Winter TV Preview 2020: Which Shows to Chill Out With This Season

Credit: Scott McDermott/USA Network; Trae Patton/CBS; John Golden Britt/The CW; Danielle Levitt

Winter TV Preview 2020: Which Shows to Chill Out With This Season

Baby, it’s cold outside — but it’s nice and warm in front of the TV. The winter and early spring premiere dates have officially arrived and it’s time to clear the DVR. In addition to some favorites returning to TV, broadcast, cable and streaming services have launched dozens of new series to their slate for the new year. The below list includes a little bit of everything — including a few familiar faces, like The Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper, who was part of the original series for all 16 seasons. Now, he’ll be hosting the 17th season. “Now is the perfect time. We've been away from TV for almost four years and I feel like America needs this show more than ever. So many other shows have tried to do the weight loss experience and no one’s ever been able to really do it,” Harper, 54, told Us Weekly exclusively while on set of the new season. “What I'm really excited about and what's going to be so different is that we're really focusing on the stories of the contestants even more. It's not just about losing weight. It's the whole wellness experience and I love that. We have new trainers, new doctors and new nutritionists. I'm also doing a new segment when we are all getting together, having a group forum-type session where we all just vent, talk and share our experiences of what we've gone through and how we got to where we are now. I feel like that's gonna be so fresh and relatable to the audience.” Another familiar title is Party of Five — but the reboot of the 1994 series is an entirely new cast and premise. While created by the original writers, the new Freeform series focuses on a five siblings whose parents are suddenly deported to Mexico and they must find their way on their own. No word yet if any of the original cast will pop in for guest spots. Read the full winter preview below and pick up Us Weekly on newsstands now for even more. [podcast_block]

Credit: Scott McDermott/USA Network; Trae Patton/CBS; John Golden Britt/The CW; Danielle Levitt

Winter TV Preview 2020: Which Shows to Chill Out With This Season

Baby, it’s cold outside — but it’s nice and warm in front of the TV. The winter and early spring premiere dates have officially arrived and it’s time to clear the DVR. In addition to some favorites returning to TV, broadcast, cable and streaming services have launched dozens of new series to their slate for the new year. The below list includes a little bit of everything — including a few familiar faces, like The Biggest Loser trainer Bob Harper, who was part of the original series for all 16 seasons. Now, he’ll be hosting the 17th season. “Now is the perfect time. We've been away from TV for almost four years and I feel like America needs this show more than ever. So many other shows have tried to do the weight loss experience and no one’s ever been able to really do it,” Harper, 54, told Us Weekly exclusively while on set of the new season. “What I'm really excited about and what's going to be so different is that we're really focusing on the stories of the contestants even more. It's not just about losing weight. It's the whole wellness experience and I love that. We have new trainers, new doctors and new nutritionists. I'm also doing a new segment when we are all getting together, having a group forum-type session where we all just vent, talk and share our experiences of what we've gone through and how we got to where we are now. I feel like that's gonna be so fresh and relatable to the audience.” Another familiar title is Party of Five — but the reboot of the 1994 series is an entirely new cast and premise. While created by the original writers, the new Freeform series focuses on a five siblings whose parents are suddenly deported to Mexico and they must find their way on their own. No word yet if any of the original cast will pop in for guest spots. Read the full winter preview below and pick up Us Weekly on newsstands now for even more. [podcast_block]

Credit: MTV

Catfish

Former Miss Teen USA Kamie Crawford joins longtime host Nev Schulman to help people seeking the truth about their online love interests. But there’s a twist in the eighth season of the reality show: Concerned friends, family and other sources are the ones tipping off producers — without the knowledge of the couple involved. (MTV, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET)

Credit: Freeform/Nino Munoz

Party of Five

In the reimagining of the 1994 drama, helmed by the original creators, the Acosta kids must fend for themselves after their parents are deported to Mexico. Niko Guardado and Emily Tosta star. (Freeform, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET.)

Credit: Beth Dubber/Netflix

AJ & the Queen

In this comedy, down-on-her-luck drag queen Ruby Red (RuPaul) travels across the country from club to club. She discovers an unlikely sidekick in scrappy, newly orphaned 11-year-old AJ (Izzy G.), and the duo team up to create a message of love and acceptance that changes every person they meet. (Netflix, now streaming)

Credit: Saeed Adyani/Netflix

Grace & Frankie

When she’s not busy getting arrested at climate-change protests, icon Jane Fonda is back in the comedy hit alongside Lily Tomlin as BFFs who move in together after their husbands (Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen) reveal that they’re in love with each other. (Netflix, Wednesday, January 15)

Credit: Apple TV+

Little America

Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon (the husband-and-wife team behind The Big Sick) created this anthology series, based on Epic magazine’s collection of true stories. The series offers a timely look at the funny, romantic, heartfelt, inspiring and unexpected life of immigrants coming to America. (Apple TV+, Friday, January 17)

Credit: Sam Taylor/Netflix

Sex Education

Awkward school is back in session. The British teen dramedy returns for season 2 with late bloomer Otis (Asa Butterfield) forced to handle his newly discovered sexual urges and his relationship with Ola (Patricia Allison). Meanwhile, a chlamydia outbreak highlights the need for more sex ed, and Otis’ mother, sex therapist Jean (Gillian Anderson), enters a new relationship that changes everything at home. (Netflix, Friday, January 17)

Credit: Christopher Willard/Disney+

Diary of a Future President

The comedy is told via 12-year-old Elena’s narration as written in her diary and follows her daily life. Gina Rodriguez stars as the adult Elena, as she undertakes her presidential campaign in the future. (Disney+,  Friday, January 17)

Credit: FOX

9-1-1 Lonestar

Rob Lowe and Liv Tyler lead the first spinoff of 9-1-1. Lowe stars as Manhattan firefighter Owen, who moves to Austin to help rebuild a decimated firehouse. As the lone 9/11 survivor of his NYC squad, he has experience — but he’s harboring a secret that could change everything. (Fox, Sunday, January 19, at 10 p.m. ET.)

Credit: John P. Johnson/courtesy of HBO

Curb Your Enthusiasm

The hilarious hit, created by and starring Larry David, returns for a 10th season. The 10 episodes will include returning cast members Susie Essman, JB Smoove, Cheryl Hines and Jeff Garlin. Guest stars include Vince Vaughn, Laverne Cox, Isla Fisher, Jane Krakowski, Kaitlin Olson, Fred Armisen, Ted Danson, Richard Lewis and Richard Kind. (HBO, Sunday, January 19, at 10:30 p.m. ET)

Credit: Danielle Levitt

Awkwafina is Nora from Queens

Based on her own life, the new comedy follows writer and star Awkwafina as Nora, a young-adult navigating life in Flushing, Queens. (Comedy Central, Wednesday, January 22, at 10:30 p.m. ET)

Credit: Trae Patton/CBS

Star Trek: Picard

More Jean-Luc Picard? Make it so! Sir Patrick Stewart returns as CBS All Access boldly goes where many have gone before. The 10-episode season takes place 20 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis. (CBS All Access, Thursday, January 23)

Credit: Freeform/Ed Herrera

The Bold Type

When the female-focused series returns for season 4, the stakes are higher than ever. Power squad Jane (Katie Stevens), Kat (Aisha Dee) and Sutton (Meghann Fahy) are determined to do whatever it takes to keep Scarlet magazine — and its integrity — intact. Meanwhile, changes behind-the-scenes leave them all, including boss Jacqueline (Melora Hardin), at a crossroads. Their personal lives are no less challenging. Jane struggles with her BRCA1 status, the careers of Sutton and Richard (Sam Page) force them to make a decision about their relationship and Kat tries to cope with past regrets. (Freeform, Thursday, January 23, at 9 p.m. ET)

Credit: Allyson Riggs/Hulu

Shrill

Aidy Bryant’s Annie starts season 2 of the series on a high. No longer a doormat, Annie’s happy in her relationship with Ryan (Luka Jones), but the excitement doesn’t last long: She may be more confident, but she’s still struggling to figure out what she really wants. Plus, her seemingly perfect relationship hits a few bumps when she realizes her guy’s career ambitions are nowhere near hers. The series, based on Lindy West’s nonfiction book of the same name, is produced by Bryant, Lorne Michaels and Elizabeth Banks. (Hulu, Friday, January 24)

Credit: Richie Knapp/USA Network

Biggest Loser

Three years after the show’s last season, it’s back — this time on USA with trainer Bob Harper as host! The new version helps contestants deal with the underlying issues that made them unhealthy to begin with. (USA, Tuesday, January 28, at 9 p.m. ET.)

Credit: Scott McDermott/USA Network

Briarpatch

Those mourning the series finale of the twisty, turny Mr. Robot can dry their tears: the network’s pulpy new anthology series, based on Ross Thomas’ 1984 novel and helmed by Robot creator Sam Esmail, is here to fill the void. Rosario Dawson stars as Allegra Dill, an investigator who returns home to Texas to find her sister’s killer — but ends up in an even bigger fight to save the corrupt border town. Brian Geraghty (Boardwalk Empire) and Kim Dickens (Fear the Walking Dead) also star, along with Hollywood icons Ed Asner and Alan Cumming. (USA, Thursday, February 6, at 10 p.m. ET)

Credit: Phillip Caruso/Hulu

High Fidelity

Based on Nick Hornby’s 1995 novel and the 2000 movie of the same name, the limited series follows Rob (Zoë Kravitz), a Brooklyn record store owner who revisits past relationships through music. (Hulu, Friday, February 14)

Credit: James Dittiger/NBC

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

Jane Levy leads the new musical dramedy as Zoey, a computer coder who begins to hear others’ innermost wants and desires through music. Literally, her coworkers and her family members are breaking into musical numbers that only she can see. She quickly notices this may be as much of a blessing as it is a curse. Skylar Astin, Peter Gallagher and Mary Steenburgen costar.

Credit: Prime Video

Hunters

The new series, executive produced by Jordan Peele and starring Al Pacino and Logan Lerman, follows a diverse band of Nazi hunters living in New York City in 1977. The eclectic team sets out on a quest to bring the Nazis to justice. (Amazon, Friday, February 21)

Credit: John Golden Britt/The CW

Roswell, New Mexico

After Max’s death, no one is in a good place. “[Michael] is back to his old ways. A lot of booze, a lot of fights,” Michael Vlamis, the actor who plays the alien drifter, tells Us about the hit’s second season. As for his on-off relationship with Alex (Tyler Blackburn), they’re “not great,” but Vlamis isn’t giving up: “They have a deep love that’s not going anywhere, whether they’re together or not.” Michael’s also involved with Maria (Heather Hemmens), and things are “a little easier” with her, he reveals: “It’s a new love. It’s fresh and exciting.” (The CW, Monday, March 16 at 9 p.m. ET.)

Credit: Erin Simkin/Hulu

Little Fires Everywhere

The star-studded series is based on Celeste Ng’s 2017 bestseller of the same name and follows the seemingly perfect Richardson family, led by Reese Witherspoon and Joshua Jackson's Elena and Bill, whose lives change when a new enigmatic mother (played by Kerry Washington) comes to town. (Hulu, Wednesday, March 18)