For those who prefer to binge on an entire season of "Fargo" in one breathless gulp, or delay watching "Game of Thrones" until your kids are safely tucked into bed, the label "appointment TV" may be as antiquated as "rotary phone."
But certain programs still compel us to tune in the moment they air, if only to save face the following morning on Twitter. With that in mind, punch these dates into your iPhone or circle them on that wall calendar Aunt Luddite gave you for Christmas:
The 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards: I'd be mourning the absence of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler if it weren't for the return of snarkmaster Ricky Gervais, who, after spending the past two years successfully showing off his sensitive side on "Derek," should have plenty of ill will to get off his chest. 7 p.m. Jan. 10, KARE, Ch. 11
"Mercy Street" A struggling Virginia hospital during the Civil War may not be as inviting as Downton Abbey, but PBS still has high hopes for this six-part miniseries — its first stateside-set drama in more than a decade. Premieres 9 p.m. Jan. 17, TPT, Ch. 2
"Billions" Paul Giamatti's ambitious U.S. attorney and Damian Lewis' hedge-fund titan lock glares in a Wall Street showdown with shades of a John Ford western, getting much of its insider vibe from "Too Big to Fail" author Andrew Ross Sorkin, who co-created the series. 9 p.m. Jan. 17, Showtime
"War and Peace" Everyone who has sworn they'd eventually get around to reading Tolstoy's supersized novel should glean enough out of this sprawling miniseries to be able to fake their way through a Russian tea party. The all-star cast includes Paul Dano and Jim Broadbent. 8 p.m. Jan. 18, simultaneously on Lifetime, A&E and History
"Baskets" Louis C.K. takes a break from his sitcom to steer Zach Galifianakis through a series of his own. The real draw, however, may be Minnesotan Louie Anderson, whose role as the mother of all Lutheran mothers is his biggest break since Johnny Carson beckoned him to the couch. 9 p.m. Jan. 21, FX
"Chelsea Does" Comedian Chelsea Handler's affair with Netflix gets to second base with this four-part, topic-driven documentary series, a warm-up to her highly anticipated talk show that will start streaming later this year. Available Jan. 23
"The X-Files" If Han Solo can return to the Millennium Falcon, then Mulder and Scully can reopen their search for aliens, government coverups and a decent coffee maker. 9 p.m. Jan. 24, KMSP, Ch. 9
"Grease: Live!" If Julianne Hough thought it was tough waltzing with Adam Carolla on "Dancing With the Stars," wait until she faces the pressure of living up to Olivia Newton-John's stud-hungry version of "You're the One That I Want." 6 p.m. Jan. 31, KMSP, Ch. 9
"American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson" Just because "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy is behind this high-profile miniseries, don't expect the Dancing Itos. John Travolta and a bizarre set of eyebrows team up to play defense attorney Robert Shapiro. 9 p.m. Feb. 2, FX
"The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" Aside from the Vince Lombardi Trophy, there's no bigger prize on Super Bowl Sunday than hosting the after party. James Corden will also work the weekend shift. 9:30 p.m. (approx.) Feb. 7, WCCO, Ch. 4
"The Walking Dead" Fans of the comic books are warning of even darker days ahead, which can only mean that Rick will soon have to resort to commanding cockroaches. 8 p.m. Feb. 14, AMC
"Vinyl" Cable's most anticipated new series comes courtesy of producers Mick Jagger and Martin Scorsese, a killer combination that promises an intoxicating dose of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. 8 p.m. Feb. 14, HBO
"11.22.63" James Franco takes a break from single-handedly trying to resurrect the beatnik period to headline this adaptation of Stephen King's bestselling novel about a schoolteacher who attempts to rewrite American history by traveling back in time to prevent the JFK assassination. Available Feb. 15 on Hulu
"Fuller House" Netflix's attempt to rule the world includes establishing the Land of 10,000 Guilty Pleasures, which explains the acquisition of bottom-feeding Adam Sandler movies and this reunion series, which had the audacity to move forward without the participation of either Olsen twin. Available Feb. 26
The 88th Annual Academy Awards: If "Star Wars" doesn't have a Jabba-size presence, expect the focus to be on host Chris Rock, who could use a Michael Keaton-like comeback. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, KSTP, Ch. 5
"Downton Abbey" PBS' most popular tourist attraction prepares to shutter its doors — at least until the inevitable big-screen franchise starring Liam Neeson as a pub-fighting Mr. Bates. 8 p.m. March 6, TPT, Ch. 2
"Empire" If you think the gap between Adele albums frustrated her fans, just imagine the condition of Cookie addicts suffering through a nearly four-month intermission. 8 p.m. March 30, KMSP, Ch. 9
neal.justin@startribune.com • 612-673-7431 • Twitter: @nealjustin
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