Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Monday, December 15. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
Jane The Virgin (The CW, 8 p.m.): It feels like Jane The Virgin (starring Golden Globe nominee Gina Rodriguez!) only just entered our lives, but here we are at the midseason finale, and damn a lot has happened on this show so far. This week, Petra crashes one of Jane’s doctor appointments to try to claim she has some right to the baby. Poor Petra is truly running out of options, but this move doesn’t really seem like it could go anywhere. Michael is still hung up on Jane, and his partner is all “dude, you need to move on,” and we kind of agree here at What’s On Tonight, not because we’re necessarily taking sides on the whole Team Michael vs. Team Rafael front, but because what’s important to us is what Jane wants. And right now, it seems like she really wants Rafael, even if he freaked out a bit about the virgin reveal last week. It looks like Michael might be starting to think that Rafael could be Sin Rostro? Or at least is hiding something. What’s On Tonight doesn’t really think Rafael is smart enough to be Sin Rostro (sorry), so our money is on Abuela or Rogelio’s stepdaughters or Rose. If it’s the latter, that would at least (partially) explain why she turned into the red-headed devil last week by betraying Luisa in quite possibly the worst way imaginable. Speaking of Luisa, we’re worried about her, even more so than when she was missing for so many weeks. Join Oliver Sava over in TV Club after the episode for his analysis.
Also noted
Hart Of Dixie (The CW, 8 p.m.): Hart of Dixie returns for its fourth season tonight, and Wade is completely clueless about Zoe’s flirtations. Someone from Brick’s past shows up! And George and Lavon are fighting over Lemon.
American Country Countdown Awards (Fox, 8 p.m.): What’s more important than the holiday season? Awards season of course! But the American Country Countdown Awards (ACCAs???), based entirely on album sales and radio airplay, probably rank pretty low on the roster of important awards ceremonies.
The Great Christmas Light Fight (ABC, 8 p.m.): The most ridiculous Christmas-themed reality competition continues. One home in Newark, California goes so overboard with their light display that it actually incorporates live musical performances. A competing home in San Antonio has a synchronized light show, which honestly sounds a little basic compared to these other displays. Celebrate capitalism—er, Christmas—with The Great Christmas Light Fight!
TV Club Classic
Justice League Unlimited: Before checking out his Jane The Virgin review later in the night, you can get your Monday fix of Oliver Sava over in TV Club Classic as he continues his coverage of JLU.
What else is on?
Antiques Roadshow (PBS, 8 p.m.): Antiques Roadshow is not a show What’s On Tonight typically highlights—mostly because we have scarring memories of housemates forcing us to sit through a full hour of boring people looking at things when we could have been, you know, re-watching season five of The Good Wife or something. But this week’s installment is called “Junk In The Trunk 4,” and its items include Julia Child’s copper pans that she used on her TV show, so color us mildly intrigued.
The Voice (NBC, 8 p.m.): The remaining three vocalists perform in the live final performances.
State Of Affairs (NBC, 10 p.m.): Should we be worried about Charleston Tucker’s inability to live in the present? Poor Charlie has more flashbacks than a season of The Vampire Diaries. This week, she’s taken back to the convoy attack. Turns out she has a secret she has been keeping from President Payton, because really, this series should probably be called State Of Secrets.
Scorpion (CBS, 9 p.m.): It’s Christmas time on Scorpion, which means hackers are trying to save a boy trapped in a beach-side cave. It’s code against tides. It’s holiday drama. It’s…okay, how is this show still on?
Mud Lovin’ Rednecks Holiday Special (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.): Where to even begin with this title? Apparently, there is a show on Animal Planet about a group of friends in Alabama who run a “mud bog” business. Apparently, a mud bogging business is a thing where people pay money to drive off-road vehicles in mud pits. Apparently, this particular mud bog business has its own reality show along with a Christmas special, which promises a scavenger gift hunt, sleigh rides, and a snowstorm (in Alabama?).
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS, 10 p.m.): Look, there isn’t a lot of television on right now. We’re in the dark time between midseason finales and midseason premieres. But you can check in on NCIS: Los Angeles if you want. Because it’s there.
Friday Night Lights (AMC, 5:30 p.m.): Everyone knows that Friday Night Lights the movie is nowhere near as great as Friday Night Lights the TV series, but the film stays very true to its original text, the reporting account of H.G. Bissinger. Plus, Connie Britton is still in it.
Dear Santa (Lifetime, 8 p.m.): Amy Acker stars as a lonely woman (do all synopses of Lifetime movies describe women as “lonely”?) who finds a letter from a little girl asking Santa to please give her daddy a brand new wife. She, selflessly, takes it upon herself to be that gift. Little girl, maybe you should just wish for a new bike next time.
Monday Night Football: Saints At Bears (ESPN, 8:15 p.m.): The New Orleans Saints face the Chicago Bears.
In case you missed it
Marco Polo: Kyle Fowle will be taking TV Club through Netflix’s feeble attempt at cashing in on Game Of Thrones fantasy thrills with Marco Polo. So far, he observes that its astronomical budget doesn’t really yield much to get excited about.