Christmas craft-off

In the era of Peak TV, being wholesome and family friendly has become a disadvantage. To succeed and become the next big thing, a series must be gritty, dark and intense. Protagonists are usually brooding, damaged anti-heroes, and antagonists are cold and brutal. When it comes to comedies and reality television, the characters, participants and judges are almost always snarky, sarcastic and cynical — cable networks tell us that this is what sells.

But sometimes it seems like we’re starving for good, wholesome content. There have been some family-friendly, uplifting programs that have succeeded in the shadow of grimy, attention-garnering dramas. Series like “The Great British Bake Off” have become full-blown cultural sensations, producing spinoffs and inspiring numerous imitators. These competition series can fill us with a feeling of coziness and inspiration, and they are fun to watch with the entire family. On Monday, Dec. 2, the crafting competition “Making It,” hosted by Amy Poehler (“Wine Country,” 2019) and Nick Offerman (“Good Omens”), returns on NBC just in time for the holidays.

When the DIY crafting competition series premiered in the summer of 2018, it proved to be a ratings success for the peacock network and was quickly renewed for a second season. Yet, as the time passed, fans became increasingly worried as Poehler and Offerman’s craft-off was routinely left off the schedule. It turns out that fans of arts and crafts had nothing to worry about. It seems that the long delay was simply the result of those involved trying to pick the perfect time to come back. “Making It” has received a festive upgrade and is set to give us more of what made it a hit last time around.

For those who did not catch the first season, the premise of “Making It” is really simple. Artisans from across America are pitted against one another

Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman host “Making It”