Off the Wall: A holiday week of marathons

Off the Wall is on the clock.

MARATHONS

Why wait for the holidays? Here they come this weekend. Discovery continues its festive week of stackups with "Deadliest Catch" (Saturday 9 a.m.-3 a.m.). AMC kicks off its own week of marathons with the first three seasons of "Breaking Bad" (Sunday 10 a.m.-5:15 a.m., Monday 9 a.m.-5:15 a.m.) followed by the entire series-up-to-now of "The Walking Dead" (Tuesday 9 a.m.-6 a.m., Wednesday 9 a.m.-6 a.m., Thursday 9 a.m.-6 a.m., Friday 9 a.m.-6 a.m., AMC). Plus -- "Breaking Bad" bonus(es)! Hear from the show's scripters how the show came together on "The Writers' Room" (Wednesday at 6 a.m., Sundance) and see about its science on "MythBusters" (Thursday night at 1 a.m., Science).

SAM HE AM

As in the football star whose coming out rocked the sports world. His proposed reality series never took shape, but its footage now morphs into a documentary special -- "Michael Sam" (Saturday night 9-10:30, OWN) -- followed by a new "Oprah Prime" interview updating Sam's life since being cut by the NFL. Previews at oprah.com/own

SEASON FINALES

Let's hope it does take another 10 years to get another season of Lisa Kudrow's kick "The Comeback" (Sunday 10-11 p.m., HBO; after marathon 6-10 p.m., HBO2), ending as Kudrow's hapless actress character celebrates Emmy weekend. Also toking its last: "Pot Barons of Colorado" (Sunday 10 p.m.-midnight, MSNBC). Plus cooking competition finals on Danny Boome's "Good Food America" (Sunday at 9 p.m., Z Living/formerly Veria).

NEW YEAR

Jumping the gun: "Happy New Year, Charlie Brown" and "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" (Monday at 8 and 9 p.m., ABC/7). And as another year begins, the world ends in "Revelation: The End of Days" (Monday-Tuesday 9-11 p.m., History), speculating how the Bible's apocalyptic prophesies might play out in today's world. (Bomb attacks, pandemics, plagues of locusts, oh my.) The mood is a lot lighter Wednesday night when revelers greet 2015 with music and merriment. Check out TV's celebratory happenings (and holiday marathons) on Newsday's Wednesday TV page.

SERIES PREMIERES

Resolve to watch some new shows? Let's see what's available. There's the "reality musical" series "Branson Famous" (Monday at 10 p.m., truTV), going behind the scenes of the Missouri entertainment town's Baldknobbers Jamboree, as the family-run theater is torn by jealousy and financial distress. There's also the unscripted romance "Big Women: Big Love" (Thursday at 10 p.m., Lifetime), a different take on the size saga that precedes it: "Little Women: L.A.," starting its second season at 9. The celebreality genre offers up "Off the Map With Shannen and Holly" (Friday at 11 p.m., GAC), reuniting "Charmed" co-stars Doherty and Combs as they traverse the southeast, encountering alligators and making moonshine.

WESTERNS SWITCH-UP

Encore Westerns launches a new lineup of vintage TV weekday afternoons into evening. Say goodbye Wednesday to "Have Gun, Will Travel" and "Gunsmoke." Say hello Friday to anthology series "Death Valley Days" (6:05 and 6:35 p.m.) and Steve McQueen's "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (7:05 and 7:35 p.m.). Shuffled schedule at encoretv.com