Because it is the biggest hit in PBS history, there is an awful lot of promotion surrounding tonight’s fourth season start of “Downton Abbey” on “Masterpiece Classic” (PBS, 9 p.m.).
Good thing it mostly lives up to the hype. The saga of the upper class family clinging on tradition as the calendar hits 1922 has found its footing and the stories unfold satisfyingly and at an even pace as the story picks up six months after season three’s convenient and shocking end.
Lady Mary has returned to the way we have known her in season one – hard to like, largely because she’s inconsolable. The action downstairs is better delineated, but over all there may be too many stories to follow at once. After a fallow period, the richness of a two hour premiere (which, without commercials, seems even longer than network TV’s two hours and is, in fact, longer than most movies) makes one feel overstuffed and frankly exhausted. But definitely a welcome return.
[Here’s an earlier report on season four].
The new “Blood, Sweat and Heels” (Bravo, 9 p.m.) follows another group of glitzy and annoying women in fashion, real estate and media.
The new year also brings a new host of the “Tonight” show next month. Those who haven’t been staying up until 12:30 a.m. to catch his style, here’s a prime-time primer, “The Best of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” (NBC, 9 p.m.) that’s heavy on big names that have been on, from Paul McCartney to Michelle Obama.
It’s part of the scrambling that replaces Sunday Night Football. The other part is a two hour “Dateline” (NBC, 7 p.m.) about plastic surgery for bullying victims and the link between asthma and poverty.
First round playoffs have moved to other networks: Chargers at Bengals (CBS, 1 p.m.) and 49ers at Packers (Fox, 4:30 p.m.). In the one college bowl game today, it’s Arkansas State vs. Ball State (ESPN, 9 p.m.) in the GoDaddy Bowl
Homer stumbles into movie piracy on a new episode of “The Simpsons” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
A preview of the new season that begins Monday is featured on “The Bachelor: Countdown to Juan Pablo” (ABC, 8 p.m.).
A band sues a TV show for copyright infringement on a new episode of “The Good Wife” (CBS, 9 p.m.).
A Betty Grable double feature on Turner Classic Movies with “How to Marry a Millionaire” (8 p.m.) and “Moon Over Miami” (10 p.m.) makes way for a lot of Fatty Arbuckle silent comedies starting with “A Flirt’s Mistake” (midnight).
NBA play includes New York at Dallas (NBA, 7:30 p.m.). In hockey, it’s Sharks at Blackhawks (NBC Sports, 8 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops include Boston University at Lehigh (CBS Sports, 1 p.m.), Southern California at UCLA (Fox Sports 1, 3 p.m.), Tenessee-Martin at Murray State (CBS Spots, 3 p.m.), San Diego State at Kansas (CBS, 4:30 p.m.), Oregon at Colorado (Fox Sports 1, 5 p.m.), Washington State at Arizona State (ESPNU, 6 p.m.), Providence at Villanova (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.) and North Carolina at Wake Forest (ESPNU, 8 p.m.).
Women’s basketball includes Vanderbilt vs. South Carolina (ESPNU, 1 p.m.), George Washington at St. Joseph’s (NBC Sports, 1 p.m.), Maryland at North Carolina (ESPNU, 3 p.m.) and Dayton at St. Louis (NBC Sports, 3 p.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: Sens. Rand Paul and Chuck Schumer. CBS: Sen. Harry Reid, Reps. Peter King and Matt Salmon. NBC: Janet Napolitano, Rep. Donna Edwards, Gene Sperling. CNN: Sperling, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Fox News: Mitt Romney.