Between streaming and cable, viewers have a seemingly endless variety of things to watch. Here is a selection of TV shows and specials that are airing or streaming this week, Dec. 29-Jan. 4. Details and times are subject to change.
A cheers as we head into 2026.
Whether you like a rowdy New Year’s party or would rather cozy up at home — there is one thing we can always rely on: TV specials that help us ring in the new year.
The comedian and podcaster Bert Kreischer is taking us down South with the singer and songwriter HARDY for “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash,” where they will be joined by a slew of country music stars. Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson and Bailey Zimmerman are set to perform. While the ball descends in Times Square, Nashville’s music note will drop from the AT&T Building at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park accompanied by fireworks as the clock strikes midnight. Starting Wednesday at 8 p.m. on CBS.
Up North, Ryan Seacrest is carrying on a longstanding tradition with “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” where Rita Ora, Chance the Rapper, Rob Gronkowski and Julianne Hough will join him as co-hosts, chiming in from different places across the country. This special will include lots of performances, including from 50 Cent, Ciara and Demi Lovato. Starting Wednesday at 8 p.m. on ABC.
And on a rafter somewhere near Seacrest and the rest of his team, there will be Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper with their one-sided feud against ABC’s confetti canons. For “New Year’s Eve Live,” the bestie duo will take shots, engage in shenanigans, argue and, most likely, in Cooper’s case: fall into a fit of giggles. Last year, while talking with The New York Times, Cohen said, “I am glad that we have the relationship that we have that I can just be real and get mad at him while we’re standing there in an interview.” Starting Wednesday at 8 p.m. on CNN.
A reality show and a documentary.
Move over “Housewives” and “Selling Sunset,” there’s a new reality television show in town: “Members Only: Palm Beach.” It follows five women trying to navigate the complicated social, political and financial dynamics in the Florida city that is home to 70 of the world’s billionaires. Instead of tag lines, the women have Palm Beach rules, including: “Do not look like a social climber. Phony has a stench to it that no one likes.” Streaming Monday on Netflix.
Last year the series “Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke” chronicled the life of Franke, a family vlogger who pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse of her children in 2023 and will serve up to 30 years in prison. The new feature-length documentary “Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story” takes a closer look at the Utah-based counselor who lived with Franke and her family, and faced the same charges and sentence as Franke. The film looks into her role in the abuse and her background as a counselor and the director of a company that specialized in psychiatric and psychological treatment of sex-related issues. Streaming Tuesday on Netflix.
Annual celebrations.
In 1890, the Valley Hunt Club sponsored the first Rose Parade, which was conceptualized because of the surplus of flowers growing in California, even during the winter months. People would decorate their horse-drawn carriages with a slew of flowers before partaking in a parade and then a judged competition. And 136 years later, not much of the New Year’s Day tradition has changed. Floral floats, equestrians and marching bands are all allowed to enter the competition, which this year has a theme of “The Magic in Teamwork.” Thursday at 11 a.m. on NBC and available to stream on Peacock.
The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony took place on Nov. 8 in Los Angeles with inductees including Cyndi Lauper, Outkast and the White Stripes. If you weren’t able to livestream the ceremony (or attend in person) on the day of, a special featuring highlights of the show is now coming to small screens. Thursday at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Shivani Gonzalez is a news assistant at The Times who writes a weekly TV column and contributes to a variety of sections.
The post New Year’s Eve Specials, Plus 4 Things to Watch on TV This Week appeared first on New York Times.
