We’re in the peak of the golden age of television. Or something like that. Here are a few new shows, including new seasons of anthologies, retooled projects, and sequels to classics.
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride (PBS/BBC America), January 1 at 9pm
Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are back in this acclaimed British series. The modern day take on Sherlock Holmes was such a refreshing look into the world’s most famous detective. However, this one off special is set in Victorian Era London. So expect something different.
American Crime (ABC), January 6 at 10pm
At first I thought this show was going to bomb. Then it didn’t. Borrowing from the anthology craze as of late, this show uses the same actors in different roles for the sophomore season. Felicity Huffman and Timothy Hutton lead a cast in a series about a public school boy alleging a group of private school boys physically and sexually assaulted him.
Colony (USA), January 14 at 10pm
Don’t write of USA like I did. They produced one of the best shows of 2015 with Mr. Robot. It’s set in near future Los Angeles while a family tries to survive some sort of intruders.
Degrassi: Next Class (Netflix), January 15 at 12:01am
This reboot/sequel/whatever has similar faces from the previous incarnation of this franchise, and probably won’t shift much from the crazy teen soap opera. I’m not saying it will be as good as the early seasons of The Next Generation, but at least the legacy lives on.
Mercy Street (PBS), January 17 at 10pm
Josh Radnor stars in this Civil War miniseries. It follows the trials and tribulations on Union supporters in Virginia. While there will be many war inspired action, expect the bulk of this to be more of a personal drama.
Billions (Showtime), January 17 at 10pm
Two power house actors – Paul Giamatti and Damien Lewis – team up for a money-based law drama. It’s going to be filled with anti-heroes television has come to love. I applaud the show for finding new ways to explore themes that blur the line between good and evil.
Angie Tribeca (TBS), January 17 at 9pm
This spoof on crime procedurals stars Rashida Jones as the title character. Expect it to be an off the wall version of Law & Order. Even more crazy: the first ten episodes are going to be released over the course of two days in January. That fact in itself is a spoof of our binge habits.
Baskets (FX), January 21 at 10pm
Zach Galifianakis stars as Chip Baskets in this comedy he co-created with Louis C.K. and Jonathan Krisel. He wants to be a world-class clown, but ends up working at a rodeo. I’m not sure what to expect from this. I doubt it will be as subdued as Louie, and sort of expect it to be a complete farce.
The X-Files (Fox), January 24 at 8pm
Wow. Just wow. I forgot about this premiering in the winter. Added late because I’m a fool. It’s Fox and Mulder back in action. The revival series promises to mix a long arc with some episodic one-offs.
American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson (FX), February 2 at 10pm
Similar to a show above, this is an anthology by American Horror Story creators; however, it’s based on a true story, obviously. Cuba Gooding, Jr. stars at Simpson in this dramatic retelling of the murder case, Bronco chase, and trial that captivated America.
Survivor: Kaôh Rōng (CBS), February 17 at 8pm
Okay. I love Survivor, so I want to include this to get more people watching. We just witnessed an amazing All-Star season that you should totally check out. This one was actually filmed before the previous season, but because of crazy medical evacuations, the producers pushed it back.
Fuller House (Netflix), February 26 at 12:01am
DJ and Stephanie Tanner live with Kimmy Gibbler and their kids. It’s a full house of crazy antics that will bring back faces from the ‘90s family series. Sad news: DJ’s husband died. Good news: it wasn’t her high school beau Steve. So… look forward to that romance rekindling.
ADAM VITCAVAGE 