SoCal TV highlights, Dec. 3-9: ‘Monk,’ ‘Leave the World Behind,’ Demi Lovato and more
SoCal TV highlights, Dec. 3-9: ‘Monk,’ ‘Leave the World Behind,’ Demi Lovato and more
Time’s up for Julia Roberts and company, Nashville’s finest sing in the season and who’d a thunk — it’s Monk!
Welcome to an all-new TV or Not TV roundup of new and noteworthy programming on broadcast, cable and streaming this week. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the Los Angeles Times’ Calendar section.
We now return to our regularly scheduled programming…
Sunday — Dec. 3
A city manager reconnects with her now-hunky former childhood friend in the new TV movie “The Jingle Bell Jubilee.” With Erin Agostino. 5 p.m. GAF; anytime, Hulu
Find out just how close we are to living in a “Terminator”-style post-apocalyptic hellscape in “AI and the Future of Humanity” on a new “The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper.” 8 p.m. CNN
The new documentary “Chowchilla” retells the terrifying tale of three masked men who abducted an entire busload of school children from that small community in California’s Central Valley in the summer of 1976. 9 p.m. CNN
“Doctor Who” alums David Tennant and Karen Gillian lend their voices to new episode of “The Simpsons.” 8:30 p.m. Fox
Watching the detectives: The new three-part series “Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley on the Mystery Queen” celebrates the British author behind such single-minded sleuths as Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. 8 p.m KOCE
It starts with a trip home for the holidays and ends with a big smooch in the new TV movie “Christmas with a Kiss.” With Mishael Morgan. 8 p.m. Hallmark Channel
Speaking of smooches, a jaded reporter finds her “Mistletoe Match” in a hunky single dad in this new TV movie. With Elena Juatco. 8 p.m. Lifetime
Monday — Dec. 4
What’s all this then? The venerable British crime drama “Midsomer Murders” returns for its 24th season. With Neil Dudgeon and Nick Hendrix. Anytime, Acorn TV
The new docuseries “Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning” re-examines the shocking 1989 case of a white Bostonian who killed his pregnant wife and unborn child and then blamed his crime on a non-existent Black assailant. 9 p.m. HBO
This just in: Radio personality Charlamagne Tha God takes another turn as guest host on “The Daily Show.” 11 p.m. Comedy Central; also Tuesday-Thursday
Tuesday — Dec. 5
“Geddy Lee Asks: Are Bass Players Human Too?” Let’s not rush to judgment. The Canadian rock legend interviews four of his favorite four-stringers in this new four-part series. Anytime, Paramount+
Hip-hop artist Baby Keem, with an assist from cousin Kendrick Lamar, takes you deep into “The Melodic Blue” in this musical fantasia inspired by his 2021 album of the same name. Anytime, Prime Video
It’s all Greek to him … “Stavros Halkias: Fat Rascal” captures the comic and podcaster cracking wise in this raunchy and irreverent standup special. Anytime, Netflix
Your final five couples put their best feet forward in hopes of taking home the coveted mirror-ball trophy on the season finale of “Dancing with the Stars.” 5 p.m. Disney+; 8 p.m. ABC
Tiffany Haddish and Shaquille O’Neal are among the famous faces looking back on the past year’s biggest stories and scandals in the new special “TMZ’s Merry Elfin’ Christmas.” 9 p.m. Fox
Photojournalist Amanda Mustard takes an unflinching look at the sexual abuse she and others suffered at the hands of her grandfather in the 2023 documentary “Great Photo, Lovely Life: Facing a Family’s Secrets.” 10 p.m. HBO
Better pack a parka, the spinoff series “Life Below Zero: First Alaskans” is back for a third season. 10 p.m. National Geographic
A new installment of “Dark Side of Comedy” charts the rise and fall of stand-up comic, sitcom star and daytime TV host Ellen DeGeneres. 10 p.m. Vice Network
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