This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Television networks often save their more interesting ideas for midseason, and this year is no exception.
The CW is giving us "Riverdale" — a murder mystery featuring characters from the Archie comics.
Over on FX, Tom Hardy stars in and produced "Taboo," an eight-part conspiracy thriller set in the 19th century. HBO will bring us Jude Law as "The Young Pope."
PBS will bring us romance and intrigue in the British royal family — circa 1837 — in "Victoria."
The trend of rebooting old movies and TV shows continues. Fox is bringing back "24" (without Jack Bauer); CBS has a series based on the 2001 film "Training Day"; NBC has a series based on "Taken" (2008), "Taken 2" (2012) and "Taken 3" (2014); and Netflix is updating the 1975-84 sitcom "One Day at a Time."
In addition, NBC's dark drama "Emerald City" is a reboot of "The Wizard of Oz"; and "Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events," which was adapted as a movie in 2004, has now been adapted as a Netflix series.
Shows about people with superpowers continue to proliferate: Freeform is adding "Beyond"; FX is adding "Legion"; and NBC has the comedy "Powerless," set in the world of DC Comics.
We're also getting the second tech billionaire/do-gooder show of the season. Joining CBS' "Pure Genius" (billionaire builds high-tech hospital) is Fox's "APB," (billionaire takes over a police precinct).
And there are lots of returning shows.
After it was canceled by ABC, CMT and Hulu revived "Nashville," but with major changes. There are new showrunners — Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz ("thirtysomething") — while Will Chase (who played Luke Wheeler) and Aubrey Peeples (Layla Grant) are gone, and Connie Britton (Rayna James) will go after appearing in 10 episodes.
And "Celebrity Apprentice" replaced former host Donald Trump with another high-profile guy who got caught cheating on his wife and has been accused by multiple women of groping. At least the new host, Arnold Schwarzenegger — a native of Austria — can't run for president.
Here's a look at TV's winter premieres and dates of returning shows.
Sunday
"Ransom" (7 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) • Crime drama — a co-production with France's TF1 and Canada's Global — about a world-renowned crisis and hostage negotiator whose team works to resolve the most difficult kidnap and ransom cases. It's OK. (Moves to Saturdays at 7 p.m. on Jan. 7.)
"The Mick" (7 p.m. Fox/Ch. 13) • Kaitlin Olson ("It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia") stars as Mickey, a hustler become guardian to her bratty, spoiled nieces and nephew. It tries hard, but it's not real funny. (Moves to Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. On Jan. 3.)
Returning shows • "Sherlock" (8 p.m., PBS/Ch. 7); "To Tell the Truth" (8 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4); "Worst Cooks in America" (10 p.m., Food Channel)
Monday
"Beyond" (10 p.m., Freeform) • From the creator of "Heroes," this drama is about a man who wakes up after 12 years in a coma to find he has special powers. (Episodes will air weekly on Freeform; all 10 begin streaming on Hula on Jan. 2.)
Returning shows • "The Bachelor" (7 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4); "The New Celebrity Apprentice" (7 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5); "Paradise Run" (8 p.m., Nickelodeon); "Shadowhunters" (9 p.m., Freeform)
Tuesday
"The Wall" (7 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5) • Contestants can win millions by answering questions and dropping balls in what looks like a giant Plinko game. Chris Hardwick is the smarmy host.
"Kiss Bang Love" (11 p.m., FYI) • In this dating/reality show, contestants make a match by kissing people while blindfolded.
Returning shows • "Bones" (8 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13); "The Haves and Have Nots" (8 p.m., OWN); "Seven Year Switch" (9 p.m., FYI); "Killing Fields" (11 p.m., Discovery)
Wednesday
"Star" (8 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13) • The show actually premiered Dec. 14, but this marks the regular time-slot debut of the story of three young women striving for music stardom. From the creator of "Empire" — and the first three episodes aren't great.
Returning shows • "Blue Collar Millionaires" (8 p.m., CNBC); "Match Game" (9 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4); "Alaskan Bush People" (10 p.m., Discovery); "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" (11 p.m., FXX); "Too Close to Home" (11 p.m., TLC); "Man Seeking Woman" (11:30 p.m., FXX)
Thursday
"Ghosts in the Hood" (9 p.m., WE) • "Reality show" (and I use that term loosely) about a group of ghost hunters in Los Angeles.
Returning shows • "Hell's Kitchen" (7 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): "Nashville" (7 p.m., CMT); "Bringing Up Bates" (7 p.m., UP); "Portlandia" (8 p.m., IFC); "L.A. Hair" (10 p.m., WE)
Friday
"One Day at a Time" (streaming, Netflix) • Legendary TV producer Norman Lear, now 94, revives this 1975-84 sitcom about a divorced mom and her daughters — only now it's a Cuban-American family. Justine Machado stars as an Afghanistan war vet who is the single mother of two; Rita Moreno plays her mother.
"Emerald City" (8 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5) • The reimagined "Wizard of Oz" features a 20-year-old Dorothy who is carried by a tornado to a mystical land where an all-powerful ruler (Vincent D'Onofrio) has outlawed magic — but the witches aren't happy and there's a looming disaster brought on by a mystical force. It's interesting — sort of "Game of Thrones"-ish.
Returning shows • "Grimm" (7 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5); "Sleepy Hollow" (8 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13)
Saturday
"Dragon Ball Super" (9 p.m., Cartoon Network) • First new storyline in this animated series in 18 years.
"The Guardians" (11 p.m., Animal Planet) • Reality show about the Guardians of Rescue — volunteers who vow to help any animal in need. Anywhere. Anytime.
Sunday, Jan. 8
"Everest Rescue" (10 p.m., Discovery) • Reality show about helicopter pilots who risk their lives to save stranded climbers.
"The Real Mad Men of Advertising" (7 p.m., Smithsonian) • Documentary series about pioneers of advertising.
Monday, Jan. 9
Returning show • "Artful Detective" (8 p.m., Ovation)
Tuesday, Jan. 10
"Taboo" (11 p.m., FX) • Tom Hardy stars as in the British eight-episode conspiracy thriller miniseries as a 19th-century adventurer out for revenge after his father is killed. Jonathan Pryce, Franka Potente and Michael Kelly also star.
Returning show • "Being Mary Jane" (10 p.m., BET)
Wednesday, Jan. 11
"Jeff & Some Aliens" (11:30 p.m, Comedy Central) • Animated comedy about a man who is the subject of testing by aliens from another planet.
Returning shows • "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce" (11 p.m., Bravo); "Schitt's Creek" (9 p.m., Pop); "Workaholics" (11 p.m., Comedy Central)
Thursday, Jan. 12
"My Kitchen Rules" (8 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13) • Celebrities (and their family members) compete to throw the best dinner parties.
"Caraoke Showdown" (8:30 p.m., Spike) • New game show that involves singing in a car and sounds suspiciously similar to James Corden's "Carpool Karaoke."
"Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian" (9 p.m., E!) • Reality show in which Kardashian and fitness/nutrition experts perform makeovers on "regular" people.
'The Wheel" (11 p.m., Discovery) • Survival reality series in which competitors attempt to survive inhospitable landscapes around the world.
Returning show • "Growing Up McGhee" (7:30 p.m., UP); "Colony" (11 p.m., USA)
Friday, Jan. 13
"Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" (streaming, Netflix) • Author Daniel Handler adapted his books for this series. The cast includes Joan Cusack, Neil Patrick Harris, Aasif Mandvi and Patrick Warburton; Barry Sonnenfeld directed.
"Sneaky Pete" (streaming, Amazon) • Bryan Cranston produces and guest stars in this comedy/drama about a con man (Ginovanni Ribisi) who assumes his cellmate's identity when he's released from prison.
Returning show • "Bring It" (7 p.m, Lifetime); "The Rap Game" (8 p.m., Lifetime)
Sunday, Jan. 15
"Victoria" (8 p.m., PBS) • This new "Masterpiece" series introduces us to young Queen Victoria (Jenna Coleman, "Doctor Who") — just 18 when she ascended to the throne — and covers the first three years of her reign. This leaves us 60 more years for future seasons.
"The Young Pope" (10 p.m., HBO) • This 10-part drama follows the first American pope — Lenny Belardo, aka Pius XIII (Jude Law) — as he navigates the politics of the Vatican. The cast includes Diane Keaton, James Cromwell and Scott Shepherd.
"First Family of Hip-Hop" (10 p.m., Bravo) • Reality show about the family behind Sugar Hill Records.
Returning show • "Homeland" (10 p.m., Showtime)
Monday, Jan. 16
"Summer House" (11 p.m., Bravo) • Reality show about rich young adults who summer in the Hamptons. Ugh.
Returning shows • "The Story of God with Morgan Freeman" (7 p.m., Nat Geo); "Fast N' Loud" (10 p.m., Discovery); "Diesel Brothers" (11 p.m., Discovery)
Tuesday, Jan. 17
"Throwing Shade" (11:30 p.m., TV Land) • This comedy/talk show — adapted from the podcast of the same name — features hosts Erin Gibson and Bryan Safi "throwing shade" on current issues, pop culture and politics.
Returning show • "Friday Night Tykes" (7 p.m., Esquire); "Teachers" (11 p.m., TV Land)
Wednesday, Jan. 18
"Six" (11 p.m., History) • Action/drama about the exploits of the Navy's SEAL Team Six. Walton Goggins stars.
Thursday, Jan. 19
Returning shows • "Scandal" (8 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4); "Baskets" (11 p.m., FX)
Friday, Jan. 20
"Frontier" (streaming, Netflix) • Jason Momoa ("Game of Thrones") stars in this drama series about the North American fur trade in the 18th century. Co-produced by Discovery Channel-Canada.
Returning show • "Voltron Legendary Defender" (streaming, Netflix)
Sunday, Jan. 22
"Hunted" (approx. 8 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2 — after the AFC title game) • In this reality/competition series, contestants try to evade an elite team of investigators pursuing them. (Airs Wednesdays at 7 p.m. beginning Jan. 25.)
"Secrets of Six Wives" (9 p.m, PBC/Ch. 7) • Three-episode documentary about the lives of Henry VIII's wives.
Returning show • "Mercy Street" (7 p.m., PBS/Ch. 7)
Tuesday, Jan. 24
"The New Edition Story" (7 p.m., BET) • Three-part, six-hour miniseries about the R&B group. (Continues Wednesday, Jan. 25; concludes Thursday, Jan. 26.)
Returning shows • "Face Off" (10 p.m., Syfy); "Outsiders" (10 p.m, WGN America)
Wednesday, Jan. 25
Returning shows • "The Path" (streaming, Hulu); "The Magicians" (10 p.m., Syfy); "Suits" (11 p.m., USA)
Thursday, Jan. 26
"Riverdale" (8 p.m., CW/Ch. 30) • Characters from the Archie comics — Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Ms. Grundy, even Josie and the Pussycats — are reimagined in a show that's being described as a teen "Twin Peaks." The town of Riverdale is rocked by the murder of a high-school boy, and there's angst galore as the mystery unfolds.
Friday, Jan. 27
"Z: The Beginning of Everything" (streaming, Amazon) • Fictionalized dram series of the life of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, the wife of author F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Sunday, Jan. 29
Returning show • "Black Sails" (9 p.m., Starz)
Tuesday, Jan. 31
"The Quad" (TBA, BET) • Drama about the new president of Georgia A&M, her administration and the entering freshman class.
Returning show • "The Fosters" (9 p.m., Freeform); "Switched at Birth" (10 p.m., Freeform); "Hack My Life" (11 p.m, TruTV)
Wednesday, Feb. 1
"Madiba" (7 p.m., BET) • Laurence Fishburne stars as Nelson Mandela in this three-part, six-hour miniseries.
Returning shows • "The 100" (8 p.m. CW/Ch. 30); "The Expanse" (11 p.m., Syfy); "The Carbonaro Effect" (11 p.m., TruTV)
Thursday, Feb. 2
"Superior Donuts" (7:30 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) • Sitcom about an older Jewish doughnut shop owner (Judd Hirsch) and his new employee — a young African American (Jermaine Fowler) who shakes things up. (Moves to Mondays at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 6.)
"Powerless" (7:30 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5) • This DC Comics comedy centers on a young woman who works at a subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises that specializes in products that make defenseless bystanders feel a little safer in a world populated by superheroes and super villains.
"Training Day" (9 p.m, CBS/Ch. 2) • Crime thriller starring Bill Paxton and Justin Cornwell that begins 15 years after the events of the feature film. A young, idealistic police officer partners with a morally ambiguous veteran detective.
Friday, Feb. 3
"Santa Clarita Diet" (streaming, Netflix) • Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant star in this dark comedy as husband-and-wife Realtors Joel and Sheila.
Sunday, Feb. 5
"24: Legacy" (Approx. 8 p.m. — after the Super Bowl — Fox/Ch. 13) • Jack Bauer is nowhere to be seen in this reboot. Corey Hawkins stars as a troubled Army vet caught up in trying to prevent a terrorist attack. (Airs Mondays at 7 p.m. beginning Feb. 6.)
Monday, Feb. 6
"APB" (8 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13) • A Chicago tech billionaire (Justin Kirk) takes over the 13th police precinct and uses his own money to give the cops the latest tech to battle crime in this absurd series.
Tuesday, Feb. 7
"Detroiters" (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central) • Sam Richardson and Tim Robinson write and star in this comedy about ad men who do commercials for local businesses.
"Imposters" (Bravo) • In this drama/comedy, three victims of a beautiful con artist (Inbar Lavi) team up to take her down. Keep an eye out for a guest appearance by Uma Thurman.
Wednesday, Feb. 8
"Legion" (11 p.m., FX) • Based on the Marvel Comics, it's about a thirtysomething man with severe mental issues who, it turns out, is the son of Professor Charles Xavier and Gabrielle Haller. He has multiple personalities, and each one controls one of his multiple superpowers.
Thursday, Feb. 9
Returning show • "MasterChef Junior" (7 p.m. Fox/Ch. 13); "Impractical Jokers" (11 p.m., TruTV)
Friday, Feb. 10
"Animal Nation with Anthony Anderson" (8 p.m., Animal Planet) • Comedy/variety/funny videos show.
Returning show • "Reign" (8 p.m., CW/Ch. 30)
Sunday, Feb. 12
Returning shows • "The Missing" (10 p.m., Starz); "Girls" (11 p.m., HBO); "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" (11:30 p.m., HBO)
Monday, Feb. 13
Returning show • "Humans" (11 p.m., AMC)
Tuesday, Feb. 14
Returning show • "The Mindy Project" (streaming, Hulu)
Wednesday, Feb. 15
"Doubt" (9 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) • Katherine Heigl stars as an attorney who falls for her charismatic client, a surgeon accused of murdering his girlfriend. About the best thing you can say about Heigl's performance is that she's more believable as a lawyer than she was as a CIA operative in "State of Affairs."
Sunday, Feb. 19
"The Good Fight" (7 p.m, CBS/Ch. 2) • This spinoff of "The Good Wife" features a couple of returning actors (Christine Baranski, Cush Jumbo) and picks up a year after the events of its mother series. After the premiere, the show moves online to CBS All Access, which will stream one new episode a week beginning Sundays.
"Big Little Lies" (10 p.m., HBO) • This seven-part comedy/drama series is about three mothers of first-graders whose apparently perfect lives unravel to the point of murder. The cast includes Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Alexander Skarsgård, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern and Adam Scott.
"Crashing" (11:30 p.m., HBO) • Comedian Peter Holmes stars as a standup comedian who has to re-evaluate his life when he learns his wife has been cheating on him. Judd Apatow is among the producers.
Returning show • "Billions" (11 p.m., Showtime)
Tuesday, Feb. 21
Returning show • "The Detour" (8 p.m., TBS)
Wednesday, Feb. 22
Returning show • "Major Crimes" (7 p.m., TNT)
Thursday, Feb. 23
"Blacklist: Redemption" (9 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5) • In this spinoff, a team of ex-criminals comes together to fight crime and redeem themselves. Ryan Eggold stars as former "Blacklist" regular Tom Keen; the cast includes Famke Janssen, Edi Gathegi, Tawny Cypress and Adrian Martinez.
"Sun Records" (8 p.m., CMT) • Eight-part miniseries about music producer Sam Phillips (Chad Michael Murray) and the acts he produced, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Fats Domino and more.
Friday, Feb. 24
"Ultimate Beastmaster" (streaming, Netflix) • International strength competition.
Returning show • "Vice" (11 p.m., HBO)
Monday, Feb. 27
"Taken" (9 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5) • This prequel to the film trilogy follows young Bryan Mills (Clive Standen taking over the Liam Neeson role) as a CIA operative. Jennifer Beals and Gaius Charles also star.
Returning show • "The Voice" (7 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5)
spierce@sltrib.com
Twitter: @ScottDPierce