TV's Best Bets

Wednesday, Dec. 1

“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” season-opener, 10 and 10:30 p.m., FXX. Most shows simply started late during the pandemic, but “Sunny” skipped all of 2020 and most of 2021. Here are its first new episodes in two years and 11 days. They start the 15th season — passing “Ozzie and Harriet” to become TV’s longest-lasting situation comedy (cartoons excluded). And they’re hilarious. The first tells how these guys triggered 2020’s key events; the second sees them make a micro-budget movie.

“Christmas in Rockefeller Center” and “When Christmas Comes Around,” 8 and 10 p.m., NBC. It’s a musical night. The first special also includes a tree-lighting; the second makes room for humor, with Jay Leno, Amy Poehler and Melissa McCarthy. But mostly, it’s music: The first special has Carrie Underwood, Harry Connick, Alessia Cara, Brad Paisley, Norah Jones, Rob Thomas and Mickey Guyton; the second has Kelly Clarkson (the host), Brett Eldredge, Ariana Grande and Leslie Odom.

“Beebo Saves Christmas,” 8 p.m., CW. On “Legends of Tomorrow,” Beebo is a cuddly toy that went back in time, became the “god of war” and changed history. In this cartoon, he’s simply cuddly; he tries to save Santa, who was ousted by an efficiency expert. The hour peaks with some poetic narration by Victor Garber at the beginning and end, plus a vibrant opening song. There are some weaker songs in between (performed, alas, by non-singers), but this is mostly a sharp and witty hour.

“The Masked Singer,” 8 p.m., Fox. This hour will fill one of the two spots in the finals. The last surviving Group A singers (disguised as Bull and Skunk) will sing alone and with Jesse McCartney and Michael Bolton. One will be unmasked; the other faces a Group B singer, chosen next week.

“25 Days of Christmas” begins, Freeform. A while back, this was near the start of TV’s Christmas season. Now “25 Days” seems kind of tardy; others have been at it for weeks. Still, “Freeform” starts big: The “Santa Clause” films (1994, 2002, 2006) are at 11:05 a.m. and 1:15 and 3:45 p.m.; “Home Alone” ones (1990, 1992) are 5:50 and 8:20 p.m. They’ll rerun often; so will cartoon classics. “Frosty” and “Rudolph.” They start at 7:10 and 7:45 p.m. Saturday and 5 and 5:35 p.m. Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Wednesday's TV's Best Bets