TBS
Rashida Jones (right) and Hayes MacArthur star in the new TBS police spoof “Angie Tribeca.”
Oh January. It’s had a few rare hits (like 2015’s Empire) but mostly spectacular misses (like 2014’s Rake — does anyone know what Rake was even about?). Despite the month’s shaky launch history, this season there’s a rather intriguing mix of new shows and returnees.
Shameless
Showtime, returns Jan. 10
As a native Illinoisan, I’m a sucker for a good Chicago-based show, and Shameless fits the bill. Entering its sixth season, the dark comedy focuses on a large lower-class clan led by a screw-up single father (William H. Macy), whose mistakes adversely affect the family. Emmy Rossum plays the oldest child and has the unpleasant task of making sure things don’t fall apart at every turn (although they basically do). Shameless is darkly funny with a colorful cast of characters just trying to stay above water.
Billions
Showtime, premieres Jan. 17
With recent film successes like The Wolf of Wall Street and The Big Short, it was only a matter of time before we got a television series about Wall Street. Something as complex and layered as this subject matter actually lends itself better to TV. Unlike The Big Short, which tried to cram three years of statistics and plotlines into two hours, Billions has the time to tell the story right. It follows a U.S. district attorney (Paul Giamatti) as he goes after a prominent hedge fund manager (Homeland’s Damian Lewis). What’s great about Billions finding a home on Showtime is that the show can use the colorful curse words and portray the shenanigans Wall Street is known for. I’m curious to see what route the writers will take in developing the storyline further.
Angie Tribeca
TBS, premieres Jan. 17
Angie Tribeca comes from producers Steve Carell and Nancy Walls, two talented people who just happen to be married to one another. Starring Rashida Jones as the title character, this program is a satire of police procedural dramas. TBS will initially air its 10 episodes on a loop in a 25-hour marathon, a smart marketing move considering the success Netflix and Hulu have had with the binge-watch format. Angie Tribeca looks pretty good, and TBS must think so too since the show has already been renewed for a second season. Jones often gets stuck playing the straight woman (Parks and Recreation, The Office), but she’s capable of much more. I think Angie Tribeca may be the vehicle to assert herself as a comedy powerhouse.
Mercy Street
PBS, premieres Jan. 17
You might need a period piece to occupy your time now that Downton Abbey is ending, and PBS is hoping this drama about Civil War-era doctors and nurses fits the bill. Mercy Street is executive produced by filmmaker Ridley Scott, the mega-director and producer who’s recently had successful forays into television with shows like The Good Wife and The Man in the High Castle. But Mercy Street is a bit of a risky move, as it is the first American drama to air on PBS in more than 10 years. The series stars Josh Radnor (How I Met Your Mother), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) and newcomer Hannah James.
Marvel’s Agent Carter
ABC, returns Jan. 19
Agent Carter returns for its second season in good company, with Daredevil, Jessica Jones, The Flash, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Supergirl among the many superhero shows currently running. The series follows Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), a secretary in the 1940s who works at the Strategic Scientific Reserve but secretly does her own “superhero” stuff on the side. I like this show because it shows Carter as a powerful woman in the workforce during a time when women didn’t get much respect. Peggy Carter is typically shown as a side character in Captain America comics and films, so it’s refreshing to see her as a lead character.
Portlandia
IFC, returns Jan. 21
Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein are back for their sixth season of poking fun at the absurdities of Portland, Ore., and the Pacific Northwest in general. If you haven’t seen Portlandia by this point, you really should check it out — although the type of humor it is known for isn’t for everyone. It’s quirky and weird, but in the best way. Recurring characters like Toni and Candace, Nina and Lance and, of course, Carrie and Fred give this sketch show a consistent flow from season to season. Even if Portlandia isn’t your cup of tea, you can’t help but appreciate how spot-on Armisen and Brownstein are in their portrayals of hipster culture.
