By Chuck Barney, Contra Costa Times –
DON’T MISS:
“THE HOUR” — This stylish, critically lauded British drama series about the inner workings of a TV news operation returns for its second season and changes are afoot. The story jumps ahead one year — to 1957, when a ruthless new boss (Peter Capaldi) is demanding that the current-events program take on more edge and energy. His presence unnerves producer, Bel (Romola Garai), and revs up the brashly confident anchor, Hector (Dominic West). 9 p.m. Wednesday, BBC America.
OTHER BETS:
SUNDAY: Need a “Downton Abbey” fix? Angela Lansbury hosts “Downton Abbey Revisited,” a special that recaps the first two seasons of wildly popular period drama and previews the third, spiced by interviews with producers and actors. 8 p.m., PBS.
SUNDAY: Lindsay Lohan is on TV and it’s not for a court appearance! Tonight, the tabloid queen stars as Elizabeth Taylor in “Liz & Dick,” a movie about Hollywood’s most famous — and troubled — couple. Grant Bowler plays Richard Burton. 9 p.m., Lifetime.
MONDAY: Fans of “Revolution” should brace themselves for the mother of all sword fights as Miles and Monroe (Billy Burke, David Lyons) come face to face for the first time. The bad news? This is our last new episode until the doomsday drama returns in March. 10:01 p.m., NBC.
TUESDAY: They came, they saw, they did the rumba. Now, it’s finally time to find out which of the returning contestants on “Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars” will waltz away with that hideous disco-ball trophy. 9 p.m., ABC.
TUESDAY: “Parenthood” is all about tough transitions tonight as Julia (Erika Christensen) tries to adjust to life as a stay-at-home mom, while Max (Max Burkholder) struggles with his new role of student council president. 10:01 p.m., NBC.
WEDNESDAY: “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” is back and you know what that means: It’s time to light up that big tree in the Big Apple. Trace Adkins, Mariah Carey, CeeLo Green and other performers lend their voices to the festivities. 8 p.m., NBC.
WEDNESDAY: Yes, we’ve seen it a million times, but, after all these years, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” continues to be a holiday tradition — and that scrawny little fir tree still needs our love. 8 p.m., ABC.
THURSDAY: A parking space should never come between friends, but that’s what happens on “The Big Bang Theory” when the university reassigns Sheldon’s (Jim Parsons) spot to returning astronaut Wolowitz (Simon Helberg). We smell trouble. 8 p.m., CBS.
FRIDAY: Be honest: You never thought “Fashion Police” would make it to 100 episodes. But it did, and to celebrate, our hosts are revealing their worst looks from the show and airing plenty of past bloopers. 10 p.m., E!
SATURDAY: No, really, it’s true: Every time you watch “It’s a Wonderful Life,” an angel earns its wings — or something like that. The Frank Capra holiday classic returns for another trip to Bedford Falls. 8 p.m., NBC.
