On what would otherwise be a first day of a new year marked by football, a rose parade and reruns, there’s another effect of the British phenomenons where a big episode premieres on a holiday. And it’s so big that, as in the case of “Doctor Who,” producers dare not hold it a week or even a day in the states, lest U.S. audiences get it leaked.
So, on the same day as in England, the latest installment of “Sherlock” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) an ingenious reinvention of the detective series that heretofore had been set in the modern day. On a whim, or just as a challenge, creator Steven Moffat brings the action back to the more common era of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for this one-shot special, based on the 1892 short story “The Adventures of Blue Carbuncle.”
Instead of the text messages and other modern touches that have been the hallmark of the series, it’s back to handlebar mustaches, pipes and fog. But maybe the time shift will not such a big deal after all, as long as it has audience pleasing Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead and Martin Freeman at his side.
The 127th Rose Bowl Parade (HGTV, ABC, NBC, 10 a.m.) kicks off in Pasadena. It comes commercial-free on cable, but it’s a trade off; the commentators are much worse.
The Rose Bowl itself, with Stanford vs. Iowa (ESPN, 5 p.m.) is part of a day of big bowl games with Northwestern vs. Tennessee (ESPN2, noon) in the Outback Bowl, Notre Dame vs. Ohio State (ESPN, 1 p.m.) in the Fiesta Bowl, Michigan at Florida (ABC, 1 p.m.) in the Citrus Bowl and Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi (ESPN, 8:30 p.m.) in the Sugar Bowl.
On the new “The Rap Game” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.), Jermaine Dupri mentors a handful of hip hop hopefuls in Atlanta. Queen Latifah is a co-producer with Dupri. Mentors will include Ludacris, Usher, Da Brat and T.I. It follows the third season premiere of the reality show about a dance troupe, “Bring It!” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.).
Hope it’s cold enough for hockey’s winter classic, the big annual outdoor event, this year with Montreal at Boston (NBC, 1 p.m.). Later, indoors, it’s Anaheim at Vancouver (NHL, 10 p.m.).
The day’s musical tradition “From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2016” (PBS, 7:30 p.m., check local listings), hosted by Julie Andrews, features the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna Boys’ Choir and Vienna State Ballet.
There is trauma and then there is shock trauma. The workings of Baltimore’s Maryland Shock Trauma Center is featured in the new series “Shock Trauma: Edge of Life” (Discovery Life, 10 p.m.).
The second biggest New Year’s tradition on the station is the 20th HGTV Dream Home 2016 (HGTV, 8 p.m.) giveaway.
On the new series “Smartest Guy in the Room” (History, 10 p.m.) three guys with high IQs compete on difficult challenges.
Improving online profiles is the goal of Clinton Kelly on the returning “Love at First Swipe” (TLC, 10:30 p.m.).
Part two of the replayed “iHeart Music Festival” (The CW, 8 p.m.) features Fall Out Boy, Janet Jackson, Puff Daddy, Nick Jonas, Prince Royce, Blake Shelton and The Weeknd.
Disney’s 1950 “Cinderella” (ABC Family, 9 p.m.) is replayed.
A new season starts for “American Restoration” (History, 9 p.m.).
English language remakes of successful foreign films are featured on Turner Classic Movies, with “The Magnificent Seven” (8 p.m.), “M” (10:15 p.m.), “Victor Victoria” (midnight), “The Long Night” (2:30 a.m.) and “The Outrage” (4:15 a.m.).
Men’s college basketball includes Utah at Stanford (ESPNU, 9 p.m.) and UCLA at Washington (Fox Sports 1, 11 p.m.). In women’s games, it’s Florida State at Louisville (ESPNU, 4 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Kerry Washington, Bill O’Reilly, Emma Roberts, Dr. Wendy Bazilian. The Talk: Joey Fatone (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Julianne Moore, Thomas Rhett, Usain Bolt (rerun). Wendy Williams: Christie Brinkley, Nancy Fuller (rerun). The Real: Kelly Osbourne (rerun). Meredith Vieira: Richard Gere, Lorenzo Borghese (rerun).
Late Talk
Stephen Colbert: Steve Carell, Jennifer Hudson, cast of “The Color Purple” (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Calista Flockhart, Adam Perry Lang, Run the Jewels (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Will Smith, Kirsten Dunst, Calvin Harris (rerun). Seth Meyers: Bradley Cooper, Jemaine Clement, the Struts (rerun). James Corden: Billy Bob Thornton, Brie Larson, Jack Whitehall, Aston Merrygold (rerun). Carson Daly: Rodrigo Santoro, Sylvan Esso, Yo La Tengo (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Harvey Keitel.