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    Friday, April 19, 2024

    January continues to be a big month for new TV shows

    January continues to be just chock full of great viewing — here are shows to keep an eye on.

    TONIGHT

    "True Detective," HBO, 9 p.m.

    Series creator Nic Pizzolatto writes and directs this third season — one episode by David Milch — set in the Ozarks, starring Mahershala Ali ("Moonlight") as Wayne Hays, a state police detective investigating the disappearance of two missing children in 1980 (the series will cover three different time periods). Also stars Scoot McNairy as the father who had a terrible loss and Mamie Gummer as mom of the missing kids. Much riding on this third edition after the second faltered so badly.

    "Valley of the Boom," NatGeo, 9 p.m.

    This scripted six-parter is about the '90s tech bubble, and stars Bradley Whitford and Steve Zahn as a pair of tech entrepreneurs.

    MONDAY

    "The Passage," Fox, 9 p.m.

    This pre-apocalyptic thriller is based on the Justin Cronin trilogy about a government experiment to wipe out disease in the human race gone badly wrong; with Mark-Paul Gosselaar ("NYPD Blue") as a fed who is also surrogate dad to a 10-year old girl who is the test subject.

    TUESDAY

    "Roswell, New Mexico," CW, 9 p.m.

    The CW is calling this a semi-reboot of the original "Roswell," this one about Liz Ortecho (Jeanine Mason), daughter of undocumented immigrants, now a biomedical researcher, who returns to her hometown — you know which one — only to learn that her teenage crush, Max (Nathan Parsons) was an alien all along — the kind of alien from outer space, by the way.

    "Temptation Island," USA, 10 p.m.

    This full-on reboot of the execrable 2001 series of the same name is about four couples who go to Maui, where their relationships are tempted by 24 other eligible bachelors and 'ettes.

    THURSDAY

    "A Discovery of Witches," Sundance Now, 8 p.m.

    This 8-episode adaptation of the 2011 historical/fantasy novel by Deborah Harkness is about Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer), a Yale professor, who's also a witch. She discovers a secret manuscript that forces her back into the world of magic, and who is given a helping hand by Matthew Clairmont (Matthew Goode, "The Crown"), a geneticist ... and a vampire.

    "Star Trek: Discovery," CBS All Access

    The second season drops on this day, with new episodes streaming weekly on Thursdays. This one will feature a new and young Spock — played by Ethan Peck (grandson of Gregory) — while Anson Mount joins the cast as captain of the Enterprise. (Rebecca Romijn is also aboard this season.)

    FRIDAY

    "Carmen Sandiego," Netflix

    Another Netflix reboot — this time Gina Rodriguez ("Jane the Virgin") voices Carmen. The series will focus on her origin story.

    SATURDAY

    "Brexit," HBO, 9 p.m.

    This drama stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Dominic Cummings, the British political strategist who led the effort to disengage Britain from the European Union.

    "Dynasties," BBC America, 9 p.m.

    Yet another sprawling beautiful world trek by TV's pre-eminent naturalist, David Attenborough, as he explores five imperiled species — penguins, chimpanzees, lions, painted wolves and tigers.

    JAN. 20

    "Black Monday," Showtime, 10 p.m.

    Raucous comedy about the 1987 stock market crash, with Don Cheadle and Regina Hall (also starring Paul Scheer and Andrew Rannells) with the series opener directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

    JAN. 22

    "Conan," TBS, 11 p.m.

    After months of looking for friends (he says) and roaming the world, Conan O'Brien returns to late night, this time without Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band. The new show will be only a half-hour, and the emphasis is now on comedy.

    JAN. 24

    "Broad City," Comedy Central, 10 p.m.

    The final season begins.

    JAN. 25

    "Black Earth Rising," Netflix

    This eight-episode British thriller is about Kate Ashby (Michaela Coel) who is rescued from Rwandan genocide and grows up the daughter of a famed human rights lawyer, to become a legal investigator herself, under the auspices of international lawyer Michael Ennis (John Goodman).

    "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," Netflix

    The final six episodes of the final season drop.

    JAN. 26

    "Amanda Seales: I Be Knowin," HBO, 10 p.m.

    Amanda Seales — Tiffany DuBois of "Insecure" — gets her first HBO stand-up special.

    JAN. 27

    "Screen Actors Guild Awards," TBS, TNT, 8 p.m.

    The 25th annual ceremony will air live, with "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and "Ozark" leading the TV nominees, and "A Star is Born," "BlacKkKlansman" and "The Favourite" the movies.

    "Rent: Live," Fox, 8 p.m.

    The Jonathan Larson musical — originating from the Fox Studios and directed by Obie winner Michael Greif — stars Vanessa Hudgens as Maureen Johnson, Tinashe as Mimi Marquez, Brandon Victor Dixon as Tom Collins, Kiersey Clemons as Joanne Jefferson, Joran Fisher as Mark Cohen, Mario as Benjamin Coffin, and Valentina as Angel Dumott Schunard.

    JAN. 28

    "Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists," HBO, 8 p.m.

    This portrait of the longtime Daily News (and Newsday) columnist and his rival/friend, Pete Hamill of the News, Post (and Newsday, too, very briefly), is directed by Jonathan Alter, John Block and Steve McCarthy.

    "I Am the Night," TNT, 9 p.m.

    "Wonder Woman" director Patty Jenkins directs this six-episode series about a reporter, Jay Singletary (Chris Pine) who helps Fauna Hodel (India Eisley, "The Secret Life of the American Teenager") investigate her mysterious past — which possibly involves one of Hollywood's most infamous crimes, the "Black Dahlia." Based on Hodel's autobiography.

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