Your TV GPS, a look at the week ahead in television, appears every Monday morning on BostonGlobe.com. Today's column covers Jan. 6-Jan. 12.
Tomorrow, limited series "Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action" throws down on Netflix. Make way for another docuseries tossed like spaghetti against the wall to see if it sticks: Can the late creator of the notorious "Jerry Springer" show still attract viewers/voyeurs?
London-born Springer was among the first of the American tabloid-talk-show ringmasters, described by daytime ratings rival Oprah Winfrey as leading a "vulgarity circus." The lawyer, actor, broadcaster, and politician found fame as a schlockmeister, pressing his guests' buttons while encouraging them to act out as the cameras rolled. Hot topics included divorce, infidelity, homosexuality, penis size, bestiality, and transgender love triangles, and frequently climaxed in family feud fistfights and all-out brawls.
Springer's formula has since been repeated endlessly, but the trash TV pioneer had his long moment in the sun from 1991 to 2018. The volatile chat-and-shout show even inspired the musical "Jerry Springer: the Opera," which featured Harvey Keitel as Springer when it played Carnegie Hall. The pop icon died of pancreatic cancer in 2023, with the BBC noting "he was an era-defining TV host." Out of respect, no chairs were thrown at his wake.
What else is set to screen this week as we break into 2025?
1. We'll be "Shifting Gears" on Wednesday at 8 p.m. on ABC, which moves to Hulu the next day. The father-daughter sitcom stars the once-ubiquitous TV and movie star Tim Allen. He made his mark playing Tim "The Toolman" Taylor in the popular '90s sitcom "Home Improvement" and voices Buzz Lightyear in the animated "Toy Story" movies. The comic continues his occasionally crotchety regular Joe American persona as Matt, the curmudgeonly owner of a classic car reno shop. When the widower's estranged daughter (Kat Dennings of "2 Broke Girls") moves in with her kids, he discovers that the family under his roof is a fixer upper — and he has to bend even if he doubts he has the tools to patch up this old family wreck with cherry potential.
2. Thursday continues the western trend in television and movies with "American Primeval," a fierce six-part Netflix horse opera directed by Peter Berg, the cocky cowboy Dr. Billy Kronk in "Chicago Hope" and director/developer of "Friday Night Lights." Taylor Kitsch (who also starred in that Texas football drama) and Betty Gilpin lead the way West as frontier folk in 1857. They're just trying to survive in an unforgiving land where if the environment or starvation don't kill you, there's a villain just waiting to pick your bones and leave them to bleach in the Western sun.
3. With "On Call," Dick Wolf migrates his law enforcement empire to Long Beach, Calif., a sun-drenched beachside community split between haves and have nots. The eight-part, half-hour series drops the law and keeps the order in a ride-along format as experienced patrolwoman-with-a-chip-on-her-shoulder Traci Harmon (Troian Bellisario) trains eager newbie Alex Diaz (Brandon Larracuente). The pair brave gang wars, domestic disputes on the high and low end, and rescue overdosed privileged teens at a waterside house party. Seated side by side in their cruiser, Harmon and Diaz maintain a running commentary about the job, what it means to be a cop, the personal sacrifices, and how to keep a cool head in endless overheated situations. Eriq La Salle (best-known for "ER") directs multiple episodes while playing the stubborn Sergeant Lasman.
4. Queue the corny jokes and embarrassing questions on Thursday at 8 p.m., when CBS reboots the familiar game show "Hollywood Squares," where celebrities answer questions while enthroned in a three-by-three tic-tac-toe set. Drew Barrymore has claimed the center square on the contest, which will stream on Paramount+ the next day. Rotating in are Tiffany Haddish (queen of the wild ad lib), Julie Bowen, Tyra Banks, and Robert Smigel, among others. Oh, Paul Lynde, the greatest of all players, your snark and cackle will be missed.
5. The ever-expanding awards season continues after the Golden Globes with the 30th Critics Choice Awards, hosted by Chelsea Handler. The annual event represents the film and television preferences of the Critics Choice Association (full disclosure: I'm a new member this year). Heading into the ceremony, "Shogun" leads on the TV side, with six nominations. In film, "Conclave" and "Wicked" are out front with 11 nominations each. The star-studded ceremony will broadcast live at 7 p.m. on E! and then stream on Peacock. The Critics Choice Awards is a key stop on the long march to March 2 and the Oscars, which will stream live for the first time on Hulu and be broadcast on ABC at 7 p.m.
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