Daily Best Bets

Best-bets for Jan. 5: the Globes and three season-openers

1) “Golden Globes,” 8-11 p.m. ET, CBS. After two sub-par hosts, the show can bounce back with comedian Nikki Glaser in charge. Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya each have two best-picture nominees: their “Dune: Part 2” (shown here) … her “Challengers” (she’s up for best actress in a comedy) and his “A Complete Unknown” (he’s up for best actor in a drama, for his amazing work as Bob Dylan). Read more…

Best-bets for Jan. 4: fun, football and Cruise

1) Football, 11 a.m. ET, ESPN2. The bowl barrage finally ends, with a game that’s early and sunny. The Bahamas Bowl has Buffalo – possibly delighted to be away from snowstorms – and Liberty. Afterward, ABC and ESPN have the regular-season pro finales for the Browns (3-13) and Ravens (11-5) at 4:30 and the Bengals (shown here, 8-8) and Steelers (10-6) at 8. Read more…

Best-bets for Jan. 3: It’s a semi-happy mix

1) “Happy’s Place,” 8 p.m., NBC. Let’s at least credit this show for being one of the first with a new episode after the holidays: Competing with Gabby to be a comedy emcee Bobbie (Reba McEntire) gets coaching from her half-sister. (They’re show here.) The story requires four characters to be wildly overwrought. The others, Takoda and Emmett, provide enough laughs to make it sort of fun. Read more…

Best-bets for Dec. 31: music, music and football

1) “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” 8-10 p.m., 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., ABC. Ryan Seacrest will be in Times Square, where Carrie Underwood (shown here in a previous concert) does the last songs of 2024, the Jonas Brothers the first of 2025. Also, Megan Moroney, TLC and Sophie Ellis-Bextor in Times Square; Luis Fonsi in Puero Rico; Blake Shelton in Las Vegas; Lenny Kravitz and more in Los Angeles. Read more…

Best-bets for Dec. 28: bowl barrage and “SWAT” stuff

1) Football. Eight bowl games are packed into one day, including three with top-25 teams. ESPN has games at 11 a.m. and 2:15 and 5:45 p.m., then Army (ranked No. 22) and Louisiana Tech at 9:15. ABC has ones at noon, 3:30 p.m. — with Miami (shown here, No. 13) and Iowa State (No. 18) — and 7:30, with Colorado (No. 23) and Brigham Young (No. 17). CW has a 4:30 game. Read more…

Best-bets for Dec. 27: Grammy greatness plus videos

1) “Grammy Greats: The Stories Behind the Songs,” 9-11 p.m., CBS. A slow week is being brightened by three specials from the Grammy people. There was an Andrea Bocelli hour Tuesday; a “Memorable Moments” special is Sunday. In between, this talks to songwriters – Alicia Keys (shown here), Sting, Billie Eilish, Kenny Loggins, Bonnie Raitt and more. Read more…