(Photo by Netflix)
Wondering when your favorite show is wrapping its season? Check out the calendar below to find out TV’s fall finale dates.
Upcoming finales: House of Cards series, You: Season 1, Kidding: Season 1, Mayans M.C.: Season 1, The Purge: Season 1
November | December | 2019
ARCHIVE: March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October
Thursday, Nov. 1
One Dollar: Season 1 (2018) 80% 3 a.m., CBS All Access
Friday, Nov. 2
House of Cards: Season 6 (2018) 65% Netflix
Big Cat Tales: Season 1, 8 p.m., Animal Planet
Snake City: Season 5, 8 p.m., Nat Geo WILD
Pod Save America: Season 1 (2018) 11 p.m., HBO
Saturday, Nov. 3
Tracey Ullman's Show: Season 3 (2018) midnight, HBO
Sunday, Nov. 4
The Deuce: Season 2 (2018) 99% 9 p.m., HBO
Watergate: Season 1 (2018) 100% 9 p.m., History
Monday, Nov. 5
Love & Hip Hop Hollywood: Season 5, 8 p.m., VH1
Drain the Oceans: Season 1, 9 p.m., National Geographic on FOX
Tuesday, Nov. 6
The Haves and the Have Nots: Season 5, 9 p.m., OWN
Mayans M.C.: Season 1 (2018) 72% 10 p.m., FX
The Purge: Season 1 (2018) 42% 10 p.m., USA
Wednesday, Nov. 7
Lucha Underground: Season 4 (2018) 8 p.m., El Rey
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 13 (2018) 94% 10 p.m., FXX
Are You the One?: Season 7 (2018) 10 p.m., MTV
Cheap Eats: Season 5, 10 p.m., Cooking Channel
Thursday, Nov. 8
Bureau of Magical Things: Season 1, 7 p.m., Teen Nick
Shahs of Sunset: Season 7, 9 p.m., Bravo
How Far is Tattoo Far?: Season 1, 9:30 p.m, MTV
The Return of Shelby the Swamp Man: Season 1, 10 p.m, History
Friday, Nov. 9
Marriage Boot Camp: Season 13, 9 p.m., WE
() %, 10 p.m., Epix
Little Big Awesome: Season 1, Amazon
Saturday, Nov. 10
Knight Squad: Season 1, 8:30 p.m., Nick
Fatal Vows: Season 6, 10 p.m., ID
Sunday, Nov. 11
The Circus: Inside the Wildest Political Show on Earth: Season 3 (2018) 8 p.m., Showtime
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown: Season 12 (2018) 100% 9 p.m., CNN
The Last Ship: Season 5 (2018) 9 p.m., TNT
Paranormal Survivor: Season 4, 9 p.m., Travel
Kidding: Season 1 (2018) 77% 10 p.m., Showtime
You: Season 1 (2018) 93% 10 p.m., Lifetime
Tuesday, Nov. 13
Basketball: A Love Story: Season 1, 8 p.m., ESPN
Driver vs. Driver: Season 2, 9 p.m., Golf
Native America: Miniseries (2018) 10 p.m., PBS
Garage Brothers: Season 1 (2018) 10 p.m., Discovery
Wednesday, Nov. 14
American Horror Story: Apocalypse (2018) 79% 10 p.m., FX
Dopesick Nation: Season 1, 10 p.m., Viceland
Thursday, Nov. 15
() % Hulu
Grey's Anatomy: Season 15 (2018) 100% 8 p.m., ABC
Station 19: Season 2 (2018) 9 p.m., ABC
How to Get Away With Murder: Season 5 (2018) 83% 10 p.m., ABC
Friday, Nov. 16
Fish My City with Mike Ianconelli: Season 1, 10 p.m., Nat Geo WILD
Haunted Live: Season 1, 10 p.m., Travel
Real Time With Bill Maher: Season 16 (2018) 10 p.m., HBO
Saturday, Nov. 17
Deutschland 86: Deutschland 86 (2018) 100% Sundance
() % 9 p.m., Showtime
Sunday, Nov. 18
The Durrells: Season 3 (2018) 100% 8 p.m., PBS
Hetty Feather: Season 4, 8:30 p.m., BYUtv
Season 4: Season 4 () 81% 9 p.m., PBS
Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle: Season 1 (2018) 9 p.m., Sundance
Relative Race: Season 4, 9 p.m., BYUtv
Salvage Dawgs: Season 9, 9 p.m., DIY
Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge: Season 1, 9 p.m., Food Network
The Woman in White: Miniseries (2018) 80% 10 p.m., PBS
This Is Life With Lisa Ling: Season 5 (2018) 10 p.m., CNN
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver: Season 5 (2018) 100% 11 p.m., HBO
Monday, Nov. 19
AMC Visionaries: Season 1, 12 a.m., AMC
Dancing With the Stars: Season 27 (2018) 8 p.m., ABC
The Real Housewives of Orange County: Season 13 (2018) 9 p.m., Bravo
Deadly Rich: Season 1, 10 p.m., NBC
Tuesday, Nov. 20
Keep It Spotless: Season 1, 8 p.m., Nick
The Impeachment of Bill Clinton: Season 1, 9 p.m., A&E
Flipping Out: Season 11, 10 p.m., Bravo
Tosh.0: Season 13, 10 p.m., Comedy Central
The Jim Jefferies Show: Season 2 (2018) 10:30 p.m., Comedy Central
Wednesday, Nov. 21
The Wild Andes: Miniseries (2018) 8 p.m., Smithsonian Channel
The Little Drummer Girl: Miniseries (2018) 95% 9 p.m., AMC
Man’s Greatest Food: Season 2, 9 p.m., Cooking Channel
Greenleaf: Season 3 (2018) 10 p.m., OWN
Stan Against Evil: Season 3 (2018) 10 p.m., IFC
Forged in Fire: Season 2, 10 p.m., History
The Real Housewives of Dallas: Season 3 (2018) 10 p.m., Bravo
Sinking Cities: Season 1 (2018) 10 p.m., PBS
Friday, Nov. 23
The Romanoffs: Season 1 (2018) 49% Amazon
Deadly Women: Season 12, 9 p.m., ID
Sunday, Nov. 25
Axios: Season 1 (2018) 6:30 p.m., HBO
The Walking Dead: Season 9 (2018) 89% 9 p.m., AMC
Talking Dead: Season 9 (2018) 10 p.m., AMC
Monday, Nov. 26
The Resident: Season 2 (2018) 8 p.m., FOX
9-1-1: Season 2 (2018) 100% 9 p.m., FOX
Tuesday, Nov. 27
This Is Us: Season 3 (2018) 94% 9 p.m., NBC
New Amsterdam: Season 1 (2018) 34% 10 p.m., NBC
The 212: Season 1 (2018) 11:30 p.m., Fuse
Thursday, Nov. 29
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Season 20 (2018) 100% 10 p.m., NBC
Friday, Nov. 30
The Paynes: Season 1 (2018) 9 p.m., OWN
Sunday, Dec. 2
Camping: Season 1 (2018) 27% 10 p.m., HBO
Monday, Dec. 3
The Good Doctor: Season 2 (2018) 10 p.m., ABC
Tuesday, Dec. 4
The Gifted: Season 2 (2018) 83% 8 p.m., FOX
Lethal Weapon: Season 3 (2018) 100% 9 p.m., FOX
Wednesday, Dec. 5
Chicago Med: Season 4 (2018) 8 p.m., NBC
Chicago Fire: Season 7 (2018) 9 p.m., NBC
Lee Daniel's Star: Season 3 (2018) 9 p.m., FOX
Clique: Season 1 (2017) 100% 10 p.m., Pop
Thursday, Dec. 6
The Good Place: Season 3 (2018) 98% 8:30 p.m., NBC
Impractical Jokers: Season 7 (2018) 9:30 p.m., NBC
Saturday, Dec. 8
Versailles: Season 3 (2018) 44% 10 p.m., Ovation
Sunday, Dec. 9
Dancing With the Stars: Juniors: Season 1 (2018) 8 p.m., ABC
Enemies: The President, Justice & the FBI: Miniseries (2018) 100% 8 p.m., Showtime
Monday, Dec. 10
My Brilliant Friend: Season 1 (2018) 93% 9 p.m., HBO
Tuesday, Dec. 11
Married at First Sight: Honeymoon Island: Season 1, 9 p.m., Lifetime
Wednesday, Dec. 12
The Goldbergs: Season 6 (2018) 8 p.m., ABC
American Housewife: Season 3 (2018) 8:30 p.m., ABC
Forged in Fire: Season 5, 10 p.m., History
Thursday, Dec. 13
Baroness von Sketch Show: Season 3 (2018) 9:30 p.m., IFC
Nightflyers: Season 1 (2018) 38% 10 p.m., Syfy
Friday, Dec. 14
Voltron: Legendary Defender: Season 8 (2018) 86% Netflix
Speechless: Season 3 (2018) 8:30 p.m., ABC
Child Support: Season 2 (2018) 9 p.m., ABC
Saturday, Dec. 15
Room 104: Season 2 (2018) 90% midnight, HBO
Sunday, Dec. 16
Holiday Gingerbread Showdown: Season 1, 9 p.m., Food Network
Monday, Dec. 17
Fake the Great Masterpiece: Season 1, 1 p.m., Ovation
The Great Christmas Light Fight: Season 7 (2019) 8 p.m., ABC
Christmas Cookie Challenge: Season 2, 10 p.m., Food Network
Who Do You Think You Are?: Season 9, 10 p.m., TLC
Tuesday, Dec. 18
The Voice: Season 15 (2018) 9 p.m., NBC
Loudermilk: Season 2 (2018) 10 p.m., Audience
Holiday in Brooklyn: Season 1, 10 p.m., BET
Married at First Sight: Season 1, 10 p.m., Lifetime
Thursday, Dec. 20
() % 8 p.m., NBC
Friday, Dec. 21
Titans: Season 1 (2018) 78% DC Universe
Mike Judge Presents: Tales From the Tour Bus: Season 2 (2018) Cinemax
Sunday, Dec. 23
America in Color: Season 2 (2018) 8 p.m., Smithsonian
Sally4Ever: Season 1 (2018) 97% 10:30 p.m., HBO
Thursday, Dec. 27
The Wine Show: Season 2 (2018) 10 p.m., Ovation
Tuesday, Jan.1
A Series of Unfortunate Events: Season 3 (2019) 100% 3 a.m., Netflix
Thursday, Jan. 3
Tell Me a Story: Season 1 (2018) 60% CBS All Access
Sunday, Jan. 6
() % 9 p.m., Facebook
Escape at Dannemora: Season 1 (2018) 88% 10 p.m., Showtime
Sunday, Jan. 13
Ray Donovan: Season 6 (2018) 60% 9 p.m., Showtime
Rel: Season 1 (2018) 44% 9:30 p.m., FOX
Dirty John: The John Meehan Story (2018) 69% 10 p.m., Bravo
Thursday, Jan. 24
The Good Place: Season 3 (2018) 98% 9:30 p.m., NBC
Friday, Jan. 25
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season 4 (2018) 94% 3 a.m., Netflix
Friday, Feb. 8
Hell's Kitchen: Season 18 (2018) 8 p.m., FOX
Monday, Feb. 18
America’s Got Talent: The Champions, 8 p.m., NBC
Wednesday, Feb. 27
() % 8 p.m., NBC
October | November | December | 2019
ARCHIVE: March | April | May | June | July | August | September
Late-summer TV is underway, and we’ve got a nearly equal number of years-running returning series and sophomore season entries. From corrupt lawyers and Hollywood producers to megachurch pastors and struggling millennials, there’s plenty to choose from to get you through this last leg of the hot months, so curl up, cool off, and get ready to binge.
Why you should watch it: The series takes a character we think we know — the Saul Goodman who Breaking Bad’s Walter White eventually meets in that Albuquerque, New Mexico, strip mall — and breaks him down to his nuts and bolts, starting at Jimmy McGill. Played wonderfully by Bob Odenkirk in what could become his career-defining (certainly career-changing) role, Saul/Jimmy and his uneasy partnership with Jonathan Banks’ Mike Ehrmantraut make for must-watch hours for any lover of prestige TV, Breaking Bad die-hard or not. Season 4 premieres August 6 on AMC.
Where to watch: Amazon, FandangoNOW, Google Play, Microsoft, Netflix, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 23 hours
Why you should watch it: Yes, Johnson ranks among the world’s highest paid and biggest movie stars (and that’s not just in terms of his 6′4″, 260 lb. build), but Ballers is definitive proof that he’s got the acting chops to back up his paycheck and larger-than-life appeal. Plus — like Entourage before it — watching high-rolling men butting heads and behaving badly often makes for entertaining TV. Ballers season 4 premieres August 12 on HBO.
Where to watch it: Amazon, FandangoNOW, Google Play, HBO NOW, Microsoft, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 15 hours
Why you should watch it: There’s something inherently funny about a murderous mobster finding his inner artist and sensitively grappling with those two divisions of his character. We saw it play out to great success earlier this year with Barry on HBO, but Get Shorty really mastered the formula nearly 30 years ago with Elmore Leonard’s 1990 novel and its 1995 film adaptation starring John Travolta, Gene Hackman, and Danny DeVito. That film, however, Get Shorty the series is not. Darker and more character-driven than its feature counterpart, Get Shorty also boasts a welcome return to form for Ray Romano, whose B-movie producer Rick Moreweather is his juiciest role in years. Season 2 premieres August 12 on Epix.
Where to watch: Amazon, Epix, FandangoNOW, Google Play, Microsoft, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 8 hours
Why you should watch it: Issa Rae is utterly fearless, and Insecure is all the better for it. The freshly minted Emmy nominee weaves hot-button issues like gentrification, race, gender, and poverty into solid storytelling and character development. If you want to see what tough love and hard truths look like both in friendship and romance, Insecure serves those down-deep, human universals in spades — and it’s among the best series on television to do so. Season 3 premieres August 12 on HBO.
Where to watch it: Amazon, FandangoNOW, Google Play, HBO NOW, Microsoft, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 8 hours
Why you should watch it: Gleeson is the kind of actor who offers a natural gravitas to any situation, but Detective Hodges especially gives him a lot to chew on. Met mark-for-mark in this twisted game of cat and mouse by an impressive Treadaway (previously of Penny Dreadful) and a reliably pitch-perfect supporting turn from Holland Taylor as Hodges’ neighbor Ida, Gleeson’s latest isn’t just one of his strongest projects in recent memory — it’s one of TV’s finest hidden gems. Seek it out. Season 2 premieres August 22 on the Audience Network.
Where to watch: Audience
Commitment: Approx. 8 hours
Why you should watch it: Greenleaf packs an emotional punch, thanks largely due to its trio of lead performances and a hearty supporting turn from Ms. Winfrey herself. To little surprise, the drama in this Tennessee family runs thicker than their shared blood, and it makes for a savory and soapy hour of must-watch TV. Season 3 premieres August 28 on OWN.
Where to watch: Amazon, FandangoNOW, Google Play, Microsoft, Netflix, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 20 hours
Why you should watch it: Ozark isn’t the first series of its kind to portray good people doing bad things, but it’s about as good as those series come. Now sitting pretty with three Emmy nominations going into September’s ceremony (including both Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series nods for star and director Jason Bateman), the series conjures an all-encompassing bleakness situated snug in the apparent beauty of the Ozarks, and it establishes Bateman as so much more than the comedic actor most know him as today. Even more than just a vehicle for Bateman, however, it’s an ensemble drama (with an equally stellar Laura Linney, no less) that tackles the power of wealth and greed, human nature, and the ties that bind within family and beyond. Season 2 premieres August 31 on Netflix.
Where to watch it: Netflix
Commitment: Approx. 10.5 hours
This week in TV news, we take a look at the Emmy nominations that were announced this morning!
Emmy nominations are out! And Game of Thrones is leading the pack with 23 nominations. The 6th season of the acclaimed fantasy drama is joined by a slew of other worthy competitors in the Outstanding Drama category. In fact, this year we finally see the acclaimed series The Americans break through with series and first-ever Emmy actor and actress noms, along with a first-time series and actor nod for breakout hit Mr. Robot. Many favorites also return with a splash and round out the Outstanding Drama category, including series noms for Downton Abbey‘s final season, Better Call Saul, House of Cards, and Homeland.
Veep nabs the office of Comedy Nominee-in-Chief with a commanding 17 nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series, and Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series for the show’s star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Silicon Valley and Transparent are also on the ticket, with 11 and 10 nominations respectively. Surprises in the Comedy category included the announcement of a bonus seventh nomination in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series category, and the perceived snubs of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and its lead, Rachel Bloom, in their respective categories.
The People v. O.J. Simpson (22 nominations) and Fargo (18 nominations) not only received the most nominations for limited series, but came in second and third, respectively, behind Game of Thrones overall. Also nominated in the category are Roots, American Crime, and The Night Manager. On the TV movie side, the nominees are A Very Murray Christmas, All the Way, Confirmation, Luther, and Sherlock: The Abominable Bride. In the performance categories, other TV films and limited series to get nominations are American Horror Story (Kathy Bates and Sarah Paulson) and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill (Audra McDonald).
The Variety/Talk Series Emmy category is looking a little different these days. For the first time in a long time, The Daily Show has not been nominated. Actually, it’s the first time since 2000 that Comedy Central has not had at least one show in the running for this category. Daily Show alum John Oliver made the cut with a nomination for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. He joins fellow late show nominees The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Real Time with Bill Maher and first time nominees The Late Late Show with James Corden, and Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Critical darling Full Frontal with Samantha Bee didn’t receive a nomination.
Check out the full list of Emmy nominees here.
With 409 original scripted television shows in 2015, it’s not easy to pick a favorite, but here at Rotten Tomatoes, we’ve done just that! See our staff picks for the programming highlights of 2015 — from under-the-radar gems to downright cultural phenomenons. The best part? All of these shows are available for you to watch right now from the beginning — and, of course, they’re all Fresh!
What it is: This spinoff of Breaking Bad gives us an early look at Jimmy McGill, the man who will later become Saul Goodman. In season one, we see Jimmy try to leave his grifter, “Slippin’ Jimmy” past behind and be an honest (if not entirely successful) representative of the law. And if Jimmy is trying to turn over a new leaf, those around him — even his own brother — may not be ready to let go of Jimmy’s past.
Why you should watch it: Saul Goodman was a reliable source of comic relief in Breaking Bad, but who would have suspected that Jimmy’s first-season character arc would be so emotionally moving? The series deftly moves from a comedy about a mostly competent small-time lawyer to a moving drama about two men whose pasts still overshadow their futures. Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks make the most of the opportunity to delve deeper into Saul and Mike, and the writing from Vince Gilligan is simply terrific. And “Five-O,” the sixth episode of this first season, may well be the finest hour of television in all of 2015.
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft, PlayStation Video, and Vudu.
Commitment: Nine hours.
Picked By: Matt Atchity, Editor-in-Chief
What it is: Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) fights organized crime in New York City as a lawyer during the day, and as a super-powered, martial arts-fighting vigilante at night. Daredevil is Netflix’s first foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Why you should watch it: Daredevil is one of the best-executed comic book adaptations on television to date — if not the best. With incredible fight scenes and a fascinating performance by Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk (aka Kingpin), this origin story centers on both the hero and villain’s journeys, giving them much more depth than your average superhero story. The series raised the bar very high for serialized MCU shows, having unexpectedly earned a second season after the immensely positive reaction from fans and critics alike.
Where to watch: Netflix.
Commitment: Eight hours.
Picked By: Julio de Oliveira, Project Manager
What it is: The murder of a war veteran in Modesto, California and the brutal attack on his wife sparks an emotionally-charged chain of events enveloping the victims’ and suspect’s families during the subsequent legal battle.
Why you should watch it: American Crime exhibits no fear or hesitation in tackling topics ripped directly from today’s headlines in nearly any American city. You won’t find any simple answers here, though. The sensitivity showed to characters on every side of the equation paints a vivid picture of just how complicated these stories always are — and how important it is that we discuss them with rationality and compassion. Be sure to watch it with a friend so you can ruminate on everything it’s saying.
Where to watch: Amazon, iTunes, Microsoft, and Vudu.
Commitment: 10 hours.
Picked By: Grae Drake, Senior Editor
What it is: HBO’s somber drama, created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, is set in the emotional aftermath of a global event known as “The Departure” in which 140 million people (two percent of the world’s population) inexplicably vanished.
Why you should watch it: Love it or hate it, The Leftovers is a show that taps into human feeling. The remarkable ensemble cast delivers one stirring performance after the other — particularly in the critically acclaimed second season. HBO has announced that there will be a third, and final, season of The Leftovers in 2016 so enjoy this unique piece of storytelling before it departs.
Where to watch: HBO Go and Xfinity (with cable subscription).
Commitment: 20 hours.
Picked By: Zayre Ferrer, Review Aggregator
What it is: An alcoholic mad scientist moves in with his daughter’s semi-dysfunctional family and begins involving his apprehensive grandson in wild cosmic and interdimensional adventures.
Why you should watch it: If you like your jokes quick, clever, and pregnant with pop culture references, you’ll feel right at home with Rick and Morty, an Adult Swim series co-created by Justin Roiland and Community showrunner Dan Harmon. But while most animated comedies are content to showcase a collection of single-serving vignettes, Rick and Morty dares to offer some pathos alongside its absurdist humor. Sure, you’ll laugh at a hilarious gag referencing David Cronenberg, but you’ll also balk at the horrifying meaning behind it, and that’s what makes this such a deliciously funny, sometimes surprisingly multi-layered treat. Season two upped the ante, and in addition to some standout episodes (including my favorite, “The Ricks Must Be Crazy”), the season finale delivered with an unexpected cliffhanger.
Where to watch: Adult Swim (with cable subscription), Amazon, Google Play, Hulu, iTunes, Microsoft, and Vudu.
Commitment: Eight hours.
Picked By: Ryan Fujitani, Editor
What it is: After meeting at a mutual friend’s wedding, narcissistic writer Jimmy (Chris Geere) and cynical PR exec Gretchen (Aya Cash) attempt to forge a lasting relationship.
Why you should watch it: While the first season was the pitch black romantic comedy we always wanted, featuring the kind of twenty-something Los Angelenos the rest of the country loves to hate, the second season goes even deeper. Jimmy and Gretchen’s relationship is put to the test and the supporting cast also has a stellar season. Although You’re the Worst deals with heavy stuff, it does so with a light and raunchy touch, perfectly balancing raw emotions with belly laughs.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft, and Vudu.
Commitment: 11 hours.
Picked By: Marya E. Gates, Social Media Specialist
What it is: Inspired by the series of novels written by George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones is the fantasy epic that out epics all others. Set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, the series follows the dynastic struggles among the realms of noble families for control of the Iron Throne.
Why you should watch it: If you are someone who still hasn’t jumped on the GOT bandwagon, do not be daunted by the task — or by the hype. It lives up to it all and this year did nothing but enhance the show’s stockpile of jaw-dropping and superbly written, performed, and directed moments. Even after five seasons, you will still catch yourself astounded that this is television at all.
Where to watch: HBO Go.
Commitment: 50 hours.
Picked By: Andria Hopkins, Review Aggregator
What it is: Ross Poldark is a British soldier who returns home from the Revolutionary War to find his family business bankrupt and his love betrothed to another, forcing him to rebuild his life.
Why you should watch it: It’s a romance novel brought to life. Aidan Turner is fantastic as Poldark, with flowing locks and shirtless scenes that are almost as gorgeous as the show’s sweeping shots of the English countryside. If you’re looking for something to keep you going until Outlander returns in the spring, this should serve you nicely.
Where to watch: Amazon, Google Play, and Vudu.
Commitment: Eight hours.
Picked By: Beki Lane, Associate TV Editor
What it is: A psycho-sexy action drama, Banshee throws a dangerous ex-con into, wait for it… sheriffdom. When he attempts to reconnect with his true love and former cohort-in-crime, he ends up replacing the new sheriff who got killed before anybody could meet him, making for some crazy-ass goings-on in the Banshee PD.
Why you should watch it: It’s hard to find a show so crazy, so nasty, so sexy. The amazing cast makes it difficult to choose who to root for: the bad-ass, violent ex-con disguised as the sheriff? His ex-partner/lover-in-crime hiding her past, who now lives with her politician husband and two kids? The “businessman” mob-boss type who excommunicated himself from his Amish family to run the town? What about his promiscuous niece who was banished from the family? Explosive!
Where to watch: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Max Go (with cable subscription), Vudu, and Xfinity (with cable subscription).
Commitment: 30 hours.
Picked By: Kerr Lordygan, Associate TV Editor
What it is: From IFC and Lorne Michaels’ production outfit Broadway Video (Man Seeking Woman, Portlandia) comes Fred Armisen and Bill Hader‘s series of half-hour documentary parodies.
Why you should watch it: There’s a moment partway through Documentary Now!‘s season premiere spoofing the Maysles brothers’ Grey Gardens when you realize that you’re not only watching a spot-on send-up to the original, but also a story brilliantly taking on a life of its own. Perfect for cinephiles and comedy nuts alike, Documentary Now! is best when you’re familiar with the source material, but anyone who appreciates silly, weirdly specific humor should check this one out.
Where to watch: Amazon, Google Play, IFC.com (with cable subscription), iTunes, and Microsoft.
Commitment: Three hours.
Picked By: Sarah Ricard, TV Editor
What it is: Elliot (Rami Malek), a young computer programmer with mental health issues, is recruited by a group of revolutionary hackers to help them bring upon the destruction of some of the world’s largest corporations. But as the stakes are raised, our hero discovers that nothing is as it first seemed.
Why you should watch it: Plenty of shows — even very good ones — can be enjoyed on a surface level. Mr. Robot, on the other hand, demands your undivided attention. Everything — everything — about this show feels precise and premeditated; it draws you into a paranoid mindset, one that embodies the old conspiracist’s adage that there are no coincidences. Hallucinatory, insanely topical, and blessed with one of the best soundtracks (and undoubtably the best title screens) of any show on television, Mr. Robot will reward obsessives with plenty of unsettling layers to uncover.
Where to watch: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Microsoft, USANetwork.com (with cable subscription), and Vudu.
Commitment: Eight hours.
Picked By: Tim Ryan, Senior Editor
This week in TV news, Better Call Saul, Mr. Robot, The Last Man on Earth, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt are among the new shows of 2015 to get WGA TV nominations. Also, FXX orders up more You’re the Worst, Adult Swim brings back Samurai Jack, and Fox eyes Rambo!
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced nominees for television, new media, radio, and promotional writing Thursday. Leading the pack of the TV nominations is AMC’s new Breaking Bad prequel, Better Call Saul (Certified Fresh at 100 percent), which was nominated in the categories of Drama Series, New Series, and Episodic Drama (for the episode “Uno”). Other new shows to get some WGA love were Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Certified Fresh at 94 percent), Bloodline (Certified Fresh at 80 percent), and Narcos (Certified Fresh at 78 percent), along with USA’s breakout hit Mr. Robot (Certified Fresh at 98 percent), and Fox’s zany The Last Man on Earth (Certified Fresh at 85 percent). The 68th annual WGA Awards will be held on Feb. 13; see the complete list of nominees here.
After a strong second season (Certified Fresh at 96 percent), FXX has renewed anti-rom-com rom-com You’re The Worst for a third season. Developed by Stephen Falk (Orange Is The New Black), the L.A.-set comedy stars Aya Cash and Chris Geere as Gretchen and Jimmy, a pair of dysfunctional lovers who are trying to make a real relationship work despite (or because of) their anti-social tendencies. The second season has been praised for its honest portrayal Gretchen’s clinical depression. Nick Grad, co-President of Original Programming for FX Networks and FX Productions, said in a statement regarding the show’s renewal, “Stephen is one of the best new talents in comedy — as funny, thoughtful and original as You’re the Worst and we can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.” The second season finale of You’re The Worst airs next Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. on FXX.
Since 2013, rumors of a Rambo reboot have swirled around entertainment news, and this week Variety reported that the long-gestating project may finally have some legs with Fox. Titled Rambo: New Blood, the one-hour drama script ordered by Fox is said to “explore the complex relationship between Rambo and his son, J.R., an ex-Navy SEAL.” Though nothing has been confirmed yet on the casting front, Deadline suggested that Sylvester Stallone could reprise his role from the movies. Rambo: New Blood follows the trend of rebooting movies into TV shows, which included Limitless, Minority Report, and Ash vs. Evil Dead this year.
Cult cartoon favorite Samurai Jack ran on Cartoon Network from three years before being axed in 2004. After a nearly 12-year absence, Adult Swim has announced that creator and executive producer Genndy Tartakovsky will continues the epic story of Samurai Jack, to much celebration on the internet. Samurai Jack follows a young prince who is sent to the future after battle with the demon who killed his father. The new season will premiere on Adult Swim’s Toonami block sometime in 2016.
November’s not only turkey time, but it also marks the start of the holiday shopping season — which means some exciting new titles will be heading to DVD and Blu-ray this month. Check out Rotten Tomatoes picks’ for what to binge-watch in November, whether you’re trying to catch up on a show in time for the next season, looking for a new series to stream over a long weekend, or giving something a try before you re-gift it as a stocking stuffer next month!
What it is: Before he was Saul Goodman, Albuquerque’s shadiest (and funniest) lawyer was Jimmy McGill aka “Slipping Jimmy” (Bob Odenkirk) in AMC’s Breaking Bad prequel.
Why you should watch it: Essential viewing for Breaking Bad fans, Better Call Saul is also a stand-alone drama, engrossing and darkly comic, with knock-out performances by Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks. The complete first season hits DVD on Nov. 10, so you better binge Saul!
Where to watch: All ten episodes of season one are also available on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, PlayStation Video, Vudu, and Xbox Video.
Commitment: About nine hours.
What it is: Based on a Philip K. Dick novel, this show of the same name tells an alternate history of the Axis Powers winning World War II and the resistance movement growing throughout America in the early 1960s.
Why you should watch it: By executive producer Ridley Scott, The Man in the High Castle is unlike anything else on TV, with an immediately engrossing plot driven by quickly developed characters. Part of Amazon’s fourth “pilot season,” this fully realized post-war dystopia was the best-reviewed show of the lot in 2014.
Where to watch: The complete first season will be available on Amazon Prime on Friday, Nov. 20.
Commitment: 10 hours.
What it is: Comedy Central’s half-hour sketch show features a series of vignettes — many of which feature the comic’s biting feminist commentary — strung together by Schumer’s hilarious woman-on-the-street interviews.
Why you should watch it: Three seasons in, Trainwreck star Schumer is finally a household name, thanks in large part to a handful of sketches that went viral this year, including her parody of 12 Angry Men starring Paul Giamatti and the show’s musical spoof of One Direction’s “You Don’t Know You’re Beautiful.”
Where to watch: All three season are available on Amazon, Google Play, Hulu, iTunes, PlayStation Video, and Vudu. The DVD of season three hits the streets on Nov. 24.
Commitment: 15 hours.
What it is: Based on the award-winning novels by Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall recounts the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, as observed by Thomas Cromwell during his own ascension within the court of Henry VIII.
Why you should watch it: Mark Rylance‘s performance as Cromwell is enough reason to watch, but Damian Lewis and Claire Foy are also not to be missed. An exceptional supporting cast brings this cutthroat Tudor world to vivid life.
Where to watch: Season one is currently available on Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, and Xbox Video, as well as DVD and Blu-ray. It will also arrive on Amazon Prime on Nov. 11.
Commitment: Six hours.
What it is: Aziz Ansari is the creator of Master of None, a new show on Netflix that is loosely based on his life. We follow Dev as he makes his way in NYC as an actor who, along with his friends, discovers what 30-something means today.
Why you should watch it: For all those that fell in love with Tom Haverford on Parks and Recreation, you will see a more nuanced, intimate kind of Ansari love here. Master of None’s cultural commentary is on-point, the weirdness of today’s romantic struggles are highlighted in all their awkward glory, and the cast is a talented bunch. Binge your hearts out; it’s a funny, sweet, neurotic ride.
Where to watch: Season one will be available on Nov. 6 exclusively on Netflix.
Commitment: Five hours.
What it is: Before Bob Odenkirk and David Cross broke through with Breaking Bad and Arrested Development, respectively, they were the oddball duo behind Mr. Show, an anarchic sketch comedy that blended goofiness and edginess in a way that resembles Chappelle’s Show for the indie rock set.
Why you should watch it: Since W/ Bob & David is premiering on Netflix on Nov. 13, now’s as good a time as any to dive into one of the weirdest programs of the mid to late 1990s. For inspired randomness, absurdist satire, and some of the best segues in television history, you can’t beat Mr. Show. In addition to its leading men, the show served as an incubator for a number of the brightest lights of alt-comedy, including Jack Black, Sarah Silverman, Paul F. Tompkins, and Scott Aukerman.
Where to watch: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, PlayStation, Vudu, and DVD.
Commitment: 15 hours.
What it is: Starz’s Black Sails is a period drama that follows the trials and triumphs of the most notorious men to sail the seven seas during piracy’s golden age.
Why you should watch it: This prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island offers a grittier take on the usual swashbuckling fare we’ve come to expect from our famous pirates. So you can count on the action to build as the intrigue deepens. With two seasons under its belt, there is already plenty of adventure to be had before Black Sails comes back for a third season in January 2016.
Where to watch: Both seasons are on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, PlayStation Video, Starz Play (with cable subscription), Vudu, Xbox Video, and Xfinity (with cable subscription), and season two hits DVD and Blu-ray on Nov. 3.
Commitment: 18 hours.
What it is: The adaptation of the UK BBC comedy series of the same name showcases the careers and personal lives of doctors and nurses in a Long Beach hospital extended-care wing.
Why you should watch it: Folks who like their brilliant slapstick comedy to suddenly jolt you with empathy and smash your heart against the wall — and watch it slither to the floor where it gets rolled over by a squeaky, old wheelchair occupied by a vibrant but terminally-ill senior citizen who screams something naughty as she begins to dance naked in the hallways of the hospital wing, bringing you to tears of laughter once again — will love Getting On.
Where to watch: Season three premieres Nov. 8 at 10 p.m. on HBO. The first two seasons are streaming on Amazon, Google Play, HBO Go (with subscription), iTunes, Playstation Video, Vudu, and Xfinity (with cable subscription).
Commitment: Six hours.
What it is: In this animated series, Mike Tyson (voiced by Tyson himself) embarks on a series of hilarious investigations with his adopted Korean daughter, an irritable ghost, and a vulgar talking pigeon in tow. Their shenanigans take them everywhere from Cormac McCarthy’s ranch to outer space.
Why you should watch it: Mike Tyson appears to have embraced his newly reformed public persona as a big, unpredictable teddy bear with a knack for self-parody and just a touch of insanity. Mike Tyson Mysteries takes full advantage of this, and the result is an absurd comedy that alternates between high concept Scooby-Doo-esque hijinks and upended sitcom tropes. In other words, if you’re an Adult Swim fan, this will fit right into your schedule, and since the second season premieres on Sunday, it’s the perfect time to catch up.
Where to watch: The Adult Swim website has the first four episodes and the season finale of season one available to watch, and you can get the rest on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, or Vudu. You can also purchase the first season (uncensored) on DVD.
Commitment: Each episode is only 11 or 12 minutes long, so you should be able to finish the whole season in two hours.
What it is: In this touching British comedy-drama, Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid play school-day sweethearts who fall in love 60 years later, after the spouses of each have passed.
Why you should watch it: It’s a series about maturation, relationships, mistakes, forgiveness, and the metamorphoses that accompany such change, for those directly involved and for their often dysfunctional families. Influenced by writer Sally Wainwright’s mother’s second marriage, the life-changing events play out fervidly with understated realism. In a time when sensationalism and special effects can dominate the airwaves, Halifax brings an invigorating genuineness to relationships with subtle profundity.
Where to watch: Seasons one through three two are available on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, and Vudu. Seasons one and two are also on Netflix.
Commitment: 18 hours.
