Here’s what’s up in the world of TV for Wednesday, December 17. All times are Eastern.
Top pick
The Sing-Off (NBC, 9 p.m.): It’s a Christmas miracle—The Sing-Off is back, and we couldn’t be happier! You remember The Sing-Off, right? Based on the ratings, it’s that show that most people might know as that NBC singing competition that isn’t The Voice. However, based on the competence of the judges, the insane talent of the competitors, and Nick Lachey’s “really just happy to be here” style of hosting, The Sing-Off has managed to be a little known pleasure every time it’s on the air. Tonight is the return of the show, in the form of a one-and-done two hour special, with Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump taking over for Ben Folds as one of the show’s three judges. Ben Folds—much like The Sing-Off, if this is in fact its swan song—will not be forgotten.
Also noted
Survivor (CBS, 8 p.m.): It’s time to say goodbye to Survivor’s twenty-ninth season with the two-hour finale (followed by a reunion) that is sure to make you think, “How on Earth are there 29 seasons of Survivor? How are there 29 seasons of anything?” The episode is titled “This Is My Time,” and since the chances of John Cena showing up are pretty slim—thanks a lot, Tribute To The Troops!—we can only assume that Jeff Probst will finally declare himself the one and only Survivor. It’s going to be a bloodbath, and Carrie Raisler is so ready for that twist.
Regular coverage
The 100 (The CW, 9 p.m.)
Top Chef (Bravo, 10 p.m.)
American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX, 10 p.m.)
TV Club Classic
Lost (Classic) coverage is taken its own winter hiatus, but according to Myles McNutt, we can expect more early in the New Year. If you didn’t get a chance to keep up with the first two seasons of Classic coverage, there’s no better time than the present to do so.
Elsewhere in TV Club
TV Club 10 is determined to get each and every one of you in the Christmas spirit, with 10 sitcom episodes all about catching said spirit (just like the disease it is). So get loaded on your grandmother’s eggnog and relive the season-specific laughs like the good little girls and boys you are.
What else is on?
Hell’s Kitchen (Fox, 8 p.m.): Thanks to the holiday wasteland that is network television, Hell’s Kitchen’s thirteenth season finale (which is also its 200th episode) can take over two delicious hours. The last four chefs compete for the title of… Satan? Alright, that’s not the award for winning Hell’s Kitchen, but maybe it should be. Compare being the head chef at a restaurant of Gordon Ramsay’s choosing (and some cash) to being the king of Hell. That’s not even a competition.
Michael Buble’s Christmas In New York (NBC, 8 p.m.): Nothing says Christmas like crooning instead of scripted programming, so in some ways, Michael Buble is the poster boy for the holiday. No wonder he has his own NBC special. This is actually Buble’s fourth annual Christmas In New York, this time with special guests like Barbra Streisand, Ariana Grande, and Miss Piggy. That line-up honestly makes it sound more like VH1’s Divas (Live), but NBC has assured us that it’s all about that Buble.
Ascension (SyFy, 9 p.m.): It’s the night three conclusion (hours five and six of the “6-hour event series!”) of the SyFy’s miniseries Ascension, and it’s finally time for the announcement of the families eligible for birthing rights. Hopefully this doesn’t give anyone flashbacks to The Lottery, because that’s just no way to go on living life.
Chrisley Knows Best (USA, 10 p.m.): It’s “A Very Chrisley Christmas,” and it’s alright to admit if you watch Chrisley Knows Best. This is a safe space. Sure, we’ll probably mock you once you admit it, but no one outside of this space can.
The Dukes Of Hazzard (Cinemax East, 8:15 p.m.): Consider this more of a warning and a reminder than an actual recommendation—we’re not going to pretend that the Dukes Of Hazzard movie (or its direct-to-video prequel) is anything resembling high art. But as the same time, any chance we get to remind the world of Jessica Simpson’s cover of “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” (featuring “Willie Nelson, everybody!”), we’re going to take. It is, after all, the official theme song of all feuds between TV Club contributors.
WWE Tribute To The Troops (USA, 8 p.m.): WWE Week continues with the leading brand in sports entertainment’s most pandering program of the year: Tribute To The Troops. On the plus side, Tribute To The Troops is an uplifting special all about the appreciation of America’s military men and women, and the Superstars and Divas who participate always get a kick out of it. On the everything else side, it doesn’t help that this, the most inconsequential episode of the year (when it comes to storylines), comes at a time when it looks like WWE can’t do anything right on its main shows. On the terrible side, Florida Georgia Line and Katherine Heigl are apparently a part of the “festivities.” Merry Christmas?
Lucha Underground (El Rey, 8 p.m.): It’s the last Lucha Underground episode of the year, baby! If you would prefer to watch a sports entertainment program that takes its own product seriously (yet still loves to have fun) all day, every day, then you should probably watch Lucha Underground instead of Tribute To The Troops. The chances of a country band beating up any member of the roster are slim to none in this case, plus, there’s both a 10-way match and a battle royal in this week’s episode. Feliz navidad!
(Yes, that was two wrestling programs for sports. Merry, merry Christmas!)
In case you missed it
Benched: Emily L. Stephens review of the latest episode of USA’s Benched surprisingly isn’t just Deon Cole’s name and a mic drop, which means she somehow had even more to say than we expected once we learned Deon Cole was in an episode of Benched.