SoCal TV highlights, Nov. 19-25: ‘Fargo,’ ‘Doctor Who,’ Thanksgiving Day programming and more
Let’s talk turkey — and stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, etc. — but let us also discuss sports docs, Broadway stars and the unrelenting flood of holiday romances
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.
Sunday — Nov. 19
The new special “Liberty or Death: Boston Tea Party” commemorates the 250th anniversary of the protest that help set the stage for the American Revolution. Rob Lowe narrates. Anytime, Fox Nation
Regulars from an aquatic aerobics class at a Connecticut YMCA discuss the healing powers of water, exercise and community in the short documentary “Below Surface.” 10 a.m. Lifetime
It takes two to tango — or in this case, waltz — in the new TV movie “A Paris Christmas Waltz.” With Jen Lilley and “Glee’s” Matthew Morrison. 5 p.m. GAF
A little help? Living off the grid still ain’t as easy as it seems in new episodes of the unscripted series “Homestead Rescue.” 8 p.m. Discovery Channel
Someone’s in the kitchen with Santa in the new baking competition “The Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown” hosted by Duff Goldman. 8 p.m. Food Network
A single gal makes a love connection with a hunky single dad in the new TV movie “Holiday Hotline.” With Emily Tennant. 8 p.m. Hallmark Channel
The exhaustive docuseries “Kennedy,” recalling the life and times of the 35th U.S. president, continues and concludes. 8, 9 and 10 p.m. History Channel; also Monday, 8 and 9 p.m.
An event planner must improvise when her business trip doesn’t go as planned in the new TV movie “Planes, Trains and Christmas Trees.” With Kathryn Davis. 8 p.m. Lifetime
The horror-franchise entry “Fear the Walking Dead” shuffles off this mortal coil after eight seasons with an expanded series finale. With Kim Dickens and Lennie James. 9 p.m. AMC
The migrations will continue until morale improves in the new nature series “Incredible Animal Journeys.” 9 and 10 p.m. National Geographic
Monday — Nov. 20
Greg LeMond, the only American cyclist to ever win the Tour de France — on the up and up, that is — is profiled in the 2022 documentary “The Last Rider.” Anytime, Hulu
Filmmaker Rea Tajiri explores how her aged mother’s worsening dementia changed their relationship in unexpected ways in the deeply personal 2022 documentary “Wisdom Gone Wild” on a new “POV.” 10 p.m. KOCE
The lunatics have taken over the asylum, by which we mean the correspondents are this week’s guest hosts on “The Daily Show.” 11 p.m. Comedy Central; also Tuesday-Thursday
Tuesday — Nov. 21
NFL great Barry Sanders, who hung up his cleats in 1999 at the peak of his career, tells his story in his own words in the new sports doc “Bye Bye Barry.” Anytime, Prime Video
Rap artist Andres “Dres” Vargas-Titus, one-half of the 1990s hip-hop duo Black Sheep, shares his struggles and triumphs in the new music doc “The Choice is Yours.” Anytime, Paramount+
Adam Sandler supplies the voice of a lounge lizard — i.e. he’s a lizard who mostly lounges around — in the family friendly animated 2023 musical comedy “Leo.” Anytime, Netflix
A 20-something Irish journalist (Siobhán Cullen) knows more about how various and sundry local citizens met their untimely demises than she lets on in the darkly comic series “Obituary.” Anytime, Hulu
A comic and master storyteller takes a deep dive into the indignities of aging in a filmed version of his hit stage show “Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool.” Anytime, Netflix
Tennis phenom Naomi Osaka, soccer’s Julie Foudy and track-and-field legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee are among the female sports stars profiled in the docuspecial “Groundbreakers” hosted by Billie Jean King. 8 p.m. KOCE
The NFL’s Miami Dolphins are the ones to watch in a third season of the behind-the-scenes docuseries “Hard Knocks: In Season.” 9 p.m. HBO
In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes — OK, make that 30 minutes — in the new reality series “Nick Cannon Presents: Future Superstars.” 9 and 9:30 p.m. VH1
You are there with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mstyslav Chernov as he documents Russia’s siege of one Ukrainian city in the spring of 2022 in “20 Days in Mariupol” on a new “Frontline.” 10 p.m. KOCE
“Mad Men’s” Jon Hamm is the law ’round these parts as the anthology drama “Fargo,” inspired by the Coen Brothers’ 1996 film of the same name, returns for a fifth installment. “Ted Lasso’s” Juno Temple also stars. 10 and 11 p.m. FX
Wednesday — Nov. 22
Your wish is Melissa McCarthy’s command in the holiday-themed 2023 fantasy-comedy “Genie” penned by “Love Actually” writer-director Richard Curtis. With Marc Maron and Alan Cumming. Anytime, Peacock
Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, former Nickelodeon stars Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell are serving up “Good Burger 2,” the long-awaited 2023 sequel to the duo’s 1997 comedy. Anytime, Paramount+.
It would be a real shame if you didn’t watch “Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas.” The “Ted Lasso” co-star graces the stage in this tune-filled holiday special. Guests include “Hamilton’s” Leslie Odom, Jr. Anytime, Apple TV+
I’m longing for that sweet fat that sticks to your ribs and also for a second season of chef Stephen Satterfield’s foodie travelog “High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America.” Anytime, Netflix
Nobody dies a brutal, horrible death — we hope — in the new competition series “Squid Game: The Challenge” based on the smash-hit dystopian drama from South Korea. Anytime, Netflix
Snuggle up with “The Velveteen Rabbit” in this new live-action/animated special featuring the voice talents of Helena Bonham Carter, et al., and based on Margery Williams’ beloved children’s book. Anytime, Apple TV+
From the Navajo Nation to a Quechua village in Peru, modern problems — food insecurity, climate change, etc. — require ancient solutions, as detailed in the new docuspecial “Indigenize the Plate.” 8 p.m. KCET
Santa (Danny Glover) is getting too old for this, um, stuff, when a crew of young miscreants plots the ultimate North Pole heist in the new kid-friendly caper “The Naughty Nine.” 8 p.m. Disney Channel
One large, extended Black family makes a concerted effort to retrace genealogies torn asunder by the sin of slavery in “Lee and Liza’s Family Tree” on a new ”Nova.” 9 p.m. KOCE
Thursday — Nov. 23
A woman looks askance at her widower father’s new girlfriend in the new TV movie “Christmas with the Foxes.” With Gina Vitori. Anytime, Fox Nation
The new true-crime series “The Flight Attendant Murders” reopens the case of the serial killer, or killers, who preyed on attractive young stewardesses in the 1970s and 80s. Anytime, Sundance Now
When one of them gets left standing at the altar, two gal pals (Tichina Arnold, Tami Roman) make a pact to swear off romance forever in the new TV movie “So Fly Christmas.” Anytime, BET+
“Today’s” Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker anchor coverage of “The 97th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” while “ET’s” Kevin Frazier and E! News’ Keltie Knight co-host “The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS.” Spoiler alert: It’s the same parade. 8:30 a.m. NBC, Peacock; 9 a.m. CBS
Prize pooches promenade at “The National Dog Show” presented by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia and co-hosted once again by David Frei and “Seinfeld’s” John O’Hurley. Noon, NBC
NFL match-ups for this Turkey Day kick off with the Green Bay Packers vs. the Detroit Lions and continue with the Dallas Cowboys vs. the Washington Commanders. 9:30 a.m. Fox; 1:30 p.m. CBS
Who’s a good dog? They all are at the “2023 Hero Dog Awards” co-hosted by Christie Brinkley and “Queer Eye’s” Carson Kressley. 8 p.m. FYI
An aspiring news anchor hooks up with a red-suited hunk who claims to be Santa’s son in the new TV movie “Catch Me If You Claus.” With Italia Ricci. 8 p.m. Hallmark Channel
Your intrepid host sets the wayback machine for way, way back in the new six-part series “Lost Cities Revealed With Albert Lin.” 9 p.m. National Geographic
Friday — Nov. 24
The new documentary “Cypher” charts the rise of rapper Tierra Whack from a viral video shot on the mean streets of Philly to the upper echelons of the hip-hop world. Anytime, Hulu
Feeling underappreciated by her main man, Mrs. Claus (“Girlfriends’” Golden Brooks) heads to Miami to try to get her groove back in the new TV movie “Hot Girl Winter.” Anytime, Tubi
A teen’s online romance with a mysterious stranger takes a dark turn — as if! — in the 2022 thriller “What Comes Around.” With Grace Van Dien. Anytime, AMC+
A doctor (Candace Cameron Bure) in the Army Reserve enlists others in the effort to honor a fallen soldier in the new TV movie “My Christmas Hero.” 5 p.m. GAF
Tony winners Sutton Foster, Chita Rivera and Andre De Shields give their regards to the Great White Way in “Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway’s Best” on a new “Great Performances.” 8 p.m. KOCE
The real treasure was the friends they made along the way when a diverse group of stranded travelers bound for Denver share a rented van in the new TV movie “Holiday Road.” With Sara Canning. 8 p.m. Hallmark Channel
The new four-part exposé “Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals” peers behind the veil of a secretive and ultra-conservative religious sect known as the Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches. 9 p.m. Investigation Discovery; concludes 9 p.m. Saturday
Saturday — Nov. 25
Who are you? Who, who, who, who? David Tennant reprises his role as the 10th — and 14th — Doctor in “The Star Beast,” the first of three brand spanking new expanded episodes of the venerable British sci-fi drama “Doctor Who.” Anytime, Disney+
A boutique owner (“The Wonder Years’” Danica McKellar) hooks up with a hunky duke for “A Royal Date for Christmas” in this new TV movie. 5 p.m. GAF
She’s just a girl, standing in front of a soccer star, asking him to love her in the new TV movie “Christmas in Notting Hill.” With Sarah Ramos. 6 p.m. Hallmark Channel
Mariah Carey, Don Cheadle and ballerina Misty Copeland are among the honorees when “Byron Allen Presents TheGrio Awards” in this annual celebration of Black excellence in a variety of fields. 8 p.m. CBS
Lacey “Hallmark movie MVP” Chabert returns in the new sequel “Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up.” With Melissa Peterman, Ellen Travolta and Stephen Tobolowsky. 8 p.m. Hallmark Channel
A TV host turned social media personality (“Desperate Housewives’” Teri Hatcher) heads to Aspen for a spectacular “Christmas at the Chalet” in this new TV movie. 8 p.m. Lifetime
(All times Pacific; programming subject to change without notice)