseries from the dynamic production duo of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Anytime, Netflix
The new docuseries “Richard Ramirez: The Night Stalker Tapes” uses rare and archival audio and video recordings to tell the twisted story of the serial killer who terrorized Southern California and the Bay Area in the mid-1980s. Anytime, Peacock
It’s all in the game in “Secret Level,” a new anthology of adult-themed tales animated in the styles of some of the world’s most popular video games. Anytime, Prime Video
There’s nothing like a Dame: The late, great English actress Maggie Smith, who died in September, is remembered with a five-film salute that includes her Oscar-winning turn in the 1969 drama “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.” 7 p.m. TCM
Salt Lake City, here we come! See what’s buzzin’ business-wise in the capital of the Beehive State in a new installment of the occasional series “Cities of Success.” 7 p.m. CNBC
All in all, it’s just another “Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular” on a special star-studded edition of “Lego Masters.” With Sophia Bush, Holly Robinson Peete, Eric McCormack, Lil Rel Howery and host Will Arnett. 8 p.m. Fox
They’ll be singing for the fences as the talent competition “The Voice” concludes another season. With coaches Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire, Gwen Stefani, Michael Bublé and host Carson Daly. 9 p.m. NBC
Ready to re-enter society? The new documentary “Nature of the Crime” follows three prison inmates as they prepare for their respective parole board hearings. 10 p.m. HBO
Wednesday — Dec. 11
What was going on deep in the inner workings our young heroine’s mind between 2015’s “Inside Out" and its 2024 sequel “Inside Out 2”? Find out in Pixar’s new animated miniseries “Dream Productions.” Anytime, Disney+
A feud between two Mississippi men — one an Elvis impersonator, the other a martial arts instructor — takes a series of bizarre twists and turns in the new documentary “The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga.” Anytime, Netflix
Meet a Black teen who’s not gonna let a rare form of autism stop her from living her best life in the 2024 documentary short “Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World.” Anytime, Netflix
Brava, La Divina! Brava! Oscar winner Angelina Jolie portrays iconic Greek American opera star Maria Callas in “Jackie” and “Spenser” filmmaker Pablo Larraín’s 2024 bio-drama “Maria.” Anytime, Netflix
Nobel Prize-winning Colombian novelist Gabriel García Márquez’ multi-generational 1967 magical realist masterwork “One Hundred Years of Solitude” comes to the small screen in a new 16-part adaptation. Anytime, Netflix
The style-impaired get the makeovers they so sorely need in new episodes of the rebooted reality series “Queer Eye.” Anytime, Netflix
DI Ruth Calder (“Ugly Betty’s” Ashley Jensen) is back on the case in a ninth season of the Scotland-set procedural drama “Shetland.” Anytime, BritBox
Don’t forget the Motor City! Gladys Knight, Andra Day and the aforementioned Jamie Foxx are among the stars taking part in the new special “A Motown Christmas” co-hosted by Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey. 9 p.m. NBC
Thursday — Dec. 12
“The Good Witch’s” Catherine Bell and “Smallville’s” Erica Durance share the screen in “Happy Holidays from Cherry Lane,” the second of three new sequels to the 2023 TV movie “Christmas on Cherry Lane.” Anytime, Hallmark+
Welcome to the jungle! See how four Indigenous children managed to survive both a plane crash and 40 days in one of the world’s most inhospitable environments in the new documentary “Lost in the Amazon: The Rescue That Shocked the World.” Anytime, Max
The new exposé “Monkey on a Stick: Murder, Madness & the Hare Krishnas” examines the dark side of the controversial international religious movement that launched itself in NYC in the 1960s. Anytime, Sundance Now
“No Good Deed” goes unpunished in this darkly comic L.A.-set drama about the current owners and prospective buyers of a classic 1920s Spanish-style home. With Ray Romano, Lisa Kudrow, Luke Wilson and Lindas Lavin and Cardellini. Anytime, Netflix
It’s been a minute: Two real-life BFFs, celebutantes and OG reality TV stars reunite to reminisce in the new special “Paris & Nicole: The Encore.” Anytime, Peacock
“Ready, Set, Glow!” Everyday folks show off their spectacular holiday light displays in this new unscripted series hosted by Hallmark regular Wes Brown. Anytime, Hallmark+
The demands of their respective families for a little quality time over the holidays complicate things for one newlywed couple in the new TV movie “Too Many Christmases.” With “227’s” Jackée Harry. Anytime, BET+
Wanna bet? Sebastian Maniscalco is back as your friendly neighborhood “Bookie” in a second season of this L.A.-set comedy. “Lost’s” Jorge Garcia and “CSI: NY’s” Vanessa Ferlito also star. 6 p.m. Max
British rockers Coldplay phone it in from Australia, while other stars including Teddy Swims and Tyla will perform in person at “The 2024 Billboard Music Awards” hosted by comic Michelle Buteau. 8 p.m. Fox
Jimmy Fallon, Dolly Parton and Bravo’s Andy Cohen are among the stars looking back at memorable moments in pop culture from the past 12 months in the new special “E! News Presents NBC’s Hot 10 of 2024.” 9:15 p.m. NBC
Here comes the judge! Michael Emerson (“Lost,” “Person of Interest,” etc.) joins the cast of the “Good Wife” spin-off “Elsbeth.” Carrie Preston stars. 10 p.m. CBS
Friday — Dec. 13
Our plucky former pumpkin farmer (voice of T.R. Knight) continues to regale his adopted daughter with tales of his fantastical adventures in new episodes of the kid-friendly animated series “The Bravest Knight.” Anytime, Hulu
Keep calm and “Carry-On.” An intrepid TSA agent (“Kingsmen’s” Taron Egerton) tries to put the kibosh on a nefarious passenger’s Christmas Eve plot in this 2024 action thriller. With Jason Bateman and “Descendents’” Sofia Carson. Anytime, Netflix
See how our serial-killer anti-hero earned his stripes in “Dexter: Original Sin.” “The OA’s” Patrick Gibson plays the younger version of Michael C. Hall’s character in this new prequel to the dark 2006-13 drama. Christian Slater also stars. Anytime, Paramount+; also, 10 p.m. next Sunday, Showtime
Yippee ki yay! Comic and actor Kevin Hart is back in action in a third season of his showbiz satire “Die Hart.” Anytime, Roku
He’s still standing… A rock music legend reflects on his storied career ahead of his farewell concert at Dodger Stadium in 2022 in the new documentary “Elton John: Never Too Late.” Anytime, Disney+
How not to be seen: A bullied Spanish youngster learns he has the power to make himself “Invisible” in this dark fantasy drama based on the Eloy Moreno novel. Anytime, Disney+
“Joe Mande: Chill” catches the Emmy-winning sitcom writer (“Hacks,” “Parks & Rec,” etc.) cracking wise in his latest stand-up special. Anytime, Hulu
A bunny, a guinea pig and a snake have a series of musical adventures in “Wonder Pets: In the City,” a new animated series for the pre-school set. Anytime, Apple TV+
De-fense! De-fense! The indomitable defensive line of the 1980s-era New York Jets is hailed in “The New York Sack Exchange” on a new “30 for 30.” 5 p.m. ESPN
Your humble host is back to stuff your stocking with a double bill of B-movies and other related antics in “Joe Bob’s Christmas Carnage” on a new “The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs.” 5 p.m. Shudder
Oy gevalt! Booted from her firm, a corporate lawyer lands a gig tending bar at a local watering hole in Chicago’s historic Old Town neighborhood in the new holiday tale “Hanukkah on the Rocks.” With Stacey Farber. 8 p.m. Hallmark Channel
Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage as the reality franchise entry “Love During Lockup” returns for a fifth season. 8 p.m. WE
And now his watch is ended: “Blue Bloods,” the long-running procedural drama starring Tom Selleck as a New York City police commissioner, presents its series finale. 10 p.m. CBS
Add it up! Generation X’s favorite folk punk group marks a milestone in the new concert special “Violent Femmes 40th Anniversary With the Milwaukee Symphony.” 10 p.m. KOCE
Saturday — Dec. 1
The Peanuts gang learns the reason for the season in the beloved 1965 animated special “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” which will stream for free to non-subscribers this weekend only. Anytime, Apple TV+
The WWE’s finest will mix it up at Long Island’s Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in a new reboot of the 1985-92 grapple-fest “Saturday Night’s Main Event.” 5 p.m. NBC, Peacock
The tinsel’s back up in Tinseltown for “The 92nd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade” hosted once more by Dean Cain, Laura McKenzie, Elizabeth Stanton and Montel Williams. 8 p.m. The CW
A woman who runs a school for would-be mall Santas is tasked with helping the real St. Nick get back up to speed after a sleigh accident leaves him with amnesia in the new TV movie “The Santa Class.” With Kimberley Sustad. 8 p.m. Hallmark Channel
Nothing but a party girl: Jennifer Love Hewitt plays the proprietress of a decorating and party-planning service in the new TV movie “The Holiday Junkie.” 8 p.m. Lifetime
Former cast member Chris Rock takes his fourth turn as host on a new “Saturday Night Live.” With musical guest, singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams. 8:29 and 11:29 p.m. NBC
A wedding planner reconnects with a former beau while helping plan her kid sister’s Christmas Eve nuptials in the new TV movie “Mistletoe & Matrimony.” With Ashlei Sharpe. 9 p.m. OWN
(All times Pacific; programming subject to change without notice)