New and returning shows are hitting the ground running in 2016! Here’s a look at the highlights of the week ahead, including the return of New Girl, Mike and Molly, American Crime, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The X-Files (a preview of which you can watch right now)!
Sunday
Galavant – 8pm on ABC – 2nd Season Premiere
Cooper Barrett’s Guide To Surviving Life – 8:30 on FoxCity – Series Premiere
Cooper Barrett has just graduated college, but he’s still looking for his place in the world. He’s living with two friends, in a job he doesn’t like and trying to get to know a young woman in his building that he likes.
Downton Abbey – 9pm on PBS – 6th and Final Season Premiere
Bordertown – 9:30 on Fox/City – Series Premiere
Hank Azaria, Alex Borstein and Judah Friedlander are among the stars in this animated comedy about Border Patrol Agent Bud Buckwald, a married father of three living near Mexico, who feels threatened by the ethnic diversity taking place in his world.
VICE on CITY – 10 to 11pm on City – 2nd Season Premiere
This is a preview of one of the shows that will move to VICELAND, a new channel from Rogers premiering later this winter. It features in-depth investigative reports and digital-first documentaries. These back-to-back editions look at the sex trade in Canada and the grey markets in medical marijuana use in Vancouver and Denver.
Returning from the Holidays: The Simpsons, Family Guy
Monday
The Bachelor – 8 to 10pm on ABC/OMNI – 20th Season Premiere
The Bachelor Live – 10pm on ABC – Series Premiere
This year, The Bachelor gets a one-hour post-show show, where guests sit around and talk about what they just saw. I’m not sure whether to consider this to be an ironic comparison to The Walking Dead or merely coincidental.
The Biggest Loser – 9 to 11pm on NBC – 17th Season Premiere
Bob Harper takes over as host; First Survivor winner Richard Hatch is among the contestants.
Returning from the Holidays: Supergirl, Scorpion, NCIS: Los Angeles
Tuesday
New Girl – 8pm on Fox/City – 5th Season Premiere
Hollywood Game Night – 8pm on NBC/CTV Two – 4th Season Premiere
Finding Your Roots – 8pm on PBS – Third Season Premiere
This geneology series kicks off season three tracing the roots of political pundit Donna Brazile, Modern Family star Ty Burrell and artist Kara Walker. Next week, it’s Soledad O’Brien, Bill O’Reilly and Bill Maher.
The Shannara Chronicles – 10pm to midnight on MTV Canada – Series Premiere
Three heroes tri to stop a demon army from destroying the world in this fantasy/sci-fi drama based on the books by Terry Brooks. The first episode is also getting a preview on CTV on Wednesday at 9pm.
Returning from the Holidays: Grandfathered, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Grinder (as part of Fox’s new Tuesday comedy lineup), NCIS, NCIS: New Orleans, Limitless, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, The Jim Gaffigan Show.
Wednesday
Mike and Molly – 8:30 on CBS/City – 6th and Final Season Premiere
The final season opens with Mike and Carl going to couples counseling and Molly promoting her new book on her own after Peggy refuses to participate in a promotional radio interview.
Law & Order: UK – 8pm on BBC Canada – 5th Season Premiere
American Idol – 8 to 10pm on Fox/YesTV – 15th and Final Season
Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. kick off the search for the next winner in Denver and Atlanta. Since this is the swan-song season, expect many blasts from the past and other surprises to be a part of this cycle.
People’s Choice Awards 2016 – 9 to 11pm on CBS and Global
Jane Lynch hosts this year’s special, including guests Shawn Mendes and Jason Derulo.
Midwinter of the Spirit – 9pm on CBC – Miniseries Premiere
This 3-part UK Thriller follows Merrily Watkins (Anna Maxwell Martin), a widowed rural vicar with a teenaged daughter who is called on by the police to help investigating the crucifixion of a Satanist. The case becomes personal for Merrily when she begins to believe that the victim’s evil spirit has passed on to her. Based on the book by Phil Rickman.
American Crime – 10pm on ABC – 2nd Season Premiere
Although many stars are back from the first season (Felicity Huffman, Timothy Hutton and Regina King among them), this is an anthology series, so they are all playing new characters in a story about a boy at a private school who is drugged and sexually assaulted by his classmates, who then put pictures of the incident online.
Lip Sync Battle – 10 to 11pm on Spike – 2nd Season Premiere
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – 10pm on FXX – 11th Season Premiere
Man Seeking Woman – 10:30 on FXX – 2nd Season Premiere
Returning from the Holidays: The Middle, The Goldbergs, Modern Family, blackish, 2 Broke Girls, The Mysteries of Laura, Law & Order: SVU, Chicago PD, American Horror Story: Hotel
Thursday
Angel From Hell – 9:30 on CBS (Friday at 8pm on Global) – Series Premiere
Jane Lynch stars in this comedy as a guardian angel who intrudes on the life of intense and driven Allison, who doesn’t want a guardian angel, especially one who seems to be turning her life upside down. Also stars Maggie Lawson, Kevin Pollack (who had a recurring role on Mom, which this is following on CBS) and Kyle Bornheimer.
Shades of Blue – 10pm on NBC/Global – Series Premiere
Because there aren’t enough gorgeous cops on TV, Jennifer Lopez stars as New York detective Harlee Santos, a single mother who runs with a group of dirty cops. After she is caught by the FBI, she is forced to turn informant.
My Diet Is Better Than Yours – 9 to 11pm on ABC/CTV Two – Series Premiere
ABC’s version of The Biggest Loser.
Returning from the Holidays: The Big Bang Theory, The Goldbergs (on CTV), Mom, Elementary, Heroes Reborn, The Blacklist, Saving Hope, Impastor.
Friday
Angel From Hell – 8pm on Global – Series Premiere (see Thursday for details)
Superstore – 8:30 on Global – Series Premiere
One of the writers from The Office takes a new cast of characters and puts them into a big-box mega-store comedy series. That cast includes America Ferrera (Ugly Betty), Ben Feldman (Mad Men), Mark McKinney (Kids In The Hall) and Lauren Ash (The Ron James Show). This show has aired on Mondays on NBC since November, but here’s another chance to catch it from the first episode.
In Performance At The White House – check your PBS station for exact time
A celebration of American music features Smokey Robinson, Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, James Taylor, Trombone Shorty and Usher.
Returning from the Holidays: Last Man Standing, Dr. Ken, Shark Tank, Undateable, Undercover Boss, Hawaii Five-0, Blue Bloods, MasterChef, Unforgettable (on A&E).
One more thing…
The X Files miniseries premieres on January 24th, and this week, Fox stations are previewing the revival with a half-hour special during its off-network time slots. Since the times will vary depending on your Fox station–and since the special is already online, I’ve included it above, so the truth is up there. Enjoy!
Disclaimers: All times eastern. CBS shows on Sundays may run over because of NFL Football. PBS times may vary by your local station. Not all reality shows are included.
By the way, check out our Channel Canada Fall Calendar, too!