Daily Best Bets

1) “Shifting Gears,” about 8 p.m., ABC. In last week’s opener (shown here), Matt (Tim Read more…

1) “St. Denis Medical,” 8 p.m., NBC. After a three-week break, this is back and at its best. Two prisoners arrive in full fury, after stabbing each other; the head nurse (Allison Tolman, shown here) bets the cynical Dr. Ron that she can soothe them. Two other stories are fairly good; this one is hilarious. In the final minute, everything reaches a comedy peak. Read more…

1) Football, 8 p.m. ET today, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2. The Vikings (shown here) have had a great season, with a 14-3 record, tied for the third among 32 pro teams. But they didn’t win their division, so they’re on the road against the Rams (10-7). The winner joins five winners from this weekend, plus two byes (Chiefs and Lions, both 15-2), for games Saturday and Sunday. Read more…

1) “Miss Scarlet” season-opener, 8 p.m., PBS. For four seasons, Eliza Scarlet was the smartest person in the room, a detective linking with the police to solve crimes in Victorian London. But now there’s a new chief inspector (they’re shown here), as sharp and well-spoken as she is; he also dislikes detectives. Here’s their first case together, filled with sharp dialog and quick twists. Read more…

1) Football. The pro playoffs begin with two games. At 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS has the Chargers (shown here), with an 11-6 record, at the Texans (10-7). At 8, Amazon Prime (alas) has the Steelers (10-7) at the Ravens (12-5); they’ve already met twice, with one win apiece. Still coming are three games Sunday and one Monday.

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1) Football, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. In the second half of the college semi-finals, Texas (shown here) and Ohio State collide. The winner goes to the championship game Jan. 20, facing the winner of Thursday’s Georgia-Notre Dame game. Read more…

1) Football, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. It’s time for the semi-finals of the college championships. Notre Dame (shown here) faces Penn State today, with Texas and Ohio State on Friday; the winners collide Jan. 20. And yes, there’s a trend here: The four top-ranked teams had byes the first week … and all four promptly lost in the second week. Read more…

1) “Shifting Gears” debut, 8 p.m., ABC. Tim Allen has been a comedy force forever – nine “Last Man Standing” seasons, eight “Home Improvement” (reaching No. 2 in Nielsen ratings), endless “Santa Clause” and “Toy Story” films. He’s back, at 71, playing a widower with a car shop; then his estranged daughter (Kat Dennings, shown here with Seann William Scott) arrives with her kids. Read more…

1) “Doc” debut, 9 p.m., Fox. One of the season’s best new shows starts strongly: After a car crash, a doctor has lost eight years of memory. She’ll resist her bosses (shown here), re-learn modern medicine – and adjust to the tragedies and mistakes in her gap years. Molly Parker is subtly perfect, in a compelling drama. Read more…

1) “Brilliant Minds,” 10 p.m. today, NBC; after reruns at 8 and 9. The previous episode had fierce moments and introduced a key character, played by Mandy Patinkin. (It reruns at 9, so we won’t mention the details.) Now come aftershocks for Erica and a huge jolt for Dr. Wolf. It’s an involving hour, including a bizarre case (shown here) based on one from real life.
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