TV picks for Dec. 30-Jan. 1: 'Sherlock,' 'Ransom,' 'OJ: Made in America' and a 'Downton' marathon

Those hoping to spend the entire holiday weekend with the Crawleys will get their wish. TPT is airing the entire run of "Downton Abbey" in consecutive order, a 76-hour feast beginning at 7 p.m. Friday with only a couple interruptions — one for a new episode of "Sherlock" (8 p.m. Sunday), in which our favorite sleuth (Benedict Cumberbatch) has his hands full with the Watsons' new baby — and a new villain, played by Toby Jones.

TPT, Ch. 2

If "La La Land" has whetted your appetite for old-fashioned musicals, you won't want to miss TCM's lineup of "That's Entertainment," three compilations of classic numbers from the MGM vaults, hosted by a who's-who of hoofers including Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. The irresistible lineup is followed by "That's Dancing," a 1985 offering that also includes clips from rival studios.

7 p.m. Saturday, TCM

"O.J.: Made in America," a clear front-runner for best documentary at the Oscars, gets a repeat run just in time for viewers to see why it topped the list of so many critics' top 10 lists, including mine. The eight-hour running time may seem daunting, but two intermissions will be offered so you can take time to stretch your legs and reflect on a film that explores celebrity, race, the justice system and other weighty topics.

3 p.m. Sunday, Viceland

"We left the textbooks behind a long time ago," says a character to a new recruit in "Ransom," a new procedural that's getting a high-profile debut before moving to its regular Saturday slot next weekend. Actually, the series follows the CBS playbook to the letter as the leader of a crisis negotiation team (Luke Roberts, a British actor doing a fine impersonation of George Clooney) coolly handles one crisis after another, even taking his daughter's phone call on his way to confronting a freaked-out hostage taker. The network certainly has a winning formula, but suggestions that this is anything more than another version of "CSI" are laughable.

7:30 p.m. Sunday, WCCO, Ch. 4Neal Justin