Networks Plan Wall-to-Wall Coverage of First-Ever Made-For-TV Inaugural

With the National Mall closed and the traditional inaugural balls scuttled by the one-two punch of COVID protocols and security concerns, today's 59th Presidential Inauguration is set to be a strictly made-for-TV affair. Cable news and the major broadcast networks will be covering the events in Washington D.C., starting with the inauguration itself and continuing this evening with a multi-network all-star television special.

Also today: Riverdale picks up where it left off last spring, a new Netflix docuseries looks at the world of modern espionage, and it's Group A finals time on The Masked Dancer. Here's what's new and noteworthy on TV this Wednesday:

LIVE COVERAGE: There won't be the usual throngs of supporters in attendance at The Presidential Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., but Biden and his incoming Vice President Kamala Harris will officially take office at noon today at a scaled-down event on the steps of the US Capitol. In place of the traditional inaugural parade following the ceremony, Biden's inaugural committee has planned a "virtual parade across America." 11:00 AM ET / 8:00 AM PT on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, cable news and others

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: In another first, ABC, CBS and NBC and others will air Celebrating America, a live 90-minute primetime special produced by the Biden Inaugural Committee. Hosted by Tom Hanks, the special is set to feature performances from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake, and Jon Bon Jovi and remarks from the newly sworn-in president and vice present. 8:30 PM ET on ABC, CBS and NBC and others

SEASON PREMIERE: A prom in January? Riverdale takes care of some unfinished business in its Season 5 premiere before moving on to a planned seven-year time jump later this season. Watch trailer. 8:00 PM ET on The CW

DOCUSERIES PREMIERE: Grab your tin hat: the new eight-part Netflix original docuseries Spycraft looks at the history, methods and techniques of modern espionage. Watch trailer. Streaming on Netflix

NEW EPISODE: Cricket, Hammerhead, Zebra and Exotic Bird shake their tail feathers tonight on The Masked Dancer. One will be unmasked, while the remaining three continue on to the Super Six. 8:00 PM ET on FOX

NBA BASKETBALL: The 2020-21 NBA regular season continues tonight with two national game telecasts:

• The Boston Celtics play the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN
• The Phoenix Suns face the Houston Rockets 9:30 PM ET on ESPN

SEASON PREMIERE: Nancy (Kennedy McMann) and her crew are still reeling from seeing visions of their own deaths as Nancy Drew kicks off its second season. Meanwhile, Detective Tamura (Ryan-James Hatanaka) brings Nancy in for questioning as she's now a suspect in the assualt of a mysterious comatose girl. Watch trailer. 9:00 PM ET on The CW

Mike Attebery is Senior Editor at Primetimer and the author of seven mystery thrillers. Follow him on Twitter at @mikeattebery.