TV Shows We're Excited For In 2020
2019 delivered plenty of top-notch television, but 2020 promises to bring even more. Scroll through the gallery below to see 25 series — both new and returning — that we're looking forward to watching in the new year, including The CW's Katy Keene, Fox's 9-1-1 spinoff, Hulu's High Fidelity reboot and more.
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9-1-1: LONE STAR (Fox)
WHY IT EXCITES US: 9-1-1 may have started as a guilty pleasure, but it has since evolved into a full-blown delight, so we're curious to see what this Texas-set spinoff has in store. If Lone Star is even half as ridiculous (in a good way) as its predecessor, we'll salute the Rob Lowe-led drama with pride.
PREMIERE DATE: Sunday, Jan. 19 at 10/9c
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AJ AND THE QUEEN (Netflix)
WHY IT EXCITES US: Drag Race fans are currently enduring an unusually long dry spell — Season 11 wrapped in May and we have yet to get a premiere date for Season 12 — so this Netflix comedy, starring RuPaul Charles as a drag queen who travels the country with an 11-year-old sidekick, couldn't be sashaying into our lives at a better time. And with nearly two dozen former Drag Race contestants making appearances throughout the 10-episode first season, the cast is basically a who's who of Halleloo!
PREMIERE DATE: Friday, Jan. 10
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IMPEACHMENT: AMERICAN CRIME STORY (FX)
WHY IT EXCITES US: Multi-hyphenate Ryan Murphy never shies away from controversial, complex storytelling, especially when it comes to Crime Story. The anthology's third rendezvous will detail the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal with Clive Owen on board as the former POTUS and Beanie Feldstein donning Lewinsky's infamous dress. Rounding out the cast is previous Crime Story standout Sarah Paulson as whistleblower Linda Tripp and Annaleigh Ashford (Masters of Sex) as Paula Jones.
PREMIERE DATE: Sunday, Sept. 27 (premiere date now TBD)
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AVENUE 5 (HBO)
WHY IT EXCITES US: We're still mourning the loss of Veep, and we're always up for a good sci-fi comedy, so we're already lining up to set sail with this outer space-set series from Veep creator Armando Iannucci, starring Hugh Laurie as the captain of a planet-hopping cruise ship. Having Zach Woods and Josh Gad on board is a huge plus, and the trailer promises uncharted galaxies full of goofy, interstellar fun.
PREMIERE DATE: Sunday, Jan. 19 at 10/9c
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BETTER CALL SAUL (AMC)
WHY IT EXCITES US: Now that Jimmy McGill has finally, fully broken bad, what's next for our favorite shady lawyer? "Things are definitely going to get darker" in Season 5 of the Breaking Bad prequel, executive producer Thomas Schnauz tells TVLine, as Jimmy pulls away from voice of reason Kim Wexler and embraces his destiny as slickster attorney Saul Goodman. That could mean we'll see him crossing paths with Mike Ehrmantraut and Gus Fring soon enough... and we can't wait to see that.
PREMIERE DATE: Sunday, Feb. 23 at 10/9c
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CHEER (Netflix)
WHY IT EXCITES US: The six-episode docuseries about the impressive competitive cheerleading team at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, is like a hardcore Bring It On. As the group trains to defend their 14-time national champs title, the stunts will make you gasp, the injuries will make you wince and the backstories will make you cry.
PREMIERE DATE: Wednesday, Jan. 8
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CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM (HBO)
WHY IT EXCITES US: Larry David, social assassin at large, is back for more of that classic Curb cringe! Though he may be fatwa-free, he's still ever the pariah. The new season's trailer teases everything we've been yearning for: Larry's knock-down-drag-out war with Susie, loads of new and returning guest stars (Richard Lewis! Jon Hamm!) and, of course, J.B. Smoove's irresistible Leon Black. May Larry continue getting kicked out of parties, but never kicked off our TVs.
PREMIERE DATE: Sunday, Jan. 19 at 10:30/9:30c
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DISPATCHES FROM ELSEWHERE (AMC)
WHY IT EXCITES US: Because anyone who has seen Jason Segel in films like The End of the Tour and Jeff, Who Lives at Home knows the How I Met Your Mother vet has some serious acting chops. Then there's the show itself, which looks like a hybrid of The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror. The anthology also boasts an impressive ensemble, which includes Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters), Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) and André Benjamin (American Crime).
PREMIERE DATE: Sunday, March 1 and Monday, March 2 at 10/9c
Walt Disney Television Upfront Presentation, Arrivals, Tavern on the Green, New York, USA - 14 May 2019
FARGO (FX)
WHY IT EXCITES US: Oh yah, you betcha it's been a long time since we've last trudged through the snow with FX's quirky crime anthology. (Two and a half years, to be exact.) But we're getting the chills already in anticipation of Season 4, which boasts an intriguing set-up — two warring Kansas City crime families in 1950 — and a ridiculously loaded cast led by Chris Rock, Ben Whishaw, Jason Schwartzman, Jack Huston and more. Plus, we can't resist weird character names like "Loy Cannon" and "Josto Fadda."
PREMIERE DATE: Spring 2020
NICHOLAS PINNOCK
FOR LIFE (ABC)
WHY IT EXCITES US: Exec-produced by Power player Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and inspired by the life of Isaac Wright Jr., this prison/legal/family drama stars Counterpart's oh-so-good Nicholas Pinnock as a prisoner who becomes a lawyer, litigating cases for other inmates while fighting to overturn his own life sentence for a crime he didn't commit. It's like if Prison Break and Shawshank Redemption had a baby — but, you know, more realistic and stuff.
PREMIERE DATE: Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 10/9c
Top Five Heartbreaks
HIGH FIDELITY (Hulu)
WHY IT EXCITES US: Not all movie-to-TV adaptations are music to our ears, but this gender-flipped take on the 2000 John Cusack comedy (based on the Nick Hornby book) looks charming enough to be worth a binge. Big Little Lies' Zoë Kravitz gets a much-deserved starring role here as a Brooklyn music snob who's as serious about ranking her failed romantic encounters as her all-time favorite albums. It's in our Top 5 most anticipated TV debuts of the spring, easily.
PREMIERE DATE: Friday, Feb. 14
ALEX TREBEK, JAMES HOLZHAUER, KEN JENNINGS, BRAD RUTTER
JEOPARDY! THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (ABC)
WHY IT EXCITES US: For any longtime Jeopardy! fan, this is basically the Super Bowl. In this multi-night event, the quiz show's three highest earners ever – Ken Jennings, Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer — will compete to become the ultimate Jeopardy! champion. The show's format remains the same, of course, but watching these trivia legends face off will be a thrill for any certified nerd.
PREMIERE DATE: Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 8/7c
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KATY KEENE (The CW)
WHY IT EXCITES US: A charming cast, led by Pretty Little Liars' Lucy Hale in the title role, makes Katy Keene a welcome addition to the Riverdale-verse; the fact that it's filmed in New York City is merely the icing on the cake. Oozing fun, fashion and ferocity, the drama scratches a very specific itch that isn't currently being addressed by any other show on The CW. Besides, it's about time Josie McCoy finally got her big break.
PREMIERE DATE: Thursday, Feb. 6 at 8/7c
LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE
LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE (Hulu)
WHY IT EXCITES US: The source material alone is reason enough to anticipate this show: Celeste Ng's 2017 bestseller is a rich, complex family drama full of compelling twists. But when you add powerhouses like Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington as the wildly different moms at the heart of this story, we have no choice but to put Little Fires on our must-watch list.
PREMIERE DATE: Wednesday, March 18
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LOCKE & KEY (Netflix)
WHY IT EXCITES US: For nearly a decade (!), TV has tried to bring the Joe Hill comic book series to life — with seemingly a third of Hollywood attached to it at one time or another. Finally, Netflix got it done, with Hill on board as co-creator and a cast that includes Connor Jessup (American Crime), Darby Stanchfield (Scandal) and Sherri Saum (The Fosters).
PREMIERE DATE: Friday, Feb. 7
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ONE DAY AT A TIME (Pop TV)
WHY IT EXCITES US: Because the miracle happened. We never thought we'd see the Alvarez family (or Schneider! Or Dr. Berkowitz!) again, but Pop swooped in and saved the former Netflix comedy as it was coming off its best season yet. We can't wait to see how Schneider juggles his relationship with Avery following his recent relapse (and subsequent recovery), and what's next for Elena and her "Syd-nificant other." It's also a new beginning for Penelope, who is now single and about to enter the next phase of her career as a nurse practitioner.
PREMIERE DATE: March 2020
Outlander Season 5 2020
OUTLANDER (Starz)
WHY IT EXCITES US: Because Claire and Jamie need a moment to catch their breath and establish a home of their own. Sure, Jamie's still got that pesky obligation to hunt down his outlaw godfather, but we're looking forward to watching the growth of Fraser's Ridge and its many lively inhabitants... except, of course, for a certain snake. (That last part will make sense by the end of the season.)
PREMIERE DATE: Sunday, Feb. 16 (time slot TBA)
NIKO GUARDADO, EMILY TOSTA
PARTY OF FIVE (Freeform)
WHY IT EXCITES US: There's something almost quaint and nostalgic about this reboot of the beloved Fox drama compared to the rest of Freeform's programming. Much like the original series, the new Party of Five – which follows the Acosta children after their parents are deported to Mexico – is a pull-on-your-heartstrings family affair that's heavy on emotional storytelling. The show would actually fit right in with Everwood on The WB of yesteryear.
PREMIERE DATE: Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 9/8c
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SCHITT'S CREEK (Pop TV)
WHY IT EXCITES US: The Rose family says goodbye next year, and we're already mourning their endearing egomania. The oddly charming comedy promises more antics in the final season as David and Patrick's wedding day sparks buzz, Stevie ponders her potential and Alexis finally reunites with Ted. But what we really want to know: Will Moira's Crowening flick ever see the light of day? We sure as Schitt hope so.
PREMIERE DATE: Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 9/8c
Star Trek: Picard
STAR TREK: PICARD (CBS All Access)
WHY IT EXCITES US: We know CBS All Access' continuation of Jean-Luc Picard's story isn't exactly a revival of The Next Generation. But with Patrick Stewart back in the captain's chair, and appearances by Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis and Brent Spiner, it's close enough to warm our Trekker hearts. Hell yeah, we're gonna engage!
PREMIERE DATE: Thursday, Jan. 23
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THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER (Disney+)
WHY IT EXCITES US: Will this series chronicle Sam Wilson's official transition into the role of Captain America? Whatever the case, the care with which the newbie streamer's first Star Wars project, The Mandalorian, obviously was handled gives us high hopes for its inaugural Marvel series. Throw in Sharon Carter and an overdue haircut for Bucky, and what's not to love?
PREMIERE DATE: Fall 2020
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THE RANCH (Netflix)
WHY IT EXCITES US: Because this guilty pleasure — which has morphed into an engrossing hybrid of sitcom and soap opera — left us on a pretty big cliffhanger ahead of its final half-season, which has a lot of loose ends to tie up. We're eager to find out who (presumably) shot and killed Nick. Once that's settled, we hope that Colt and Abby can find their way back to each other, and that Luke and Mary can overcome their respective demons. (And even if none of that happens, at least we get to spend another 10 episodes watching Sam Elliott growl at Ashton Kutcher.)
PREMIERE DATE: Friday, Jan. 24
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist - Season Pilot
ZOEY'S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST (NBC)
WHY IT EXCITES US: We've had a Crazy Ex-Girlfriend-shaped hole in our DVR ever since Rebecca Bunch jazz-squared out of our lives, so this quirky NBC comedy about a young woman who can hear other people's thoughts in song is literally music to our ears. And with a pitch-perfect cast, which includes Jane Levy (Suburgatory), Skylar Astin (Crazy Ex), Alex Newell (Glee) and Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls), it almost sounds too good to be true.
PREMIERE DATE: Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 10/9c
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DEVS (FX on Hulu)
WHY IT EXCITES US: Ex Machina scribe Alex Garland's thriller about a computer engineer (Ex Machina's Sonoya Mizuno) who grows suspicious about the bleeding-edge tech company for which she works immediately pulls you in with a thematically gripping and visually gorgeous pilot, and then doesn't let go. Nick Offerman (Fargo), Zach Grenier (The Good Wife), Alison Pill (The Newsroom) and Jin Ha (Jesus Christ Superstar Live) co-star.
PREMIERE DATE: March 2020
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THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR (Netflix)
WHY IT EXCITES US: The Haunting of Hill House managed to find that elusive balance of horror movie and family drama, resulting in a first season that both terrified and moved us. With creator Mike Flanagan and EP Trevor Macy back behind the camera, and several Hill House cast members returning for Season 2, we have high hopes for a scary-good trip to Bly Manor.
PREMIERE DATE: 2020