Funny how the Rockin’ Eve concept has consumed networks not only in the late night slots, but through the whole of prime time. Maybe people are that anxious to kiss 2016 goodbye.
Ryan Seacrest helms the New York-based event with the unwieldily name “Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rocking’ Eve” (ABC, 8 p.m.) whose five hours of performers include Marian Carey, DNCE, Gloria Estefan and the cast of her musical “On Your Feet!” Medical expert Jenny McCarthy does her cringe-worthy “reporting” from Times Square and Fergie takes over in California, in further late night festivities that usually seem oddly pre-recorded. Performers there include Alessia Cara, Flo Rida, Fifth Harmony, G-Easy, John Legand, Lukas Graham, Shawn Mendes and Emeli Sande. Lionel Richie will sing a song from Vegas, and Lucy Hale hosts from New Orleans with Jason Derulo and Panic! at the Disco.
Matching ABC with the amount of celebration is NBC, which begins with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford popping the cork early in the two hour overview “A Toast to 2016!” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
Then comes “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC, 10 p.m.) on a special telecast two and a half hours early with Jennifer Lawrence, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Leslie Jones and Kelly Clarkson. After the news comes “NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly” (NBC, 11:30 p.m.) with performances from fellow employees of “The Voice,” Alicia Keys and Blake Shelton, as well as Penatonix.
Mr. Worldwide shifts the party to Miami with the return of “Pitfall’s New Year’s Revolution” (Fox, 11 p.m.) with a distinctly nostalgic lineup of Queen Latifah, Snoop Dogg, Salt-N-Pepa, Biz Markie, Nelly, Coolio, Tone Loc, Young MC, Rob Base and Naughty by Nature. Not to be confused with “Pit Bulls & Paroles” (Animal Planet, 9 p.m.), which has a marathon all day.
News channels get into the mix, unadvisedly, with the grating “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin” (CNN, 8 p.m.) having less and less to laugh about, especially after the annual review that gets a replay, “All the Best, All the Worst 2016” (CNN, 8 p.m.).
Elsewhere, gloating is the plan on “Countdown to 2017” (Fox News, 8 p.m.) featuring the worst person on TV, Jesse Watters, and Kennedy. Wonder if they’ll mention the year’s Roger Ailes scandal? Then comes an actual countdown, “All American New Year” (Fox News, 11 p.m.) hosted by Eric Bolling and Kimberly Guilfoyle, with performances by Gavin DeGraw and Rachel Platten.
If calming yourself sounds like a better idea, a New Year’s Eve “Live from Lincoln Center” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) features Joyce DiDonato and Paulo Szot singing with the New York Philharmonic on selections from Copland, Strauss and Broadway.
It’s followed by the “Austin City Limits Hall of Fame New Year’s Eve” (PBS, 11 p.m., check local listings) in which Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King and Kris Kristofferson are inducted and Willie Nelson, Rodney Crowell and Billy Gibbons perform. Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally host.
Bowl games intensify with LSU vs. Louisville (ABC, 11 a.m.) in the Citrus Bowl, Georgia Tech vs. Kentucky (ESPN, 11 a.m.) in the TaxSlayer Bowl, Washington vs. Alabama (ESPN, 3:10 p.m.) in the Peach Bowl, and Ohio State vs. Clemson (ESPN, 7:10 p.m.) in the Fiesta Bowl .
The best of the marathons for this holiday weekend is the 22nd annual running of “The Twilight Zone” (Syfy, 7 a.m.), perhaps more relevant now than ever. The marathon, which continues until Monday afternoon, includes all 128 episodes and the 1983 movie.
One last time for the “2016 BET Awards” (6 p.m.).
New tonight on premium cable is “Criminal” (HBO, 8 p.m.) with Kevin Costner and Ryan Reynolds. Also: Susan Sarandon, Rose Byrne and J.K. Simmons in Lorene Scafaria’s “The Meddler” (Starz, 9 p.m.).
The new made-for-TV “If Looks Could Kill” (Lifetime Movie Network, 8 p.m.) stars Stefanie Estes as a cop who finds out her old flame (Tomek Kosalka) is dating a dangerous criminal (Summer Spiro).
Spend the night with pop stars with the movies “Purple Rain” (VH1, 6:30 p.m.), “Madonna: Rebel Heart” (Showtime2, 8:30 p.m.) and “Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall” (Showtime2, 10:30 p.m.).
And there’s a concert, “Nicki Minaj: Live from Brooklyn” (BET, 10 p.m.).
This score just in: “Ocean’s Twelve” (Pop, 8:30 p.m.); “The Hateful Eight” (Showtime, 10 p.m.);
Turner Classic Movies is calling it a New Year’s Eve Dance Marathon with the musical compendiums “That’s Entertainment” (8 p.m.), “That’s Entertainment II” (10:30 p.m.), “That’s Entertainment III” (12:45 a.m.) and “That’s Dancing!” (3 a.m.) followed by the documentary “Hollywood: The Dream Factory” (5 a.m.).
Men’s college basketball includes Xavier at Georgetown (Fox Sports 1, 11 a.m.), Duke at Virginia Tech (ESPN2, noon), Houston at South Florida (ESPNU, noon), Tennessee State at Murray State (CBS Sports, noon), Louisville vs. Indiana (CBS, 12:30 p.m.), Villanova vs. Creighton (Fox Sports 1, 1 p..m), ESPNU, 2 p.m.), Connecticut at Tulsa (CBS Sports, 2 p.m.) and Temple at UCF (ESPNU, 4 p.m.).
Women’s games include Ohio at Indiana (CBS, 3 p.m.).
Pro games include Clippers at Oklahoma City (NBA, 8 p.m.).