The TV Cave’s Daily TV Guide: What to Watch on January 5

Welcome back to The TV Cave, where your remote control comes with opinions. Whether you’re up at an ungodly hour bingeing mysteries, settling in for primetime chaos, or riding the emotional rollercoaster of reality TV, tonight’s lineup has range. Let’s break down what’s worth your time on January 5 — from season premieres to finales and full-on drama detonations.

🌙 Late-Night & Early-Morning Streaming Pick

My Life Is Murder

3:00 AM ET | Acorn TVSeason 5 Premiere

If you’re the type who starts their day with murder (fictional, obviously), Alexa Crowe is back on the case. This season kicks off with a very modern mystery when a fitness influencer drops dead mid-livestream. The investigation pulls Alexa into the hyper-competitive world of elite cheerleading, where smiles are big and secrets are bigger. Cozy mystery vibes, but make it 2025.

🏀 Primetime Sports Takeover

NBA Monday

7:00 PM ET | Peacock

Clear your schedule — it’s a triple-header kind of night.

• 7:00 PM: New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons

• 8:30 PM: Denver Nuggets vs. Philadelphia 76ers

• 10:00 PM: Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Whether you’re watching for the playoff implications or just here for the drama on the court, Peacock is basically your couch-side arena tonight.

📺 8:00 PM ET: Choose Your Fighter (or Baker, or Yacht Crew)

Antiques Roadshow

PBS Season 30 Premiere

Thirty seasons in and still finding treasures in attics. Tonight’s finds include early 20th-century German candy containers, a stunning Donegal Arts & Crafts carpet, and a first U.K. edition of The Hobbit that collectors will definitely be yelling about at their TVs.

Baking Championship: Next Gen

Food Network Series Premiere

Tiny bakers. Big pressure. Twelve sibling teams aged 8–14 go head-to-head for a $25,000 prize, with Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown keeping a watchful (and judgmental) eye. Equal parts adorable and impressive — and yes, you will feel wildly unaccomplished.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Bravo

Just when you think the seas couldn’t get choppier, a betrayal rocks the yacht, confrontations explode, and one major breakup flips the crew dynamic upside down. Also: two deckhands absolutely lose it. Maritime law would not approve.

Name That Tune

FOX Season 5 Finale

It’s brains vs. buzzers as a web administrator and a public health educator battle it out, followed by a government attorney facing off against an exercise science student. Someone’s walking away with bragging rights — and hopefully a very strong playlist.

St. Denis Medical

NBC

Ron and Matt attempt to convince a child to get his shot (good luck), Alex jumps into wedding-planning mode with Joyce, and Bruce and Serena clash over Matt. Hospital chaos, but make it personal.

🎯 9:00 PM ET: High Stakes Return

The Wall

NBC Season 6 Premiere

The Wall is back, and it’s starting with heart. Steven, an off-duty police officer who helped evacuate the Pentagon during 9/11, teams up with his son Seth for a shot at life-changing money. Emotional, intense, and nerve-wracking — just how fans like it.

🧠 10:00 PM ET: Emotional Heavy Hitter

Brilliant Minds

NBC

Dr. Wolf and the team are pushed to their limits as one of their own fights for their life. Expect raw performances, tough decisions, and the kind of episode that leaves you staring at the credits in silence.

📌 Final Verdict

From antiques with jaw-dropping price tags to reality TV implosions and emotional network dramas, January 5 is stacked. Whether you’re in the mood to laugh, cry, yell at contestants, or clutch your pearls over yacht drama, tonight’s TV understood the assignment.

Stay tuned to The TV Cave for more daily guides, recaps, and all the TV tea worth spilling. Remote in hand — we’ll see you on the couch.