Welcome in the new year with something familiar and reliable, like a good British mystery miniseries, before diving into the deep end of resolutions. Get cozy and settle in for a binge-watch of the latest Harlan Coben adaptation, “Missing You,” premiering Wednesday, Jan. 1, on Netflix.
“Slow Horses” star Rosalind Eleazar is Det. Kat Donovan, a dedicated missing persons investigator who is thrust into a conspiracy that hits very close to home. Kat has spent the past 11 years rebuilding her life after the sudden disappearance of her fiancé, Josh (Ashley Walters, “Top Boy”), and the murder of her father, DS Clint Donovan (Sir Lenny Henry, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”). Having left without a trace, Kat assumed for more than a decade that Josh’s disappearance from her life had some-
thing to do with her father’s death, but could never pick up the thread between them. When her friend Stacey (Jessica Plummer, “The Decameron”) pushes Kat to try out the dating app she signed her up for, Kat receives the shock of a lifetime when she swipes to see Josh’s profile. Now able to start following the thread, it’s up to Kat to find out just who Josh really is and what he is a part of. Any evidence of Josh’s existence online has been wiped clean, so why has he popped up on a dating app? Is he connected to other missing persons cases? Is it really him or is it a phantom profile? Over the five-episode limited series, Kat charges forward with her investigation, shedding light on long-buried secrets in dangerous corners of her precinct.
Starring alongside Eleazar’s Kat is Richard Armitage (“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Jour-
ney,” 2012) as DCI Ellis Stagger. Fans of Coben’s previous Netflix adaptations will not be surprised to hear Armitage’s name among the main cast of the new limited series — the British actor has starred in three series: “The Stranger” in 2020, “Stay Close” in 2021 and 2024’s earlier hit “Fool Me Once.”
Armitage spoke to Yahoo about starring in the Coben Netflix adaptations, joking, “I feel like I’m their lucky underpants now, so they won’t do one without me.” He went on to share a peek into his character in “Missing You,” saying, “It’s a slightly more inverted character than the former ones because we’re very, very unsure of his motives at the beginning.
“The essence of him is nefarious but, actually, he’s holding on to a secret which has a noble cause,” Armitage added.
Rounding out the “Missing You” cast are Steve Pember-
Get cozy and settle in for a binge-watch of the latest Harlan Coben adaptation, “Missing You,” premiering Wednesday, Jan. 1, on Netflix.
Rosalind Eleazar and Ashley Walters in “Missing You”
Haunted by the past: A detective’s former fiancé reappears in ‘Missing You’
ton (“Happy Valley”) as Titus, Marc Warren (“Sexy Beast”) as Monte Leburne, Samantha Spiro (“Sex Education”) as nurse Sally Steiner, Lisa Faulkner (“Unforgotten”) as Dana Fells, Mary Malone (“Doctor Who”) as Aqua, James Nesbitt (“Bloodlands”) as Calligan and Matt Jay-Willis (“Wolves of War,” 2022) as Darryl.
In a trailer for the upcoming series, Kat is clearly consumed with the case. Folders, photos and documents decorate the floor of her home, always visible in case inspiration strikes. Two more missing people ramp up Kat’s need to urgently get to the bottom of it all, sending her on a wild ride complete with abductions, car chases and arson. “I don’t know what kind of truth you’re gonna find out there, but I don’t think you’re gonna like it,” a voice tells Kat over a tense scene of the detective investigating, armed with a knife.
What’s Available NOW On
“Cast Away” (Available Now)
“Mayfair Witches” - Season 2 (AMC+ — Jan. 5, Season Premiere) Based on Anne Rice’s “Lives of the Mayfair Witches,” Season 2 continues the journey of Rowan Mayfair (Alexandra Daddario) after she has unwittingly given birth to the demon Lasher (Jack Huston). She is determined to understand what he has become — human or monster? — and to use him to fulfill her purpose as a healer. But, when tragedy strikes, she must put aside her own desires and fight to protect her family. Harry Hamlin, Tongayi Chirisa and Alyssa Jirrels also star.
“Destruction Decoded” - Season 2 (Available Now)
This unscripted series explores transformative, earth-shattering events with a mix of carefully selected archives, cutting-edge CGI, and thorough research. It ranks and analyzes these catastrophic incidents to create an engaging, immersive experience. Each episode reveals the causes and tragic stories behind these unforgettable disasters, offering a deeper understanding of their impact.
“Mickey Mouse Funhouse” - Season 3, New episodes (Available Now)
This whimsical animated series introduces preschoolers’ first pal, Mickey Mouse (voiced by Bret Iwan), and his friends — Minnie (Kaitlyn Robrock), Goofy (Bill Farmer), Donald (Tony Anselmo), Daisy (Tress MacNeille) and Pluto (Farmer) — to Funny (Harvey Guillén), an enchanted talking playhouse, who takes the Sensational Six on adventures of all types to unique worlds that inspire the imagination.
Obsessively punctual FedEx executive Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) is en route to an assignment in Malaysia when his plane crashes over the Pacific Ocean during a storm. The sole survivor of the flight, Chuck washes ashore on a deserted island. When his efforts to sail away and contact help fail, Chuck learns how to survive on the island, where he remains for years, accompanied by only his handmade volleyball friend, Wilson.
“A Quiet Place: Day One” (Dec. 31) After the events and revelations of “A Quiet Place” (2018) and “A Quiet Place: Part II” (2020) it is time to go back to ‘Day One’. Following Sam (Lupita Nyong’o) as she’s on a group trip in New York City, everything is going fine, until the invasion that sends the world into silence begins. Can the city stay quiet and can Sam and Eric (Joseph Quinn), an unlikely new friend, make it somewhere safe? But no matter what happens, don’t make a sound.
“Bluey Minisodes” - New Episodes (Available Now) Bringing more tail-wagging fun and heartwarming stories to families, a new slate of “Bluey Minisodes” are now streaming on Disney+. Further exploring the beloved world of “Bluey,” the smash-hit Australian children’s series about the adventures of blue heeler pup Bluey and her family, these new shorts, running one to three minutes each, highlight funny and sweet moments featuring Bluey and Bingo, leaning into playful interactions and games.
“Flora & Ulysses”
(Available Now)
When Flora (Matilda Lawler) rescues a squirrel she names Ulysses (voiced by John Kassir), she is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers, which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately change Flora’s life and her outlook forever.
“Cheaper by the Dozen” (Available Now) With his wife Kate (Bonnie Hunt) on a book tour, Tom Baker (Steve Martin) finds his life turned upside down when he agrees to care for their twelve children on his own, while also simultaneously taking on his new job as a college football coach. Piper Perabo, Tom Welling, Hilary Duff, Kevin G. Schmidt, Alyson Stoner, Jacob Smith, Liliana Mumy, Morgan York, Forrest Landis, Blake Woodruff, Brent Kinsman and Shane Kinsman star as the Baker children.
“The Rig” - Season 2 (Jan. 2) The surviving crew of the Kinloch Bravo arrive at a new secret offshore facility called the Stac, nestled deep in the extraordinary and deadly landscapes of the Arctic Circle. Here, the trapped crew must deal with the emotional and physical fallout of the devastating tsunami that destroyed the Bravo, and contend with swirling conspiracies, corporate conflicts, and new threats from the dark depths of the world’s ocean. Iain Glen, Martin Compston and Emily Hampshire star.
“Expedition Unknown”Seasons 1-5 (Available Now)
Intrigued by legendary mysteries and driven by curiosity, Josh Gates is on a mission for answers. This fascinating travel series chronicles his global adventures as he investigates iconic unsolved events, lost cities, buried treasures and other puzzling stories.
“ChiefsAholic: A Wolf in Chiefs Clothing” (Available Now) This true-crime documentary follows the harrowing story of Kansas City Chiefs superfan and serial bank robber Xaviar Babudar, famously known as “ChiefsAholic.” Recognized for his distinctive wolf costume and boisterous social media antics, Babudar rose to fame as one of Kansas City’s most fervent fans. However, a secret life came to light when he was arrested in Bixby, Oklahoma, unraveling a series of unsolved bank robberies committed across the Midwest.
“Michelle Buteau: A Buteau-ful Mind” (Dec. 31) The first female comic to record a special at the iconic Radio City Music Hall, Michelle Buteau returns for her second Netflix comedy special. Celebrate the New
Year right as Buteau reflects on motherhood, marriage, and more.
“Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” (Jan. 3) Directors Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham return with a brand new epic adventure. Gromit’s concern that Wallace is becoming too dependent on his inventions proves justified, when Wallace invents a “smart” gnome that seems to develop a mind of its own. When it
“Coup!” (Available Now) A mysterious grifter (Peter Sarsgaard) appears on an isolated seaside estate claiming to be a wealthy family’s new chef. When a plague descends on the island, the mischievous cook rouses his fellow staff to rebel and take over the mansion. The servant becomes the master in this devious classwar comedy also starring Billy Magnussen and Sarah Gadon.
“Nip/Tuck” - Complete Series (Available Now) In this dark comedy from the early 2000s, two plastic surgeons — one a dedicated family man and one an unscrupulous playboy — strive to maintain their business whilst having to work their way through numerous hardships, ranging from personal to clients with criminal connections. Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon star.
“Cunk on Life” (Jan. 2) Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) delves into life’s profound questions, examining subjects from the big bang to AI. She meets academics and creatives to discuss these quandaries, all with her trademark misguided observations.
“Selling the City” - Season 1 (Jan. 3) From
“The Traitors” - Season 3 (Peacock — Jan. 9, Season Premiere)
In this nail-biting psychological adventure, treachery and deceit are the name of the game. The entertainment industry’s most competitive reality stars and famous faces play the ultimate murder mystery game. Hosted by award-winning actor Alan Cumming at an ancient castle set deep in the Scottish Highlands, contestants work together on a series of exhilarating missions to build a prize fund worth up to $250,000. Hidden amongst the Faithful are the Traitors, whose goal is to eliminate the Faithful and claim the prize for themselves.
the creators of “Selling Sunset” and “Selling The OC” comes this new series, following a dynamic group of no-nonsense, kickass agents at Douglas Elliman as they navigate the cutthroat world of luxury real estate in New
Sports Zone
7:30 p.m. ESPN College Football TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Duke vs. Ole Miss. Duke plays No. 14 Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl from Florida. The Blue Devils have won three in a row. (Live) TNT TRUTV NBA Basketball Boston Celtics at Minnesota Timberwolves. From the Target Center in Minneapolis. (Live)
8 p.m. FS1 College Basketball Purdue at Minnesota. From Williams Arena in Minneapolis. (Live)
9 p.m. ESPN2 Women’s College Basketball Texas at Oklahoma. From the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla. (Live) 10 p.m. FS1 College Basketball Illinois at Oregon. From Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore. (Live)
TNT TRUTV NBA Basketball Philadelphia 76ers at Golden State Warriors. From Chase Center in San Francisco. (Live)
Golden Knights vs. Seattle Kraken. The 2024 Winter Classic hits the Emerald City as Seattle and Vegas do battle at T-Mobile Park. (Live) WedneSday
12:30 p.m. USA Premier League Soccer Brentford vs. Arsenal. From Gtech Community Stadium in London. (Live)
1 p.m. ESPN Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl TBA vs. Arizona State. From Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Live)
1:10 p.m. ESPN2 Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl From Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Live)
2 p.m. SNY Women’s College Basketball Connecticut at Marquette. From Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee. (Live)
5:10 p.m. ESPN ESPN2 Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game TBA vs. Oregon. From the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. (Live)
6:30 p.m. FS1 College Basketball Villanova at Butler. From Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Live)
8 p.m. TRUTV NHL Hockey Vegas Golden Knights vs. Seattle Kraken. The 2024 Winter Classic hits the Emerald City as Seattle and Vegas do battle at T-Mobile Park. (Live)
8:30 p.m. FS1 Women’s College Basketball Seton Hall at Villanova. From Finneran Pavilion in Villanova, Pa. (Live)
8:50 p.m. ESPN ESPN2 Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl TBA vs. Georgia. From Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. (Live) thurSday
4 p.m. ESPN High School Football Under Armour Next All-America Game. From Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand, Fla. (Live)
6 p.m. GOLF PGA Tour Golf The Sentry, First Round. From The Plantation Course at Kapalua in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Live)
7 p.m. ESPN2 College Basketball Memphis at Florida Atlantic. From FAU Arena in Boca Raton, Fla. (Live) SNY College Basketball Stony Brook at Monmouth. From OceanFirst Bank Center in West Long Branch, N.J. (Live)
11 p.m. ESPN2 Cornhole ACL National College Championship. Players try to toss a bean bag into a hole at the end of a raised platform. (Live) Friday
4 p.m. ESPN College Football SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: North Texas vs. Texas State. The Bobcats (7-5) defend their First Responder Bowl crown against the Mean Green (6-6) in Dallas. (Live)
6 p.m. GOLF PGA Tour Golf The Sentry, Second Round. From The Plantation Course at Kapalua in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Live)
7 p.m. ESPN2 College Basketball Wichita State at Temple. From the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. (Live) FS1 College Basketball Iowa at Wisconsin. From Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. (Live) SNY Women’s College Basketball Hofstra at Monmouth. From OceanFirst Bank Center in West Long Branch, N.J. (Live)
7:30 p.m. ESPN College Football Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech. The Golden Gophers (7-5) and Hokies (6-6) meet for the first time, in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. (Live)
8 p.m. WNYW-5 WUTV-29 College Basketball Michigan State at Ohio State. From Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Live)
9 p.m. ESPN2 College Basketball Saint Joseph’s at Saint Louis. From Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. (Live) FS1 College Basketball Creighton at Marquette. From Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. (Live)
11 p.m. FS1 College Basketball Nevada at New Mexico. From The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M. (Live) Saturday
7:30 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer Tottenham Hotspur vs. Newcastle United. From Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. (Live)
10 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer AFC Bournemouth vs. Everton. From Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom. (Live)
11 a.m. ESPN College Basketball Florida at Kentucky. From Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. (Live)
ESPN2 College Football Bahamas Bowl: Buffalo vs. Liberty. The Bulls (8-4) ride a four-game win streak into their Bahamas Bowl meeting with the Flames (8-3). (Live)
12 p.m. FS1 College Basketball DePaul at Villanova. From Finneran Pavilion in Villanova, Pa. (Live) SNY College Basketball William & Mary at Stony Brook. From Island FCU Arena in Stony Brook, N.Y. (Live) USA College Basketball Dayton at George Washington. From the Charles E. Smith Center in Washington, D.C. (Live)
WIVB-4 WSEE-35 College Basketball North Carolina at Notre Dame. From Purcell Pavilion in Notre Dame, Ind. (Live)
WKBW-7 NHL Hockey New York Rangers at Washington Capitals. From Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (Live)
WNYW-5 Women’s College Basketball UCLA at Indiana. From Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind. (Live)
WPIX-11 College Basketball
NC State at Wake Forest. From Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston Salem, N.C. (Live)
12:30 p.m. WGRZ-2 WICU-12 Premier League Soccer Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Arsenal. From American Express Community Stadium in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England. (Live)
1 p.m. ESPN College Basketball Arkansas at Tennessee. From Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn. (Live)
2 p.m. FS1 College Basketball Butler at St. John’s. From Carnesecca Arena in Queens, N.Y. (Live)
SNY College Basketball Maryland-Baltimore County at Binghamton. From Dr. Bai Lee Court at Events Center in Vestal, N.Y. (Live) USA College Basketball George Mason at Rhode Island. From Ryan Center in Kingston, R.I. (Live)
WIVB-4 WSEE-35 College Basketball Baylor at Iowa State. From Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. (Live)
WNYW-5 College Basketball UCLA at Nebraska. From Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb. (Live)
2:15 p.m. WPIX-11 College Basketball Duke at SMU. From Moody Coliseum in Dallas. (Live)
2:30 p.m. ESPN2 College Basketball Arizona at Cincinnati. From Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati. (Live)
4 p.m. FS1 Women’s College Basketball Butler at Marquette. From Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee. (Live) WGRZ-2 WICU-12 PGA Tour Golf The Sentry, Third Round. From The Plantation Course at Kapalua in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Live)
WIVB-4 WSEE-35 College Basketball San Diego State at Boise State. From ExtraMile Arena in Boise, Idaho. (Live)
4:30 p.m. ESPN WKBW-7 NFL Football Teams TBA. Football action from around the
In Focus
“American Primeval” (Netflix — Jan. 9, Limited Series Premiere) America, 1857. Peace is the shrinking minority and very few possess grace — even fewer know compassion. There is no safe haven in these brutal lands, and only one
matters: survival. A fictionalized dramatization of the birth of the American West, this six-episode series stars Taylor Kitsch, Betty Gilpin, Dane DeHaan, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Derek Hinkey, Joe Tippett, Jai Courtney, Preston Mota, Shawnee Pourier and Shea Whigham.
“On Call” - Season 1 (Prime Video — Jan. 9, Series Premiere) This adrenalized and visceral police drama follows a rookie (Brandon Larracuente) and veteran officer (Troian Bellisario) duo as they go on patrol in Long Beach, California. Shot with a mixture of hand-held cameras, bodycam and dash-cam footage to create a cinema verité effect, the innovative series explores the morality of protecting and serving a community. Additional cast includes Lori Loughlin, Rich Ting and Eriq La Salle.
Screen Time - Week of December 29, 2024 - January 4, 2025
After being implicated in the murder of Board President Bunny Folger (Jayne Houdyshell), Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) must make a difficult decision: do they choose to lay low, or prove their innocence by finding the real killer themselves? Making its network debut, Season 2 of “Only Murders in the Building” begins this Thursday, Jan. 2, on ABC. Haven’t seen it yet? Find a trailer for the season at youtube. com/watch?v=z4d7y7GDhDE
It’s the countdown to end all countdowns. Broadcast live from Times Square in New York City, this iconic event sees host Ryan Seacrest wrapping up the year with a night of superstar musical performances. With an expected 1 million people attending the ball drop in person — and more than a billion expected to watch worldwide — join in on the celebration as “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2025,” airs Tuesday, Dec. 31, on ABC. Before the show begins, hear a message from Ryan in a special clip found at abc. com/video/18b534c6-0860-4018-9f25-269716923256/playlist/ PL557769560
classiccorner
BY JAY BOBBIN
Sean Connery stars in “Goldfinger”
‘Goldfinger’ is one of James Bond’s best
Over the course of six decades, James Bond has had a lot of screen adventures, but one of the earliest remains one of the best. Included by MGM+ in a New Year’s Eve marathon of several of the pictures Tuesday, Dec. 31, “Goldfinger” is the movie that cemented the series’ formula for many viewers and critics. While telling a solid spy story (taken from Ian Fleming’s novel), it added comfortable amounts of gadgetry and so-called “Bond girls” that were essential parts of the concept from then on.
Sean Connery is completely in his stride as Agent 007 in the 1964 caper, as the character helps get the goods on wealthy villain Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe) when the latter cheats in a Miami card game. The aftermath, which famously doesn’t bode well for Goldfinger’s assistant (Shirley Eaton), makes Bond even more eager to see justice done ... and the agent uses a golf match back in England to engage the enemy, who introduces his silent and deadly henchman Oddjob (Harold Sakata). Honor Blackman and Tania Mallet also star.
“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (Catchy Comedy, Sunday, Dec. 29): One of TV’s most beloved sitcoms is showcased in the last day of the channel’s final weekend “Binge” of 2024. The smartly written saga of Mary Richards, a localTV-news producer negotiating her social life as well as her career, also had a major benefit in what Mary Tyler Moore — whose company produced the series — understandably called “the best ensemble cast,”
New Year’s Eve scenes in film
Questions: 1) Which song is playing when Harry (Billy Crystal) finally declares his love to Sally (Meg Ryan) in “When Harry Met Sally” (1989)?
2) Who does Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) ominously kiss at the end-of-year party in “The Godfather II” (1976)? 3) “Bridget Jones’ Diary” (2001) opens on New Year’s Day — what is the image on Mark Darcy’s (Colin Firth) Christmas sweater?
4) Which ‘90s movie features this line: “I’ve had a really lousy Christmas. You’ve just managed to kill my New Year’s. If you come back at Easter, you can burn down my apartment.”
5) Who is Fred Astaire’s partner for the “drunk” dance in “Holiday Inn” (1942)?
6) In “Forrest Gump” (1994), what year appears on the Times Square Ball Drop as Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) and Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise) ring in the new year? 7) In “The Apartment” (1960), what does Fran (Shirley MacLaine) say to Baxter (Jack Lemmon) after he declares his love for her?
8) Which comedy reaches its climax on New Year’s Eve and features a walking, slime-soaked Statue of Liberty?
Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in “When Harry Met Sally”
