Benedict Cumberbatch returns with the best of the modern representations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s creation with a new season of “Sherlock” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings) and an episode that begins when the detective dead, but Martin Freeman’s Watson suddenly connecting with his colleague as London falls under a terrorist threat.
It’s a strong episode, but why unmoor it from its “Masterpiece Mystery” showcase; by pairing it with the already popular “Downton Abbey” on “Masterpiece Classic” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings) it seems like a little bit of public television overkill. It might be better if they spread these quality offerings out through the years instead of shooting them out double barrel the first month of the year.
“The Following” (Fox, approximately 10:30 p.m.) returns for its second season in its usual time slot Monday, but to take advantage of the football audience, they begin a day early, with Kevin Bacon’s character interviewing a lone survivor of James Purefoy’s Joe Carroll on the one year anniversary of his supposed death.
Speaking of football, the Super Bowl teams determined between the winners of the AFC championship game, New England at Denver (CBS, 3 p.m.) and the NFC, San Francisco at Seattle (Fox, 6:30 p.m.).
There have been more “Bachelor” specials than there have been successful relations that have come out of the show and “The Bachelor: Love Stories” (ABC, 8 p.m.) stresses the handful of pairings that has worked, starting with Trista and Ryan Sutter, who renew their vows a decade later — for TV. Also featured re Desiree Hartsock and Chris Siegrried, Ashley and J.P. Rosenbaum and Milly and Jason Mesnick. It all helps to promote another special, the TV wedding of Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici next Sunday.
Pretty strong episode of “Girls” (HBO, 10 p.m.) takes place at Hanna’s 25th birthday party.
Not sure we need to be “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” (E!, 9 p.m.).
A couple of movies about nuns: “The Trouble with Angels” (TCM, 8 p.m.) and “Where Angels Go Trouble Follows!” (TCM, 10 p.m.).
NHL action includes Boston at Chicago (NBC, 12:30 p.m.) and Washington at Rangers (NBC Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.).
If you can stomach the over-privledged LOLing here’s the new “Rich Kids of Beverly Hills” (E!, 10 p.m.).
Matt LeBlanc tries to charm himself out of a DUI charge on “Episodes” (Showtime, 10:30 p.m.). It doesn’t work.
Not to late to get on board to the mesmerizing “True Detectives” (HBO, 9 p.m.).
At some point, it will be time to stop “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” (E!, 9 p.m.).
A new travel series ascends the towers in “Castle Secrets and Legends” (Travel, 10 p.m.).
“Flowers in the Attic” (Lifetime, 9 p.m.) gets a replay.
“Unique Sweets” (Cooking, 10 p.m.) looks at the doughnuts in Seattle. Which is not a band name.
College men’s hoops includes Louisiana Tech at Southern Mississippi (Fox Sports 1, 1 p.m.), Towson at College of Charleston (NBC Sports Network, 3:30 p.m.), Virginia Tech at Notre Dame (ESPNU, 6 p.m.) and Oregon at Oregon State (ESPNU, 8 p.m.).
In women’s college basketball, it’s Louisville at Southern Methodist (ESPNU, 1:30 p.m.), Connecticut at Rutgers (ESPN2, 3 p.m.), Villanova at DePaul (Fox Sports 1, 3 p.m.), Penn State at Michigan State (ESPN2, 5 p.m.).
The Australian Open (ESPN2, 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.) reaches the round of 16.
Sunday Talk
ABC: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Rep. Mike McCaul. CBS: Rep. Mike Rogers, Sen. Mark Udall, former National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, Former Acting CIA Director Michael Morell. NBC: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Rep. Mike Rogers, New Jersey state Assemblyman John Wisnieski, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Former Rep. Harold Ford Jr. CNN: Rogers, Sen. Angus King. Fox News: Sen. Patrick Leahy, Retired Gen. Michael Hayden.