7 hot new TV shows to help you hibernate this winter

Posted January 06, 2018 6:00 am

By Hank Stuever The Washington Post

Donatella Versace (Penélope Cruz) takes control of her murdered brother's fashion empire in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.” Courtesy of FX

Let's face it: With so many TV channels and streaming services, hibernation has never been easier.

Here are some quick suggestions for new television shows that are worth checking out between now and the first signs of spring.

“The Chi” (Sunday, Jan. 7, at 9 p.m. on Showtime): Emmy winner Lena Waithe (“Master of None”) takes a nuanced approach to this drama about kids and young adults living on Chicago's crime-ridden South Side. There's a focus on two specific murders, sure, but what's more striking is how deftly Waithe and her actors create a strong sense of empathy for the characters' everyday lives. They are more than just bystanders; if one has to compare “The Chi” to other works in this genre, let's just say it's less “The Wire” and more “Treme.”

Cress Williams stars as the title character in The CW's "Black Lightning." Courtesy of The CW

“Black Lightning” (Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 8 p.m. on CW): Whatever happened to Black Lightning, the energy-controlling DC Comics superhero who first appeared in 1977? In this imaginative reboot, Black Lightning retired and, as Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams), became a much-admired high school principal. But with his city terrorized by a violent gang called the One Hundred, Jefferson starts to reconsider. Of course, there are consequences to superhero-ing while black. It's a thoughtful approach to the genre's usual tropes, and Williams excels as a conflicted good guy.

“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 9 p.m. on FX): Having ignited a nonfiction re-enactment craze with “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” Ryan Murphy and company return with this tale of the psychopathic serial killer (Andrew Cunanan, played by Darren Criss) who murdered Versace (Edward Ramirez) on the steps of the fashion mogul's Miami mansion in 1997. The first episode hits a hoped-for sweet spot between fact and sensation - especially when Donatella Versace (Penélope Cruz) arrives to take over her brother's empire.

J.K. Simmons plays dual roles in "Counterpart," debuting later this month on Starz. Courtesy of Starz

“Counterpart” (Sunday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. on Starz): Oscar winner J.K. Simmons gets dual roles in this dark mind-bender. In one dimension, Howard Silk is a longtime schmo who labors at a desk job in a Berlin-based U.N. intelligence office; but in another dimension, he's a ruthless agent who must cross over to this dimension to take care of some deadly business. Bullets fly, but it's more interesting to watch Simmons in scenes where Howards No. 1 and 2 realize how different - yet still alike - they are.

Netflix's series adaptation of Richard K. Morgan's 2002 cyberpunk novel "Altered Carbon" takes place in the future, where consciousness is digitized and transferrable. Courtesy of Netflix

“Altered Carbon” (Friday, Feb. 2, on Netflix): This series adaptation of Richard K. Morgan's 2002 cyberpunk novel certainly looks like a million bucks, based on a quick preview of the pilot episode. It's set in the 2400s, where consciousness is digitized and transferrable on vertabrae-like hard drives. Thus, an interstellar warrior (Will Yun Lee) is revived in a new body “sleeve” (“The Killing's” Joel Kinnaman) by a billionaire (James Purefoy) who wants him to solve a murder.

“The Looming Tower” (Wednesday, Feb. 28, on Hulu): Lawrence Wright's Pulitzer-winning book about the events that led up to the Sept. 11 attacks works as an instantly absorbing 10-episode miniseries (produced by “Going Clear's” Alex Gibney and “Capote's” Dan Futterman) that plays a little like a late-'90s “Homeland,” with an added, inexorable sense of dread about what's ahead. Jeff Daniels stars as FBI counterterrorism expert John O'Neill, and Tahar Rahim (“A Prophet) is terrific as agent Ali Soufan.

A high school English teacher (Josh Radnor) takes over the drama department in "Rise," also starring Rosie Perez as Tracey Wolfe. Courtesy of NBC

“Rise” (Tuesday, March 13, at 9 p.m. on NBC): Loosely based on journalist Michael Sokolove's book “Drama High,” this engaging series from Jason Katims (“Friday Night Lights”) takes some of “Glee's” exuberance and mixes it with a “This Is Us”-style feel. Josh Radnor stars as a high school English teacher who takes over the drama department with the unlikely goal of staging a musical that's more provocative than another production of “Grease.” (Answer? “Spring Awakening.”)

Returning shows

Here's a select list of premiere dates for some shows that are returning soon:

“Another Period” (Comedy Central) Tuesday, Jan. 23

“Ash vs. Evil Dead” (Starz) Sunday, Feb. 25

“Baskets” (FX) Tuesday, Jan. 23

“Beyond” (Freeform) Thursday, Jan. 18

“Big Brother” (CBS) Wednesday, Feb. 7

“Bizarre Foods” (Travel) Tuesday, Jan. 23

“Crashing” (HBO) Sunday, Jan. 14

“DC's Legends of Tomorrow” (CW) Monday, Feb. 12

“The Detectorists” (Acorn TV) Monday, Jan. 15

“The Detour” (TBS) Tuesday, Jan. 23

“Drunk History” (Comedy Central) Tuesday, Jan. 23

“Divorce” (HBO) Sunday, Jan. 14

“The Good Fight” (CBS All Access) Sunday, March 4

“Grace and Frankie” (Netflix) Friday, Jan. 19

“The Haves and the Have Nots” (OWN) Tuesday, Jan. 9

“High Maintenance” (HBO) Friday, Jan. 19

“Homeland” (Showtime) Sunday, Feb. 11

“Home Town” (HGTV) Monday, Jan. 8

“If Loving You Is Wrong” (OWN) Wednesday, Jan. 10

“The Magicians” (Syfy) Wednesday, Jan. 10

“Mama June: From Not to Hot” (We TV) Friday, Jan. 12

“Marvel's Jessica Jones” (Netflix) Thursday, March 8

“Mozart in the Jungle” (Amazon) Friday, Feb. 16

“My 600-lb. Life” (TLC) Wednesday, Jan. 10

“The Path” (Hulu) Wednesday, Jan. 17

“Portlandia” (IFC) Thursday, Jan. 18

“One Day at a Time” (Netflix) Friday, Jan. 26

“The Quad” (BET) Tuesday, Jan. 23

“Roseanne” (ABC) Tuesday, March 27

“Sister Wives” (TLC) Sunday, Jan. 7

“Strike Back” (Cinemax) Friday, Feb. 2

“Summer House” (Bravo) Monday, Jan. 22

“Survivor” (CBS) Wednesday, Feb. 28

“Taken” (NBC) Friday, Jan. 12

“UnREAL” (Lifetime) Monday, Feb. 26

“Victoria” (PBS) Sunday, Jan. 14

“The Voice” (NBC) Monday, Feb. 26

“When Calls the Heart” (Hallmark) Sunday, Feb. 18

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