Back in Black
Jack Black may not be scaring up much respect for his latest turn in "Goosebumps," but the man can do more than belly-flop his way through mainstream comedies, which he proved in 2011's "Bernie," playing a Texas mortician who finally snaps under the brutal demands of Shirley MacLaine. Can you blame him? 6:20 p.m., Showtime
Mommy issues
Producer Chuck Lorre would cringe at the idea that he's making up for the chauvinistic "Two and a Half Men," but he's doing just that with "Mom," the sisters-are-doin'-it-for-themselves sitcom that keeps getting better with age. With one teensy exception, all the dialogue in the third-season premiere is spoken by smart, determined, complex female characters, most notably Bonnie, played with steel and sympathy by Emmy winner Allison Janney. 8 p.m., WCCO, Ch. 4
Back on the case
Word that Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman will return New Year's Day in a special "Sherlock" should do little to dampen enthusiasm for the new season of "Elementary," with Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu doing their own take on that dynamic duo. In the opener, Holmes tries to regain his balance after falling off the wagon, a bit of a nod to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original story when his hero seemingly tumbled from a cliff. 9 p.m., WCCO, Ch. 4
Neal Justin
