The recent Kennedy Center Honoree has her story told — and her singular voice heard in the biographical documentary “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice” (CNN, 9 p.m.). She’s no longer singing but discusses her rich career — and her friends Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne and Dolly Parton chime in.
Jodie Whittaker, the 13th “Doctor Who” (BBC America, 8 p.m.) starts her second season with a two part holiday episode that also features Stephen Fry and Lenny Henry as well as a couple of historical figures: Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla.
In the new series “Spinning Out” (Netflix, streaming), Kaya Scodelario plays a competitive skater returning to the sport after an accident only to be paired with a bad boy partner (Even Roderick). January Jones and Johnny Weir are also featured.
From Mark Burnett and roma Downey comes the religion-tinged series “Messiah” (Netflix, streaming), starring Michelle Monaghan as an CIA officer who investigates a man (Mendi Dehbi) whose followers believe he can do miracles.
The day begins with The 131st Rose Rose Parade (NBC, 11:30 a.m.) from Pasadena. Al Roker and Hoda Kotb co-host the network coverage; Grand marshals include Rita Moreno, Gina Torres and Laurie Hernandez. It’s the most covered parade around, with telecasts also on ABC, Hallmark, HGTV and Hallmark. But alas, Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon’s Cord Hosenbeck and Tish Rattigan won’t be doing their parade announcing schtick on Amazon Prime this year.
Another New Year’s Day tradition: the Vienna Philharmonic performing Strauss on “Great Performances” (PBS, 9 p.m.). The Vienna City Ballet also gets involved and the event is hosted by Hugh Bonneville.
And there is also the unveiling of the “HGTV Dream Home 2020” (HGTV, 8 p.m.), followed by the “100 Day Dream Home” (HGTV, 10 p.m.) and the “HGTV House Party” (HGTV, 11 p.m.).
The new “The Circle” (Netflix, streaming) is a game show that blends aspects of social media – do you pick the right person? – with prizes. Avoid being catfished and win $100,000.
“Nissan: Death of the Prosecutor” (Netflix, streaming) is a docuseries about the bombimb of an investigation of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association building.
Jo Frost returns to help raise children, this time on cable in the return of “Supernanny” (Lifetime, 10 p.m.).
Part of the two-hour15th season premiere of “The First 48” (A&E, 8 p.m.) will look back at past cases it has covered.
“Married at First Sight” (Lifetime, 8 p.m.) begins its 10th season with the first of its two hour episodes. This time five new couples meet for the first time and get hitched.
Feeling big after the holidays? “My 600-Pound Life” (TLC, 8 p.m.) returns for its eighth season. It’s depressing that they don’t ever seem to run out of potential subjects to exploit. Not only that there’s a weighty spin-off “1,000 Pound Sisters” (TLC, 10 p.m.) who, don’t worry, have a combined weight of a half ton; just one of them is over 600.
Here’s a new series that lays its child-like interest on the line right in its title: “The Explosion Show” (Science, 10 p.m.).
A combination of two cable obsessions: America’s Frozen North and live police coverage come together in the new “Alaska PD” (A&E, 10 p.m.), which I assume will consume most of its time driving from one far-flung outpost to the next.
“Impossible Engineering” (Science, 9 p.m.) returns for its fifth season.
Warlords gather to choose a king for Norway on “Vikings” (History, 10 p.m.).
It’s too early to tell if this decade will also be the Roaring Twenties but 100 years ago, that was sure a thing. Turner Classic Movies gets on board with a month of Thursday night films on that fabled era starting tonight with “The Roaring Twenties” (8 p.m.), “The Public Enemy” (10 p.m.), “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond” (11:45 p.m.), “King of the Roaring 20s: The Story of Arnold Rothstein” (1:45 a.m.), “Mad Dog Coll” (3:45 a.m.).
Earlier, TCM considers the future with such sic fi classics as “Forbidden Planet” (8 a.m.), “World Without End” (10 a.m.), “The Time Machine” (11:45 a.m.), “Logan’s Run” (1:45 p.m.), “Soylent Green” (4 p.m.) and “Westworld” (6 p.m.).
Hockey’s big outdoor Winter Classic this year is in Texas with Nashville at Dallas (NBC, 2 p.m.).
College football’s showcases come in the bowl games: Alabama vs. Michigan (ABC, 1 p.m.) in the Citrus Bowl, Minnesota vs. Auburn (ESPN, 1 p.m.) in the Outback Bowl, Oregon vs. Wisconsin (ESPN, 5 p.m.) in the Rose Bowl, and Georgia vs. Baylor (ESPN, 8:45 p.m.) in the Sugar Bowl.
Basketball includes Portland at New York (NBA, 7:30 p.m.).
Men’s college hoops includes East Carolina at Wichita State (ESPNU, 3 p.m.), South Florida at Southern Methodist (ESPNU, 5 p.m.), Connecticut at Cincinnati (CBS Sports, 7 p.m.), Marquette at Creighton (CBS Sports, 9 p.m.) and Utah State at Nevada-Las Vegas (CBS Sports, 11 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
All reruns: Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest: Michael B. Jordan, Paula Patton, Sara Lynn Cauchon, Andy Cohen. Ellen DeGeneres: Scarlett Johansson, Joel Kinnaman. Kelly Clarkson: Jason Derulo, Nicole Byer. Tamron Hall: Elaine Welteroth. Wendy Williams: Lena Waithe. The Real: Michael Ealy, Tisha Campbell.
Late Talk
Reruns all: Stephen Colbert: John Heilmann, Alex Wagner. Jimmy Kimmel: Dwayne Johnson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, She & Him. Jimmy Fallon Chris Evans, Naomi Scott, Earthgang. Seth Meyers: Sienna Miller, Matthew Rhys, Jacqueline Woodson. James Corden: Aaron Paul, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Brittany Howard. Lilly Singh: Barbie Ferreira, Alexa Demie. Conan O’Brien: Edward Norton, Alex Edelman.