The new year has officially begun and although we are eagerly waiting for our favorite shows to return, there are a bunch of new shows premiering. So give yourself a break and give one or more of these new shows a chance. You might even discover a new favorite.
Here are 9 new shows to watch in 2016:
1. "Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life" (Fox)
Premiered: Sunday, Jan. 3 at 8:30/7:30c
The single-camera comedy, according to creator Jay Lacopo, is a little bit Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and a little bit The Hangover. The show centers on the titular character, a charismatic 26-year-old, played by Jack Cutmore-Scott, who guides viewers through many of life’s messy and hilarious obstacles. Somewhat like an instructional YouTube video, he outlines the problems that the average young person will face and then provides advice on how to deal with the situation, or better yet, how to avoid that situation. With the company of his roommates and best friends, we experience the vicarious and carefree life of 20-somethings who don’t have much sense.
2. "The Shannara Chronicles" (MTV)
Premiered: Tuesday, Jan. 5 at 10/9c
MTV is taking a huge leap into fantasy, with this new show based on the best-selling Shannara series by Terry Brooks. Set thousands of years after the destruction of human civilization, you can expect elves, trolls, demons, threats of darkness taking over the kingdom and magical trees. With a Game of Thrones influence, the show is a cinematic experience you won’t want to miss.
And did I mention Austin Butler plays one of the main characters? Welcome back to TV, Austin Butler, we’ve missed you.
3. "Angel From Hell" (CBS)
Premiered: Thursday, Jan. 7 at 9:30/8:30c
Glee's Jane Lynch stars as Amy, an eclectic individual who claims to be the guardian angel of Allison, played by Maggie Lawson. Together, the duo forms an unlikely friendship, even though Allison thinks that Amy is just crazy.
4. "Shadowhunters" (Freeform, previously known as ABC Family)
Premieres: Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 9/8c
Based on the book series The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, the show follows the life of Clary Fray (Katherine McNamara), an 18-year-old girl who learns that she comes from a long line of Shadowhunters, aka human-angel hybrids who hunt demons and protect the innocent. After her mom is abducted by a demon, Clary joins a group of Shadowhunters to save her mother and along the way she discovers powers she never knew she had.
5. "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" (CW)
Premieres: Thursday, Jan. 21 at 8/7c
From the creators of Arrow is another superhero series based on characters from the DC Comics. The show stars Doctor Who’s Arthur Darvill as time-traveler Rip Hunter, who assembles a group of heroes and villains from both Arrow and The Flash, in an attempt to prevent the immortal Vandal Savage from destroying the world and time itself. For fans of Arrow and The Flash, this show is a must-see.
6. "Lucifer" (Fox)
Premieres: Monday, Jan. 25 at 9/8c
Loosely based on the comic book character introduced in DC Comics’ The Sandman and its spin-off comic book series Lucifer, written by Mike Carey, the series stars Tom Ellis as the charismatic Lord of Hell. He gets bored of his life and escapes to Los Angeles, where he becomes a consultant for the LAPD and runs his own nightclub. In the meantime, he uses his powers to expose sinners in public. How nice of him.
7. "Recovery Road" (Freeform)
Premieres: Monday, Jan. 25 at 9/8c
Based on the 2011 young adult novel of the same name by Blake Nelson, this new drama series follows the life of Maddie, a teenager and former party girl, recovering from addiction in a sober living facility.
8. "The Magicians" (Syfy)
Premieres: Monday, Jan. 25 at 9/8c
It’s the adult take on Harry Potter you never thought you needed.
The anticipated Syfy series, based on the best-selling novels by Lev Grossman, follows Quentin Coldwater, a gifted college student who enrolls in a secret magical university, Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, in upstate New York. He soon discovers the magical land he yearned to explore as a child is, in fact, very real. But this isn’t about magic tricks like pulling a rabbit out of a hat, expect to see real spells that could pose a danger to mankind.
9. "Fuller House" (Netflix)
Premieres: Friday, Feb. 26
For those of you who have been watching Full House reruns and have been wishing for more, your wishes have been answered! Netflix has made a sequel to Full House, which recreates the premise of the original show. In this time jump, DJ (Candace Cameron-Bure) asks her sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and best friend Kimmy Gibler (Andrea Barber) to move in and help her raise her three sons in the wake of her husband's death.
But don’t worry! You’ll see most of the original cast, including John Stamos, Bob Saget, Dave Coulier and Lori Loughlin, making appearances throughout the first season.
Time to set your DVR! There are too many shows to watch this month, and it seems like the night of the 25th will be quite the dilemma. February is still very far away but we'll have to sit patiently for Fuller House to arrive.
I hope you learned a lot and that you take a chance on at least one of these 9 new shows!
