Say ‘aagh’; ID launches new ‘Deadly Dentists’
Dedicated to the proposition that every town harbors lurid stories of depraved killers, the ID Network launches a new series that may inspire fear. Or flossing. Or both.
“Deadly Dentists” (10 p.m., TV-14) offers tales of tooth pullers and cavity fillers with malicious motives, shady pasts and rotten habits. Think about it: Who else has access to deadly narcotics, is trained in the dark art of sedation and has carte blanch to jam sharp and blunt instruments down the throats of perfect strangers?
The first episode recalls the sudden murder of a small-town dentist. At first suspicion falls on his wife, known to be holding out for a more lucrative divorce settlement. But a glance at the deceased’s hidden past reveals much rotten just below the gum line.
TROLLING CHRISTMAS
With Thanksgiving over, Christmas specials and holiday favorites explode like springs from some thrift-store couch. Gone are the days when Hallmark alone owned the Christmas franchise. For some, it’s nothing but mistletoe for the next four weeks.
Airing between traditional favorites, the brand-new 2017 special “DreamWorks Trolls Holiday” (8:30 p.m., NBC) includes original songs of the contemporary Broadway variety and a CGI take on the long-haired plastic playthings.
“Trolls” features a vivid color scheme that includes a shade of pink normally associated with antacids. While only brief snippets have been made available for review, they seemed instantly forgettable and utterly annoying to this admittedly crabby reviewer.
GRAMMY GREATS
“Grammys Greatest Stories: A 60th Anniversary Special” (9 p.m., CBS) glances back at six decades of Grammy performances, surprises, tributes and memorable moments from artists including Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Paul McCartney and others.
Expect interviews and insights from Grammy winners and contenders including Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, Celine Dion, Dave Grohl, Elton John, Bruno Mars, Chris Martin, Ed Sheeran, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, U2, and Keith Urban.
For the record (so to speak), the very first entry to win a Grammy Award for Album of the Year was the soundtrack LP for the hit TV detective series “Peter Gunn,” composed by Henry Mancini.
The very first Grammy for Best Song was “Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu,” better known as “Volare.” Originally recorded by Italian singer/songwriter Domenico Modugno, it became a staple for Dean Martin and other crooners.
COMMUNIST CUBA
Streaming today on Netflix, “Cuba and the Cameraman” presents the work of Emmy-winning documentarian Jon Alpert (“Baghdad ER”), who has spent decades shooting inside the blockaded Communist country.
Since 1972, Alpert has amassed more than 1,000 hours of footage. Alpert had unfettered access to Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Castro called him “The Journalist.” He was one of the last Americans to see Castro before his death.
HOLIDAY SPECIALS
› The voice of Fred Astaire animates the 1970 special “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-G). Jimmy Durante narrates the 1969 cartoon
› “Frosty The Snowman” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-G). The voices of John Goodman and Jonathan Winters are featured in the 1995 sequel “Frosty Returns” (8:30 p.m., CBS, TV-G).
› Boris Karloff narrates the 1966 Chuck Jones cartoon “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-G).
› “Great Performances” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG) presents “Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn,” a Broadway musical adaptation of the 1942 movie musical.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
› Arnold learns of his parents’ origins in the 2017 feature “Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie” (7 p.m., Nickelodeon).
› A woman discovers that her intended wants to pin a vehicular manslaughter rap on her in the 2017 shocker “Framed by My Fiance” (8 p.m., Lifetime Movie Channel, TV-14).
› Texas hosts Texas Tech in college football (8 p.m., Fox).
› Ryan Seacrest hosts “iHeartRadio Music Festival Night 2” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14).
› “Dateline” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).
› “20/20” (9 p.m., ABC) investigates a killing on Cape Cod.
Contact Kevin McDonough at kevin.tvguy@gmail.com.