The Best New TV Shows of January 2026

January 2026 brought a lot of gloomy weather and difficult news, and I’m glad to see it ending! One bright spot, though, was the new television shows that came out. There was something for everyone – a funny Marvel series even if you’re not into superheroes, a wildly entertaining show from Ryan Murphy, a fascinating four-hour interview with Mel Brooks, a clever mystery, and two shows exploring the lives of older musicians.

The Beauty (FX)

Ryan Murphy’s new series, The Beauty, co-created with Matthew Hodgson, is a surprisingly effective and unusual show. It shares similarities with the recent horror film The Substance, particularly in its premise: a biotech product called ‘The Beauty’ dramatically transforms people’s appearances. This process, though unsettling, turns those who are old, ill, or unhappy with their looks into physically perfect versions of themselves. Surprisingly, instead of avoiding comparisons to The Substance, the show embraces them. Murphy boldly cast Ashton Kutcher – known both as an actor and a venture capitalist, and for his past relationship with Demi Moore – as the creator of this transformative product. It’s a daring choice that exemplifies Murphy’s signature style. [Read the full review.]

Bookish (PBS)

I’ve been really enjoying a new show called Bookish – it’s a delightful detective series set in post-war London. The main character, Gabriel Book, owns a bookstore, and it’s just charming to see him balancing that with his secret life as an investigator. Honestly, the premise is clever, but the show really kicks into gear when a new employee points out that the sign for his shop, “Book’s,” is grammatically wrong – the resulting conversation is hilarious if you’re a stickler for proper English! Plus, the dynamic between Gabriel and his wife, Trottie (Polly Walker, who you might recognize from Bridgerton), is so sweet and feels really authentic. It reminds me a bit of the fun, slightly silly energy of shows like Best Medicine, but with a distinctly British cozy-mystery vibe.

Things aren’t quite as idyllic as they first seem. Gabriel is hiding things behind his polite, professorial exterior, and Jack has a hidden past—one that surprisingly links him to his new boss. Even Mr. and Mrs. Book’s relationship isn’t as stable as it appears. As the season unfolds with mysteries split into two parts, allowing for deep character development, it becomes clear that the creator has a much more complex story to tell than just a lighthearted parody.

Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man (HBO)

Okay, let’s talk Mel Brooks. Honestly, is there anything left to say about a comedy legend? Turns out, yes! This two-part documentary, put together by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio, is packed with praise from a who’s-who of comedy greats – Seinfeld, Sandler, Silverman, Chappelle, all showing up to celebrate him. But the really amazing part? It’s Brooks himself who steals the show. At 99, he’s unbelievably sharp and open, walking Apatow through his entire career. We’re talking everything from his early days as a busboy in the Catskills, to writing for Your Show of Shows, and of course, those iconic 2000-Year-Old Man bits with Carl Reiner. Then he totally reinvented comedy with Get Smart and, famously, The Producers in 1967 – a film that really shook things up. And that was just the beginning! The ’70s and ’80s brought us a string of absolute classics: Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, History of the World, Part I, even Spaceballs. And the incredible thing is, he’s still working and finding success! It’s a truly remarkable career, and this doc does it justice.

Fans of comedy will likely already know some of the stories about working with icons like Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder. However, Mel Brooks is a truly engaging storyteller, still delivering jokes with the same skill he had in his younger years. He thoughtfully discusses the controversies and negative reviews that met his now-classic films, without being falsely humble. In that way, this documentary feels similar to Apple’s series about Martin Scorsese – it shows how a once-divisive filmmaker can become revered. Both projects are honest about the difficulties ambitious careers can create for families; Brooks openly admits his role in the end of his first marriage to Florence Baum, and his children candidly discuss his inconsistent parenting. Despite the tough topics, the documentary is filled with warmth, especially when exploring his close friendship with Rob Reiner (who passed away in 2020) and his special relationship with his second wife and frequent co-star, Anne Bancroft, who died over twenty years ago. Brooks isn’t afraid to show emotion when remembering these people, and the appearances of other beloved figures who have recently passed away, like Reiner and David Lynch, are sure to be moving.

Riot Women (BritBox)

Sally Wainwright, the creator of acclaimed shows like Happy Valley and Gentleman Jack, delivers a powerful new series called Riot Women. It honestly portrays the often-overlooked challenges faced by older women – things like loneliness, feeling ignored, menopause, and the exhaustion of caring for others. While that might sound heavy, the six-part series is surprisingly captivating. It follows a group of women who form a punk band to enter a local talent show, and in doing so, unexpectedly transform their lives. It’s a funny, smart, and moving story about finding freedom later in life, and it’s sure to resonate with viewers of all ages. [Read the full review.]

Stayer (Viaplay)

If you enjoyed Riot Women, you might also like Stayer, a Norwegian drama with a similar theme of aging rockers. However, Stayer actually has more in common with recent films exploring fathers trying to reconnect with daughters who have valid reasons to be upset with them, such as One Battle After Another, Sentimental Value, Jay Kelly, and The Phoenician Scheme. The film centers on Even Elstad (Aksel Hennie), a famous but disgruntled rock star who’s forced to care for his teenage daughter (Hannah Elise Adolfsen Fjeldbraaten) after years of estrangement. While the protagonist’s music isn’t particularly appealing, the film is saved by strong performances, insightful writing about loss and regret, and Hennie’s creative direction.

Wonder Man (Disney+)

While casting for his latest film, director Von Kovak (Zlatko Buric) had a surprising thought: traditional ideas about heroes and gods can actually hinder good acting. He told the auditioning actors to focus on finding the relatable human side of their characters, rather than trying to portray larger-than-life figures. This might seem simple coming from an experienced director, but it feels significant in the context of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which usually emphasizes grand, mythical concepts.

You might wonder what’s special about this show. It’s set in a surprisingly realistic Los Angeles, where the entertainment industry is still, believe it or not, the foundation of everything. Wonder Man is different from other Marvel shows on Disney+. Many have promised to break the mold (like Wandavision), but ended up relying on typical action sequences and promotional setups for future movies. This show, however, could be the best Marvel series on the platform so far. Strong acting, clever writing, energetic direction, and well-developed characters create a superhero story that, as one writer notes, focuses on the humanity within. [Read the full review.]

2026-01-30 16:06