As much as midnight means, the big TV event today may be the series finale of “Stranger Things” (Netflix, 8 p.m.) after nine years and five seasons. And it’s bigger than TV; the two hour, five minute finale is also showing in theaters through tomorrow, where the finale will fit arch villain Vecna against Eleven for the future of the world. It may be a happy ending: After revealing the Upside Down as a wormhole to a dimension called the Abyss, the finale episode is titled “The Rightside Up.”
Elsewhere, networks are expanding their New Year’s Eve entertainments with the cumbersomely named “Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026” (ABC, 8 p.m.) now stretching eight full hours. Rita Ora joins Seacrest to host from Times’ Square, where the headliner is Diana Ross.
Others in New York will include Ciara, Little big Town, Maren Morris and AJR.
When action moves to Chicago, Chance the Rapper hosts. In Las Vegas. Then in Vegas, Rob Gronkowski and Julianne Hough will welcome 50 Cent, Demi Lovato, Charlie Puth and -Pip Demon Hunters. Hollywood performers will include Mariah Carey, New Kids on the Block, the All-American Rejects and Rick Springfield. Post Malone will pop in from Nashville, Pitbull from Miami. And also in the mix: Chappell Roan, 4 Non Blondes, DJ Cassidy, Goo Goo Dolls, Busta Rhymes, T.I., Wyclef Jean, OneRepublic, Leon Thomas, and Lil John.
Country is the emphasis on “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash” (CBS, 8 p.m.) where performers include Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, Rascal Flatts, Brooks & Dunn, Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson, Dwight Yoakam, Bailey Zimmerman and CeCe Winans. Comedian Bert Kreischer co-hosts with Hardy.
“A Toast to 2025!” (NBC, 10:30 p.m.) runs a little closer to the magic hour, with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager recalling events of the past year.
The hosts will try to curb their drinking on the annual “CNN New Year’s Eve with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen” (CNN, 8 p.m.) from Times Square, where guests include Stephen Colbert, Shakira, Robyn, Brandy and Monica, Bryan Adams and Patti LaBelle.
The College Football Playoffs reaches quarterfinals with Miami vs. Ohio State (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.) in the Cotton Bowl from Texas. Other bowl games today include Iowa vs. Vanderbilt (ESPN, noon) in the ReliaQuest Bowl from Tampa, Arizona State vs. Duke (CBS, 2 p.m.) in the Sun Bowl from El Paso, Michigan vs. Texas (ABC, 3 p.m.) in the Citrus Bowl from Orlando and Nebraska vs. Utah (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.) in the Las Vegas Bowl from Nevada.
Turner Classic Movies’ New Year’s Eve lineup stresses new beginnings in “Bridget Jones’s Diary” (8 p.m.), “Only You” (10 p.m.), “Sleepless in Seattle” (midnight), “Diner” (2 a.m.) and “Metropolitan” (4 a.m.).
During the day, it’s all Marx Brothers with “Room Service” (5:30 a.m.), “At the Circus” (7 a.m.), “A Day at the Races” (8:30 a.m.), “A Night at the Opera” (10:30 a.m.), “The Cocoanuts” (12:30 p.m.), “Animal Crackers” (2:15 p.m.), “Monkey Business” (4 p.m.), “Horse Feathers” (5:30 p.m.) and “Duck Soup” (6:45 p.m.).
Basketball includes Golden State at Charlotte (NBA, 1 p.m.), Phoenix at Cleveland (NBA, 3:30 p.m.) and Knicks at San Antonio (NBA, 7 p.m.).
Men’s college basketball includes Tulane at East Carolina (ESPNU, noon), Wake Forest at NC State (ESPN2, noon), Rice at Tulsa (ESPNU, 2 p.m.), Clemson at Syracuse (ESPN2, 2 p.m.), Stony Brook at William & Mary (CBS Sports, 2 p.m.), North Texas at Memphis (ESPN2, 4 p.m.), Wichita State at UAB (ESPNU, 4 p.m.), UConn at Xavier (Peacock, 5 p.m.), DePaul at Villanova (Fox Sports 1, 6 p.m.) and St. John’s at Georgetown (Fox Sports 1, 8 p.m.).
Women’s games include UCLA at Penn State (Peacock, 2 p.m.) and UConn at Providence (Peacock, 3 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos: Glen Powell, Jane Krakowski, Lilly Singh. The View: Kumail Nanjiani, New Edition (rerun). Kelly Clarkson: Rose Byrne, Mason Thames, Scott and Mark Hoying, Priscilla Block (rerun). Drew Barrymore: Martha Stewart, Gloria Estefan (rerun). Jennifer Hudson: Property Brothers, Noah Beck (rerun). Tamron Hall:Chefs Samin Nosrat, Paul Carmichael and Yara Herrera (rerun).
Late Talk
Entirely pre-empted.