Everything must go on new Bravo series ‘Stripped’
When do possessions become clutter and when does a house filled with useless items become a jail, or even a tomb?
On one level, “Stripped” (10 p.m., Bravo, TV-14) deals with these central questions. But from the title we can tell that the show’s approach will put an accent on the obvious.
In every episode of the eight-part “Stripped,” a new couple will be deprived of everything they own, from their furniture to their smartphones and tablets. Even their clothes.
Not unlike Discovery’s “Naked and Afraid,” there is a degree of emphasis on pixilated titillation. But there’s also some comedy, as these housebound survivors have to dumpster-dive for old clothes or garbage bags to wrap themselves in as they forage the trash for food. Now that’s entertainment!
Each day, the “contestants” get one item back, forcing them to seriously think about what they own and what they really need.
This being Bravo, the participants will bring out feelings of both loathing and pity.
The first couple includes a practical accountant who makes do with little and seems eager to start a family. His wife is another story. A professional designer who worships anything with a label, she owns thousands of shoes and spends an inordinate amount of time neurotically rat-scratching her press-on-nails over the surface of her phone. Some might find it amusing to see her reduced to the bare minimum. But you still have to listen to her talk!
CHRISTMAS SUBTLETY
So what are the best non-Christmas movies with great Christmas scenes? My favorite such movie is the 1958 witch comedy “Bell, Book and Candle,” featuring Jimmy Stewart, Kim Novak and the grooviest modern art-inspired Christmas tree.
› Nobody would accuse the 1972 gangster classic “The Godfather” (8 p.m., AMC) of celebrating the Yuletide. But it does a beautiful job of evoking Christmas in Rockefeller Center, circa 1945, right down to Michael (Al Pacino) and Kay (Diane Keaton) bickering over “The Bells of St. Mary’s.”
› Along those lines, the gang finds that nostalgia for an oldschool New York Christmas runs up against some ingrained attitudes on “Will & Grace” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
› The top seven emerge on “The Voice” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).
› The aviation history series “Survival in the Skies” (9 p.m., Smithsonian) recalls the invention and improvement of the ejection seat.
› Amy tries to perk up Christmas Eve on “Superstore” (9:30 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
› Orders from above irk the staff on “Chicago Med” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
› An artist needs inspiration on “Kevin (Probably) Saves the World” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› A mitten in the mail tells a mother that her daughter has been kidnapped on the truecrime series “Village of the Damned” (10 p.m., ID, TV-14).
› Evidence points to Ducky’s mother on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-PG).
› Conspiracies abound on “Lethal Weapon” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› Frankie prepares a time capsule on “The Middle” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› Katee Sackhoff guest-stars on “The Flash” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14).
› Too cool for school on “Fresh Off the Boat” (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› A mission unravels on “SEAL Team” (9 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-14).
› From here to paternity on “The Mick” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› Charity begins at work on “blackish” (9 p.m., ABC).
› Among the Vikings on “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14).
› A funeral for a friend on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (9:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› Preservation efforts on “The Mayor” (9:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
› Opposing counsel on “Bull” (10 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-14).
Contact Kevin McDonough at kevin.tvguy@gmail.com.