New Year's Eve falls on a Saturday this year. That probably means triple the number of wackos and crazies will be out on the street.
That gives us even more reason to do the sane thing and snuggle down in the recliner as we have for decades and watch Dick Clark bring in the new year from Times Square. Sadly, Dick left us in 2012, but Ryan Seacrest soldiers on in his spirit with the annual special.
Clark also carries on in the special's wordy title: Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2017. The celebration kicks off at 7 p.m. Saturday on ABC and runs (with a break for local news and programming at 10 p.m.) until 1:13 a.m.
It's hard to believe, but this year is the 45th anniversary of the event and, finally, those of us in the Central time zone will get our very own countdown to midnight and not have to settle for that big ball in New York counting down at 11 p.m.
As he has for the past 11 years, Seacrest will host a total of 5 ½ hours of performances and reports on New Year's Eve celebrations from around the world. Helping with live reporting will be Jenny McCarthy.
Performing live in Times Square will be Mariah Carey, DNCE, country singer Thomas Rhett, and Gloria Estefan with the cast of her Broadway musical On Your Feet!
More than a million fans are expected to pack the place for the countdown.
Meanwhile, performers at the Billboard Hollywood Party hosted by Fergie (who'll sing a couple of songs) will include Alessia Cara, G-Eazy (featuring Bebe Rexha), Flo Rida (featuring Macy Kate), Martin Garrix (also with Bebe Rexha), John Legend, Mike Posner, Hailee Steinfeld, Niall Horan, Lukas Graham, Shawn Mendes, Emeli Sande and Fifth Harmony (featuring Kid Ink and rapper Ty Dolla $ign.
For the record, Kid Ink's real name is Brian Todd Collins, and Ty Dolla $ign was born Tyrone William Griffin Jr. One does what one needs to do to stand out in a crowded field.
Other rapper examples: Curtis James Jackson III (50 Cent); Shawn Corey Carter (Jay Z); O'Shea Jackson Sr. (Ice Cube); Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn (Future); Amethyst Kelly (Iggy Azalea); Artis Leon Ivey Jr. (Coolio); Tracy Lauren Marrow (Ice-T); and Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr. (Snoop Dogg, formerly Snoop Doggy Dogg).
Set for immediately following the ball drop is Lionel Richie from his concert performing "All Night Long" immediately following the midnight countdown and Times Square celebration.
For those of us in the CST, there will be special coverage from New Orleans at the Allstate Fan Fest, where fans will be gathered ahead of Monday's Oklahoma vs. Auburn Sugar Bowl.
We won't have a ball drop from New Orleans. Instead, we get a midnight countdown and fleur-de-lis drop near Jackson Square with host Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars).
Performers set for New Orleans include Jason Derulo and certified double platinum supergroup Panic! at the Disco. Demi Lovato will join the fun from her Celebrity Cruises concert in St. Maarten. This marks the first international appearance for the show.
Others artists will have been added after we went to press, but you get the idea. You can just set the TV on ABC and forget it.
• America's Got Talent, 8 p.m. today on NBC. In case you missed it earlier this month, America's Got Talent: Holiday Spectacular repeats today with Nick Cannon as host.
The judges and former contestants reunite one more time for the season. Featured performers include 12-year-old Season 11 winner Grace VanderWaal, The Clairvoyants, Mat Franco, Piff the Magic Dragon, Olate Dogs, and Stevie "The Regurgitator" Starr.
Warning: Do not attempt Starr's tricks at home.
• More Nick. Apart from his gig on America's Got Talent, Cannon is also the host of NBC's Caught on Camera With Nick Cannon. A fresh episode airs at 7 p.m. Friday. Cameras are everywhere these days and the series features video from cellphones, dashcams, security cameras, news crews and camcorders.
Friday's episode, "Thrills and Chills," reveals the interesting stories behind internet videos.
• Tiny houses. Most everything this time of year is a repeat, but one new series begins today. Tiny House Nation: Family Edition debuts at 9 p.m. on Lifetime.
In the first episode, a couple wants to create the perfect two-trailer tiny house to accommodate their larger family. This one is a mansion by comparison -- 688 square feet.
• Ginormous houses. At the other end of the real estate spectrum, Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles has its Season 9 finale at 8 p.m. today on Bravo. These frequently obscenely opulent homes would use a tiny house to keep garden tools in.
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Weekend on 12/29/2016