With the guides of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes lasting for months, most of the 2023 fall television schedule is disrupted the creative and actors stood united on the picket lines. But this group applies agreements with studios — the WGA then reached in September and SAG-AFTRA ended its strike in November — shows are gearing up for their returns next year. And many series that had their primes pushed back are finally arriving.
After spending the last few months watching reruns and binging older series like “Suits,” we are more than ready to add multiple new series to our must-watch lists. January 2024 promises to deliver a highly-anticipated new show every week and more will follow in the next 2 months.
From superhero series to crime dramas, comedies and reality television shows, there’s something for every television fanatic arriving in the new year. But which ones are worth watching?
Take a look at TODAY.com’s top picks for the most anticipated shows of 2024, and premiere dates, during.
«echo»
Premiere date: Jan. 9, 2024 on Disney+ and Hulu
Disney+ will soon add another show to its rowing list of Marvel Studios series with “Echo.” The miniseries are much darker than past MCU shows and received a TV-MA rating, warning viewers to prepare for bloody fights and intense scenes.
The trailer enjoys the test of the fans who have expected the beginnings with Vincent d’Onofrio’s character, a crime lord called Kingpin, brutally attacking a man in anley. The rest of the clip shows focus on Maya Lopez, also called Echo, played by Alaqua Cox. Echo, who was introduced to «Hawkey» and is deaf, is adopted by Kingpin and raised to be a violent killer. Now an adult, Echo wants to confront her past and reconnect with her biological family.
«Criminal Record»
Premiere date: Jan. 12, 2024 on Apple TV+
In this London-based crime drama, Peter Capaldi (“Doctor Who”) and Cush Jumbo (“The Good Fight”) play 2 detectives with different definitions of justice and the truth. One day, Jumbo’s character, Detective Sergeant June Lenker, receives an anonymous phone call about an old murder case. The street shared details that do not kill the confession Capaldi’s character, Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Hegarty, heart when he worked the case years prior. As June digs deeper and tries to discover the truth about the murder, Daniel cautions her to leave it alone. Why do you refuse to trust him and forget about the case, the two become enemies.
«True Detective: Night Country»
Premiere date: Jan. 14, 2024 on HBO
After a five-year break, the anthology crime drama is returning with Jodie Foster and Kali Reis starring as the leading detectives in the case. Foster and Reis play detectives Liz Danvers and Evangeline Navarro who work in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska. The two — who were on good terms before a mysterious incident six years ago fractured their relationship — is assigned a case about eight men who disappeared from a research station. They were later found “frozen solid,” Liz says in the trailer, and he seems the case is connected to the rift between Liz and Evangeline. Based on the trailer, «Night Country» will also introduce some psychological horror elements to the story.
«Death and Other Details»
Premiere date: Jan. 16, 2024 on Hulu
Mandy Patinkin leads this murder mystery series as Rufus Cotesworth, «the world’s greatest detective,» according to the show’s official synopsis. Rufus is aboard a luxurious Mediterranean cruise when one of the travelers is murdered. Imogene Scott (Violett Beane), one of the corridors in the ship, immediately becomes the prime suspect. Although she has a strained relationship with Rufus, she must team up with him if she wants to clear her name. Meanwhile, Rufus needs to use his detective tears to figure out that the massive ship is a killer. Lauren Patten, Rahul Kohli, Angela Zhou, Hugo Diego Garcia, Pardis Saremi and Linda Emond star.
«The Bachelor»
Premiere date: Jan. 22, 2024 where ABC
Joey Graziadei is a teaching tennis pro looking for love. After getting heartbroken in Charity Lawson’s season of “The Bachelorette,” Joey is back and ready to find his soulmate. In a voiceover for Season 28 of “The Bachelor,” host Jesse Palmer promises that Joey’s journey will be “the most romantic season in ‘Bachelor’ history.” There will also be plenty of drama, of course. In one part of the trailer, a woman confronts another contestant and says, “You need to grow up, b—-!” However, the most dramatic moment is saved for the final few seconds. The clip shows Joey standing alone and sobbing on proposal day. «What happens in the end is unprecedented, shocking first in ‘Bachelor’ history,» Palmer teases. Based on Joey’s tears, this could be the best «Bachelor» season in years.
«Feud: Capote vs. The Swans»
Premiere date: Jan. 31, 2024 where FX
Following the release of Ryan Murphy’s final season “Feud: Bette and Joan” in 2017, the anthology series is finally returning with a season called “Capote vs. The Swans.” This season stars acclaimed actors Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny, Calista Flockhart, Demi Moore and Molly Ringwald. «Hood vs. The Swans” — which is based on the book “Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, and Swan Song for an Era” by Laurence Leamer — tells the story of the fallout between Truman Capote and multiple New York socialites after he wrote personal details about their lives.
«Mr. & Mrs. Smith»
Premiere date: Feb. 2, 2024 on Amazon Prime Video
Donald Glover and Maya Erskine star in this reimagining of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s 2005 action comedy of the same name. Like the original, Glover and Erskine play married couple John and Jane Smith. However, according to Deadline, John and Jane are arranged marriage. The two must navigate their new relationship while also working as spies for the secret agency. Glover co-created the series and served as executive producer, as well. Variety announced that Paul Dano, Michaela Coel, Alexander Skarsgård, Sarah Paulson, Ron Perlman and other hviezds will have guest roles throughout the season.
«Tracker»
Premiere date: Feb. 11, 2024 on CBS
«Tracker» has landed the coveted spot as only series to premiere after Super Bowl LVIII. This drama action marks Justin Hartley’s first television role since “This Is Us” aired its series finale in May 2022. CBS has shared few details about the show in progress and has only released a couple mini teasers. In the clip, Hartley’s character, Colter Shaw, thinks that he encounters someone that needs his help. In the show’s official synopsis, Colter is described as a «lone-wolf survivalist» who travels around the US as a «reward seeker» for crimes private citizens and authorities need help solving.
«Avatar: The Last Airbender»
Premiere date: Feb. 22, 2024 on Netflix
More than 20 years after the animated series of the same kind debuted in 2005, Netflix is bringing the adaptation adapted to «Avatar: The Last Airbender». Hoping to be more successful than M. Night Shyamalan’s widely panned depiction in 2010, this version introduces Aang, played by Gordon Cormier, a 12-year-old boy who has frozen in ice for a hundred years. In his absence, all the other airbenders have been killed and war has begun. Aang but team up with Katara (Kiawentiio) and Sokka (Ian Ousley) to restore peace in the world.
“Deal or No Deal Island”
Premiere date: Feb. 26, 2024 on NBC
NBC is launching a spinoff of another 2000s game show hosted by Howie Mandel and adding som «Survivor» elements. Mandel helped announce the new series in September with a cryptic trailer. In “Deal or No Deal Island,” hosted by Joe Manganiello, 13 contestants had to work on an unknown, private island. In the clip, Mandel said viewers should expect «bigger money» and «harrowing challenges.» According to Entertainment Weekly, players will have to find briefcases filled with different amounts of money hidden around the island. They will also battle in immunity challenges and the last player remaining will win a huge cash prize.
«Elsbeth»
Premiere date: Feb. 29, 2024 on CBS
«The Good Wife» and «The Good Fight» fans are familiar with Carrie Preston’s scene-stealing character Elsbeth Tascioni, who has finally made series dedicated to the unique skills and idiosyncrasies. Elsbeth, who was then heard in «The Good Fight» working as an attorney in Chicago, has relocated to New York City in this new show. “Elsbeth,” then stars Wendell Pierce in Captain CW Wagner, follows the eccentric attorney in his work with the NYPD as an “outside observer.” Elsbeth uses her special illustrations to light up the crime scenario that force enforcement might have missed. Use the figures in the details about crime and motivation.
«Fallout»
Premiere date: April 12, 2024 on Amazon Prime Video
Based on the popular video game franchise of the same name, «Fallout» is a post-apocalyptic drama that imagines a world after a nuclear war. Two hundred years after the planet was destroyed, Lucy, played by Ella Purnell, is one of many «Vault Dwellers» who live in underground society. But Lucy decides to read the bunker and discover what life is like above the surface. Kyle MacLachlan (“Twin Peaks”) portrays Lucy’s father, Hank, and Walton Goggins stars as the disfigured gunslinger known as The Ghoul.
