What to Watch on TV This Week: Animal Control, Stranger Things, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, and More!
For the week of December 28th, we transition from 2025 into 2026, and what a time this new year is going to be. While there isn’t much on this week, it’s clear that network TV is chomping at the bit to come back in the next few weeks.
Despite original plans to premiere in January 2026, Animal Control moved up the Season 4 premiere to Sunday, December 28th. This gives fans a bit of fun to bring with them to the new year later in the week.
For others, this week is all about the series finale of Stranger Things. This show has been on everyone’s minds since the beginning, and after almost a decade, it is finally coming to its conclusion.
Find our full list of suggestions for What to Watch on TV this week below. Mark your calendars accordingly!
What to Watch on TV This Week:
Animal Control Season 4 Premiere – Sunday, December 28th
Animal Control Season 4 Episode 1, “Bear Cubs and Broncos,” premieres Sunday, December 28th at 8/7c on FOX.
Episode Description: Tensions erupt when the two rival animal control precincts are forced to merge due to budget cuts; Frank and Templeton clash during a bear cub rescue as they fight for control; Emily and Shred try to hide their romance from the team.
Mayor of Kingstown Season 4 Finale – Sunday, December 28th
Mayor of Kingstown Season 4 Episode 10, “Belly of the Beast,” airs Sunday, December 28th on Paramount+.
Episode Description: Mike fights to prevent Kyle from following in his footsteps and confronts the demons of his past; Hobbs makes a crucial decision. Season finale.
Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story Documentary Premiere – Tuesday, December 30th
Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story premieres Tuesday, December 30th on Netflix.
Series Description: Unraveling the case of Utah therapist Jodi Hildebrandt, whose child abuse arrest with parenting YouTuber Ruby Franke exposed a twisted tale of manipulation.
Wolf Series Premiere – Tuesday, December 30th
Wolf premieres Tuesday, December 30th at 9/8c on AMC+.
Series Description: A detective burdened by trauma is drawn into a harrowing mystery as two intruders torment a family in their rural home through sinister and mind-twisting tactics.
Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026 – Wednesday, December 31st
Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026 airs Wednesday, December 31st at 8/7c on ABC.
Event Description: This year’s broadcast will be led by Ryan Seacrest and co-host Rita Ora from New York’s Times Square, with GRAMMY®-winning hometown native Chance the Rapper leading the first-ever “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” live Central Time Zone countdown from Chicago. Performance lineup includes 50 Cent, Charlie Puth, Chappell Roan, Demi Lovato, Maren Morris, Mariah Carey, OneRepublic, Pitbull, Post Malone and more.
Stranger Things Series Finale – Wednesday, December 31st
Stranger Things Series Finale airs Wednesday, December 31st at 8/7c on Netflix.
Season Description: The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.
Run Away Series Premiere – Thursday, January 1st
Run Away premieres Thursday, January 1st on Netflix.
Limited Series Description: A desperate father searching for his runaway daughter gets caught up in a murder case and stumbles upon secrets that could destroy his family for good.
Lost in Paradise Movie Premiere – Friday, January 2nd
Lost in Paradise premieres Friday, January 2nd at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel.
Movie Description: When the founder of a high-end fashion company gets marooned on an “deserted” island with a chef, romance blossoms as they work together to survive.
Those are our picks for the week! What are you planning to watch? Share in the comments below!
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Mads Misasi
Mads is a part-time entertainment journalist and full-time marketing content creator. They love any and all TV Dramas with a few sitcoms mixed in. Join in the fun talking about TV by following them on Twitter: @dorothynyc89.