It’s a new year, and a new month, which means that Cortney’s TV Digest is here to tell you everything you need to watch. And since it’s a new year, I figured we’d try something a little different, and talk about some shows I’ve never discussed here until now! January’s a big month for tv, with some new shows bursting on the scene, but also some old favorites of mine returning for a new season.
V
With shows like Caprica getting the axe, it’s great to still have some decent sci-fi on television these days. Which is why I’m super psyched that V has returned for its second season.
V is a re imagining of the 1983 mini-series of the same name, in which an alien race arrives on Earth, claiming they come in peace and bringing with them both technology and medical knowledge, as well as some ulterior motives.
V premiered on Tuesday, but that’s plenty of time to catch up on the series in time for the next episode, which airs January 11th on ABC.
The Cape
I’m really excited about the return of superheroes to network tv, this time in the form of The Cape. This show is about a cop who, after being falsely accused of several murders and presumed dead, takes on the guise of a caped hero to save his city and return to his family.
While I don’t know much about The Cape‘s main star, the show has Summer Glau (Firefly/Serenity, The Sarah Connor Chronicles) and James Frain (True Blood) co-starring, so it’s looking like the cast will be solid. The Cape‘s two-hour series premier airs January 10th on NBC.
Parks and Recreation
While I talk about The Office and Community a lot on here, I tend to neglect Parks and Rec a little, which is a shame because it’s a really solid show. And while Outsourced took its place in the fall slot, its back this spring for a third season. Starring the likes of Amy Poehler, Aziz Ansari, Office veteran Rashida Jones, and Rob Lowe, this show stacks against any of the other comedy shows on tv right now and has really come into its own by the end of its second season.
Parks and Rec returns to the Thursday night lineup on January 21st on NBC.
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena
Spartacus: Blood and Sand performed well last year, and was renewed for a second season before lead actor Andy Whitfield fell ill. In its stead, Starz is offering up Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, a six-episode prequel to Blood and Sand. Actors Lucy Lawless, John Hannah, and Peter Mensah will all reprise their roles.
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena premieres January 22nd on Starz.
Archer
Archer can be most accurately described as an Adult Swim show that airs on FX. That’s mostly because series creator Adam Reed was also responsible for two animated series, Sealab 2021 and Frisky Dingo, which both aired on Adult Swim. If you were a fan of those two shows but haven’t checked out Archer, do so immediately, because it’s just as raunchy, and hilarious, even being on FX. Reed describes Archer as “James Bond meets Arrested Development” and if this sounds appealing to you (how could it not?), check out the season two premiere on January 28th on FX.
