TONIGHT ON TV
DICK CLARK’S PRIMETIME NEW YEAR’S ROCKIN’ EVE WITH RYAN SEACREST ABC, THURSDAY, 8 ET/PT
Well, yes, as the title indicates, watching TV’s longest-running New Year’s music special means greeting 2016 with Ryan Seacrest instead of the late Dick Clark. Still, tradition is tradition. However you choose to celebrate, have a happy New Year — just make sure you’re back in front of your TVs on New Year’s Day for a special, Victorian-set edition of Sherlock (PBS, 9 ET/PT, times may vary).
COUNTDOWN TO DOWNTON ABBEY/DOWNTON ABBEY: A CELEBRATION PBS, SUNDAY, 8 AND 10 ET/PT (TIMES MAY VARY)
PBS is bookending Downton’s final-season return with a preshow “countdown” hosted by Tony winner Kelli O’Hara and a post-show “celebration” that can be considered PBS’ less chatty version of Talking Dead. Like
Dead, it’s a bit of overkill, but keep in mind that Downton is PBS’ highest-rated series ever — and the service is going to miss it even more than viewers will. Oh, and if you love Downton but not countdowns, you can catch star Hugh Bonneville on the season premiere of Galavant instead (ABC, Sunday, 8 ET/PT).
COOPER BARRETT’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING LIFE/ BORDERTOWN FOX, SUNDAY 8:30 AND 9:30 ET/PT
Fox adds two new comedies to its Sunday lineup. The first is a live-action sitcom starring Jack Cutmore-Scott. The second is a cartoon set on the U.S.-Mexican border.