Image via Complex Original
We're entering a wild time when it comes to television. Netflix and Hulu helped usher in an era where the competition for your time is literally in the palm of your hand. Streaming Rules Everything Around Us, and with HBO Max, Peacock, Disney+, and Apple TV+ all coming up with bags to catch up to the established competition, that means that all kinds of reboots and originals will be coming out the woodwork. You have to wade your way through the muck to find the pearls.
That's where we come in. Just like we advised you on the movies you have to pay attention to this year, we're here to give you a look at the television you better be making time to binge. Keep in mind, these are new series; there's already a host of returning shows that you should already be ready for.
Get your TV situation in order and check out the most anticipated new TV shows of 2020, hitting wherever you consume television.
'Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens'
Network: Comedy Central
Premiere date: January 22, 2020
After taking home a Golden Globe for her performance in Lulu Wang's critically-acclaimed A24 film The Farewell, we're now getting Awkwafina is Nora From Queens, a Broad City-esque comedy series based on Awkwafina's own upbringing in Queens, New York. Featuring the talented Lori Tan Chinn and an actual THESPIAN in B.D. Wong, we get a lit Nora (Awkwafina) trying to figure out her path in the world, bumbling through everything from holding a job to making sure her whip isn't impounded. Oh, and like family stuff. TV to vape to.
'Katy Keene'
Network: The CW
Premiere date: February 6, 2020
Riverdale is so popular, The CW decided to expand its universe. Lucy Hale stars as the titular character, a New Yorker who has a knack for making clothes while navigating the Big Apple. While the only tethers to the insane Riverdale world are her connection with Veronica and the always-impressive Josie (Ashleigh Murray), this series feels a bit more grounded, giving you a soap-y series without the mystical elements and uber-suspense of its big sister series.
'High Fidelity'
Network: Hulu
Premiere date: February 14, 2020
Why yes, this upcoming Hulu series is inspired by the fan-favorite 2000 romcom. Now set in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Zoe Kravitz owns a record store, is obsessed with pop culture, and is probably looking for love. With the 10-episode first season set to drop entirely on Valentine's Day 2020, you and bae can just Hulu and Vibe to this instead of going into the world and doing typical Valentine's Day shit.
'Hunters'
Network: Amazon Prime Video
Premiere date: February 21, 2020
At this point, anything Jordan Peele's name is attached to is worthy of a glance. This series, which stars Al Pacino, is set in the 1970s, finds his squad hunting Nazis who are living among us and looking to start up the Fourth Reich. Here for it, we are.
'Little Fires Everywhere'
Network: Hulu
Premiere date: March 18, 2020
Reese Witherspoon everywhere, amirite? Witherspoon, who's already killing it over on HBO (Big Little Lies) and Apple TV+ (The Morning Show) links with the amazing Kerry Washington in this Hulu miniseries where a woman and her daughter upend the lives of the Richardson family. Word is that Witherspoon picked the 2017 book for her book club back in September of 2017; it became a bestseller, and after she had Washington read it, they decided to make this miniseries. Should be another intriguing series from Witherspoon, who's quietly crafting a stellar resume.
'Self Made'
Network: Netflix
Premiere date: March 20, 2020
This long-awaited tale of the life of legendary black hair care pioneer Madam C.J. Walker finally hits Netflix. It's an impressive group of people who made this series, which will shed light on the many trials and tribulations that led to Walker becoming the first black, self-made millionaire, including LeBron James and Maverick Carter, Kasi Lemmons, Elle Johnson, Octavia Spencer, Tiffany Haddish, Blair Underwood, Kevin Carroll, Carmen Ejogo, and many more of today's best black actors.
'Ratched'
Network: Netflix
Premiere date: September 2020
Sarah Paulson starring in a prequel series about the cruel nurse from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest? In it, we get to see how she went from what might pass as a normal person and transformed into the medical monster we meet there. Paulson, who's shined in everything from multiple seasons of American Horror Story to playing Marcia Clark in the first season of American Crime Story, is going to kill this. Pun intended.
'The Boondocks'
Network: HBO Max
Premiere date: TBD
Aaron McGruder's comic strip was as unapologetically woke as it wanted to be, before that was even a term. Holding up a mirror to the fuckery in our world to help us become better people, it enjoyed a glorious four-season run on [adult swim], and will now be brought back for two 12-episode seasons on HBO Max. With John Witherspoon passing, it'll be interesting to see if Grandpa is back, and with Regina King consistently killing it in front of (and behind) the camera, one hopes she could be a part of this series, voicing both Huey and Riley. Or maybe it's something different entirely. As long as it's as funny and as scathing as the original, we should be alright.
'Entergalactic'
Network: Netflix
Premiere date: TBD
Kid Cudi's not only been working on his next album, Entergalactic, but he's turned it into an animated series with the help of Kenya Barris (black-ish, grown-ish, Girls Trip, Shaft). "It's the craziest thing in terms of TV," Barris shared during his appearance on Watch Less at ComplexCon last November. "It's the most ambitious thing. It also shows who he is as an artist. So, he came in and we were talking about, you know, actually it was because I wanted him to do something with my daughter at school and he was super cool and did something for my daughter. But we started just talking about him and I've just been a huge Cudi fan forever." According to Barris, each episode will be based on a particular song from the album, which would mean that the album should have a theme running through it. Either way, it's Cudi x Barris on Netflix, which is reason enough to get hype.
'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier'
Network: Disney+
Premiere date: TBD
For everyone wondering why Disney+ doesn't have an exciting array of original programming, we're saying hold tight; The Falcon and the Winter Soldier hasn't hit yet. Ripped from the Marvel Cinematic Universe's films, Falcon—who lest we not forget is the actual Captain America—are back to team up against...something. It's hard to tell WTF is going on with Phase 4 still so far ahead of us, but with Marvel Studios putting both feet into their televised product, the idea of this series being directly tied to the movies we've seen (and having influence on what's to come) is too dope for you to pass up if you're really about this MCU life.
'Lovecraft Country'
Network: HBO
Premiere date: TBD
Another Jordan Peele-led project, this time in conjunction with J.J. Abrams and featuring The Last Black Man in San Francisco star Jonathan Majors as Atticus Black, set in the Jim Crow-era South. A trip to find his missing father turns into, as you see up above, a bloody affair. Featured cast members include Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Michael K. Williams, Courtney B. Vance, and many more.
'Monsters at Work'
Network: Disney+
Premiere date: TBD
Pixar's classic Monsters Inc. universe is now expanding to a series set six months after the events of the first film, with Monstropolis thriving off the power of laughter. With John Goodman and Billy Crystal returning to voice their characters and everyone from Aisha Tyler to Henry Winkler joining the cast, this should be as fun as you remember the original film being.
'Selena: The Series'
Network: Netflix
Premiere date: TBD
Like Madonna and Aaliyah, the name Selena carries hella weight, both to her fans and to the world of music at large. Netflix is set to dive into Selena's story with this series, which will find its six-episode Part One dropping in 2020. Aside from her father and sister being on board, it's hard to tell the scope of this series, but judging by Selena's legacy, we have a feeling everyone will be on board when it begins.
'Space Force'
Network: Netflix
Premiere date: TBD
Netflix might be losing The Office in the near future, but they still have Steve Carell in space as a series. In a world where a Cheeto is legit trying to establish a space force, throwing that insanity into a workplace comedy headed by the guy who played Michael Scott is exactly what's needed right now.
'WandaVision'
Network: Disney+
Premiere date: TBD
With the timeline for this series' release jumping a year, it'll be interesting to see what goes down when Wanda's left in a world without Vision...does she craft one herself? And with word that this series could tie into what's going on in the second Doctor Strange film, what could she have done that'd bring Strange into her world? Whatever the case may be, it's MCU, so we have to peep.
