With the end of 2020 came momentary relief as well as a stark reminder that we’ll continue to need to self-isolate. If anything over the past nine months, television has offered brief but soothing balms to increasing levels of tension and stress and while January doesn’t have a tone to offer in terms of new television (though plenty will still be binging the buzzy “Bridgerton” to be able to ignore that fact) there’s plenty of old, comforting favorites. The key term seems to be lighthearted going into the new year, with shows that serve as distractions. While there are some returning dramas worth tuning into and the premiere of the highly anticipated Marvel/Disney+ series “Wandavision,” the brightest spots look to be new and returning comedy series.
READ MORE: 65 Most Anticipated TV Shows & Mini-Series Of 2021
“Cobra Kai” – Season 3
What You Need to Know: Nothing about “Cobra Kai” should’ve worked. Based on the characters from the original “The Karate Kid” films, the television series catches us up to what Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and, most notably, then bully Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) are up to as they both begin to teach karate to varying levels of students. The main draw initially was seeing how they might be able to pull this off as Johnny is given the redemptive arc while Daniel is less heroic than he was in the original series but the charm is undeniable with Zabka in particular surprising viewers with the depth given to his character. Season 2 saw a notable drop off in quality but with Season 3 being picked up by Netflix, hopefully, it will see the tides turn as some of the messier, student-based drama is out of the way.
Release Date: Season 3 premiered January 1 on Netflix. – Ally Johnson
“Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” – Season 2
What You Need to Know: Seemingly something of a sleeper hit with audiences and critics alike, “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” has become a charming crowd-pleaser of a series. A musical comedy – something that doesn’t always pan out beyond a first season – the series stars Jane Levy as a young woman who beings to connect further to the world as people begin to share their innermost thoughts with her through pop songs. The series has shined a light on Levy’s considerable talents while also allowing her co-stars such as Skyler Astin and Alex Newell similar moments in the spotlight. It will be interesting to see just how long this particular premise can sustain itself but for now, it’s one of the feel-good shows we need right now.
Release Date: Season 2 premieres on January 5 on NBC. – AJ
“The History of Swear Words”
What You Need To Know: In what will be a welcome reprieve from binging on the latest true crime documentaries, “The History of Swear Words” promises to be a profane journey through language and per Netflix’s synopsis, to understand the cultural impact of some of the most notorious swear words in the English language. Hosted by Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage, this unique documentary series will feature language experts as well as comedians and entertainers including Sarah Silverman, Open Mike Eagle, Nick Offerman, Jim Jeffries, and many others who will offer an educational and tongue-in-cheek insight on the naughtiest of words. Cage, in what will be his first foray into television, is a very busy man of late with quite a few interesting projects lined up. He is confirmed to star as infamous zoo owner and big cat aficionado Joe Exotic from the wildly popular documentary “Tiger King” in a scripted series and is also expected to voice the main character in Amazon series “Hellfire.” Considering what a dumpster fire 2020 was, I can’t imagine a better way to start 2021 – with Nic Cage and his expletive-laden show.
Release Date: Premieres on Netflix on January 5. – Martine Oliver
“Mr. Mayor”
Tina Fey embarks on her latest television series “Mr. Mayor” starring Ted Danson in the title role. This marks the latest scripted collaboration between Fey and NBC following the mind-blowing success of “30 Rock”. Per the synopsis, Danson plays a retired businessman who runs for mayor of Los Angeles and actually wins. But once he does, he has to figure out what he stands for, gain the respect of his biggest critic and connect with his teenage daughter, all while trying to get anything right for the city of Los Angeles. Alongside Danson, the cast includes Holly Hunter, Vella Lovell, Mike Cabellon, Kyla Kenedy, and Bobby Moynihan. Naturally, awkward hilarity ensues as Los Angeles’ newest mayor struggles through his mayoral duties. Slightly reminiscent of the HBO series “Veep” starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the series will feature an array of hilarious moments that will have audiences in stitches as the mayor (Danson) adjusts from being an ultra-wealthy businessman to the ultimate public servant.
Release Date: Season 1 premieres on NBC and Peacock on January 7. – MO