In this age of “Peak TV,” there are more good shows than there is time to watch them. So maybe this isn’t good news ... but there are more coming our way.
Here are 20 shows worth checking out in the first month of 2022. At this point, I can’t guarantee they’ll all pan out, but each of them is intriguing.
Saturday, Jan. 1
“Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” (HBO Max) • Lots of cast members get together to talk about their experiences making the six “Harry Potter” movies. If it’s half as much fun as the “Friends” reunion, it’ll be worth watching.
Sunday, Jan. 2
“Around the World in 80 Days” (7 p.m., PBS/Ch. 7) • David Tennant stars as Phileas Fogg in this adaptation of Jules Verne’s 1872 novel. It’s a “Masterpiece” presentation.
(Fox) Brian Michael Smith as Paul Strickland, Rafael Silva as Carlos Reyes, Natacha Karam as Marjan Marwani, Rob Lowe as Owen Strand, Gina Torres as Tommy Vega, Ronen Rubenstein as T.K. Strand, Julian Works as Mateo Chavez, Jim Parrack as Judd Ryder and Sierra McClain as Grace Ryder in "9-1-1: Lone Star."
Sunday, Jan. 3
“9-1-1: Lone Star” (7 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13) • I won’t tell you this is a great TV series, but it’s fun to watch. And it’s been better than the original “9-1-1″ of late.
Tuesday, Jan. 4
“American Auto” (7 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5) • “Superstore” is over but the creator/producer of that fine comedy is back with another workplace comedy — this one is set inside the automotive industry. The cast includes Ana Gasteyer and Jon Barinholtz, and it’s funny stuff.
“Abbott Elementary” (8 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4) • Quinta Brunson (“A Black Lady Sketch Show”) stars as a relatively new teacher in a Philadelphia school in this surprisingly funny new show. ABC previewed this new comedy in December — this is its regular time slot.
(Prashant Gupta/ABC) Quinta Brunson stars in "Abbott Elementary."
“This Is Us” (8 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5) • The sixth and final season begins.
“Black-ish” (8:30 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4) • The eighth and final season begins.
Wednesday, Jan. 5
“The Amazing Race” (7 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) • After a long layoff caused by COVID-19, one of TV’s best reality/competition shows returns for its 33rd season.
“Catfish: The TV Show” (10 p.m., MTV) • This always engaging reality show returns with new episodes.
(Ramona Diaconescu/CBS) Jason Isaacs as Dr. Rob Griffith and Sophia Bush as Dr. Sam Griffith in "Good Sam."
“Good Sam” (9 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) • No, we don’t need another medical drama. But this one has Sophia Bush (“One Tree Hill,” “Love, Victor”) in the lead role, and she’s a delight.
Thursday, Jan. 6
“Women of the Movement” (7 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4) • The story of the murder of Emmett Till in 1955 Mississippi, and what happened afterward.
Sunday, Jan 9
“All Creatures Great and Small” (8 p.m., PBS/Ch. 7) • Season 2 begins.
(Mark Rogers/Peacock) Josh Gad as Gary and Isla Fisher as Mary in "Wolf Like Me."
Thursday, Jan. 13
“Wolf Like Me” (Peacock) • A widower (Josh Gad) who’s struggling to raise his daughter gets involved with a woman (Isla Fisher) who has a secret. Nothing on Peacock has been worth getting particularly excited about, but this could be fun. And this is only six episodes.
Tuesday, Jan. 18
“How I Met Your Father” (Hulu) • I loved the beginning and hated the end of “How I Met Your Father.” Hillary Duff stars in this sort-of sequel as a woman telling her kids in 2045 how she met their father in 2022. The showrunners are not the same showrunners who ran “How I Met Your Mother,” which is probably a good thing.
Thursday, Jan. 20
“True Story with Ed and Randall” (Peacock) • Ed Helms and Randall Park talk to everyday Americans to learn true stories about their lives — which Helms and Parks then act out with guest stars, including Tichina Arnold, Terry Bradshaw, Terry Crews, Maz Jobrani, Tawny Newsome, Rob Riggle and Mindy Sterling.
Friday, Jan. 21
“As We See It” (Amazon) • I have very high hopes for this “coming-of-age dramedy” about three twentysomethings on the autism spectrum, because Jason Katims (“Parenthood,” “Friday Night Lights”) is the showrunner.
“Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock” (Apple TV+) • Sequel to the 1983-87 Muppet series.
(Alison Cohen Rosa/HBO) Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski in "The Gilded Age."
Monday, Jan. 24
“The Gilded Age” (9 p.m. Jan. 24, HBO) • Speaking of series for which I have high hopes — this nine-episode series comes to us from “Downton Abbey” creator/writer Julian Fellowes. It’s set in 1882 New York City, where new money battles old money. And the enormous cast includes Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Carrie Coon, Nathan Lane, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy and Jeanne Tripplehorn.
Friday, Jan. 28
“The Afterparty” (Apple TV+) • Well, this sounds intriguing. It’s a comedy/mystery series about a murder at a high school reunion, and each episode is told from a different character’s perspective. The cast includes Ike Barinholtz, Dave Franco, Ilana Grazer, Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson and Ben Schwartz.
“The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window” (Netflix) • You can tell from the title that this one is a little off kilter. It’s a dark comedy about a woman (Kristin Bell) who’s convinced she saw a gruesome murder at the house across the street — but no one believes her.
