After September, January is the most promising month of the television season, as the networks roll out not only their mid-season replacements, but the cable channels roll out old favorites and new series, alike. In fact, as we say goodbye to winter series, and get rid of some season passes on our DVR that we just can’t abide by anymore, there’s a lot to choose from and keep us busy until Game of Thrones arrives. In addition to the 10 most anticipated new and returning shows, there’s also the return of Downton Abbey (last night); White Collar (January 22nd); the premiere of the Sex and the City prequel series, Carrie Diaries; the return of Workaholics (January 16th) and Bunheads (January 7th), news shows like NIck Kroll’s Kroll Show (January 16th) and Deception (January 7th), plus Showtime’s House of Lies and Californiacation January 13th).
Here, however, are the most anticipated new and returning shows of the month.
10. Continuum (January 14th) — I don’t know much about the new SyFy series except that it was a big hit in Canada, it stars Rachel Nichols (droooooool), and it’s got a cool timey-wimey premise: “A detective from the year 2077 finds herself trapped in present day Vancouver and searching for ruthless criminals from the future.” I’ve heard very mixed things about the series from people I know who have given it a shot, but I’m always game for a decent sci-fi series.
9. Banshee (January 11th) — I have seen the first two episodes of the new Alan Ball produced drama for Cinemax. Despite low production values and the requisitely gratuitous Skinemax sex scenes, the pilot — about an ex-convict who takes on the identity of a dead sheriff and runs a town basically controlled by the Amish mafia — is pretty good. The second episode, however, wasn’t great. The Wire’s Frankie Faison, however, is fantastic in it. I’d nevertheless wait and see how the rest of the series shapes up before I invested myself into it.
8. The Following (January 21st) — The mid-season has a few serial killer dramas on tap, but this one — starring Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Natalie Zea, and Maggie Grace — looks to be the best among them based only on the fact that it has the best cast (and most eye candy). Serial killer dramas and network television don’t exactly mix, however, so we’ll have to wait and see if it’s as dark and gritty as the network wants us to believe it is.
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Smithers is on the town?
like Philip responded I am stunned that any body can profit $7590 in 4 weeks on the internet. did you read this site FLY38.ℂom
I will never understand the obsession with Cougar Town around here.
it’s a feel good show, nothing groundbreaking but it just has the perfect balance of feels and comedy. it’s a good relaxing feel good show to watch before you go to bed after a shitty day at work. Plus courtney cox is a total milf
@SatanBigsby, it depends on your opinion of Scrubs. If you really like Scrubs, you’ll love Cougar Town, if you don’t, you won’t. Cougar Town does a great job of growing the characters and using running jokes that pay off.
If you love Community you’ll probably like Cougar Town. Cougar Town is a little more sentimental and less genre-bending, but a lot of the same great qualities.
Meh, I dunno. I loved Scrubs when I was younger but nothing draws me to this show, I can see some loose similarities but it doesn’t have the same charm. I’ve seen a few episodes of Cougar Town, probably not enough to disparage it too much, but from what I’ve seen it’s an exceedingly mediocre sitcom with telephoned jokes and poor performances.
If Courtney Cox is what’s supposed to attract me to it then I’ll definitely pass. I prrefer women who still have at least a passing resemblance to human beings.
I’m sad to say I agree. I absolutely loved Scrubs (the first four seasons), but Cougar Town has never managed to do much for me. It’s good, and very funny at times, but never really achieves greatness. Granted, I imagine I’d have a higher opinion of it if I watched it often enough to become invested.
. “Despite low production values and the requisitely gratuitous Skinemax sex scenes”
what kind of fucking asshole cites the sex scenes as a negative?
Judging from the way Dustin has defended Game of Thrones’ “sexposition” in the past, I think he wasn’t citing the sex scenes as a negative so much as acknowledging that some people might be put off by that stuff, and warning them that there’s more to the show than that.
I don’t have a problem with sex scenes and nudity, but Cinemax shows do seem to have a quota. I watched Hunted and if they were going to show someone getting a phone call, they were likely to be in the middle of having sex when the call came. It’s just kind of weird, because it’s not like they’re giving you insight into a character or their relationships, they just need to show some titties.
FX is set to nudge ahead of that network in terms of pure quality
lolwut? I get you have to dock FX points for Charlie Sheen related programming but they have been far ahead of AMC for a long time. AMC has Mad Men and Breaking Bad (you can count walking dead too if you’re an easily amused dipshit I guess).
I’d take Justified, Archer, Always Sunny, and SOA over that line up every time.
breaking bad and mad men are way better than soa and justified. Archer and sunny give it the nudge to be over. And when breaking bad ends it´ll clearly be a winner.
I don’t watch breaking bad (GASP) but people whose opinions I generally agree with seem to think its the best thing on TV so I’ll grant the show the top spot. That said, I’d say Justified seasons 2 and 3 were far better than the Mad Men seasons that aired in 2011 and 2012. SOA is a clear cut below the other three.
… carrying this useless exercise (that admittedly I started) to its conclusion I’d say Justified + Archer + Always Sunny + SOA – Charlie Sheen > Breaking Bad + Mad Men + Hate-watching Walking Dead – Reality programming
So you don’t watch Breaking Bad and you think The Walking Dead is for “easily amused dipshits”. I suppose that would give your FX over AMC argument it’s needed objectivity.
I’d argue HBO is better than FX AND AMC (Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Treme, Girls, Curb, and Eastbound & Down). But I think FX edges AMC at this point because while Breaking Bad is the best drama on TV Mad Men is equal to or less than Justified plus you have Archer, Wilfred and the League (I am not a fan of it’s Always Sunny… at all). If the Americans is good it adds to it. I see SOA and the Walking Dead as equal in quality.
Wilfred is just TOO weird. I watch every episode but it still creeps me out.
FX has been superior because AMC only has two great shows and one good one whereas you can count the bad shows FX has put on the air in the last 10 years on one hand.
@nacho
Right, because it was an objective discussion to start with? I was actually conceding that breaking bad was the best show on TV but I stand by thinking Walking Dead is awful.
Yeah, unless we’re totally ignoring quantity in favor of quality, FX has to be superior. Louie, Sunny, Justified, Archer, American Horror Story, Sons of Anarchy, Wilfred, and The League (8) vs. Breaking Bad, Mad Men, The Walking Dead, and The Killing (4). I don’t watch SOA or TWD, and I don’t like The League or The Killing, and I’m kind of indifferent to Wilfred, but still, I think just in sheer numbers and variety, FX has to beat AMC. Unless you put a premium on dramas, in which case I guess Justified and SOA can’t quite compete with BB & MM.
I really can’t wait another ten days for Archer so thank God Justified comes on this week.
The Americans will be to Homeland what The Playboy Club was to Mad Men (is my prediction).
Seriously hope Justified comes with more Tim Gutterson this season.
This isn’t where I parked my car.
“So you’re the shit!” -Arlo
Damn you Donald Glover. Now I have see another show because due to your awesomeness.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuck, and it’s a show I haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate.
I’m totally going to like it, too.
I love Donald Glover, but I can’t do it. Every promo and the 2 minutes I caught of that show seem to indicate that Girls is…not for me.
I went and saw Archer Live on Friday and season 4 is going to be glorious.
Bob’s Burgers/Archer crossover!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Workaholics starts this month too.
I haven’t seen Justified, but am eager to watch…It is not on demand, or netflix streaming…..WTF gives?
Californication?
I’m with you, brother. I wish that show had a little more critical esteem, on account of its hilarity, but oh well. Just have to accept the fact that you’ll almost never see it mentioned on a site like this’n.
Well, aside from the little mini-list in the preamble.
Holy Crap. This is what comes up for shows airing tomorrow night on this app I use to track such shows:
Death In Paradise
Ben and Kate
Happy Endings
Emily Owens M.D. (don’t judge, I stuck it out with Alcatraz)
Go On
Don’t Trust the B—- In Apartment 23
The Mindy Project
Cougar Town
Frontline
Justified
Parenthood
Vegas
Chopped
The Daily Show
The Colbert Report
That’s waaaay too much.
what app is this you speak of?
Android – TV Show Favs
Sweet
Is the fact that you “stuck it out with Alcatraz” supposed to somehow indemnify you against judgment? I don’t get how that argument works, haha. But I don’t know a damn thing about E.O.M.D., so you’re safe on that count. For now.
That’s why you need the hoppa’ from DISH….just kidding…i’m not spam…for real though, where can i watch past seasons of Justified
I know you’re asking about streaming services, but the blu-rays are pretty great, for what it’s worth. Lots of features (in season one, at least), and a very nice picture.
The UK trailers for Continuum made it look like cheesy rubbish, so naturally I watched it after work one evening. It actually turned out to be a perfectly decent cop-show-with-a-gimmick, elevated by a remarkably attractive lead actress.
Does the Glover scene on Girls involve him admitting he just acts Republican in order to get chicks or money or some shit? I don’t think anyone here will care if you spoil it.
I didn’t know Natalie Zea and Maggie Grace were in The Following. Pretty ladies make me feel a little more interested in that show now. Hooray for Archer and Shameless, yay for Girls, and HUZZAH FOR JUSTIFIED! And I <3<3<3 Keri Russell, so a cautious yay for The Americans.
And also yay for Cougar Town.
What is Winona doing with Kevin Bacon? Does Raylan know about this?
AMC is ruining their brand with reality filth!! Wait…whats that? Its a network trying to make money? The audacity!!
That’s the 10 most anticipated list? Holy hell TV is going to be awful this January, and low hopes for this year, sheesh.