20 Most Hotly Anticipated New TV Shows Of 2016

Having a social life isn't going to get any easier with all these new shows to watch.

"We need more TV." - No one, ever. Ok, they probably did say it way back in the day, when there was still a limited number of channels and few shows actually being produced. Now, though, we are living in the Golden Age of TV, with more and more shows being made every year. This is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand it means you're never short of something to watch, as there is an almost unlimited supply of series to get through on something like Netflix or Amazon, never mind the original content they produce, or the weekly shows coming from the networks. On the other, it's almost impossible to keep up. Unless you have literally nothing to do all day but sit around and watch TV, you can't watch everything, and every year a look at the 'best of' lists reveals gems you've probably missed, and will likely never get round to seeing. Hell, just keeping up with multiple shows on a weekly basis can require putting together a schedule. Of course, it's only going to get worse in 2016. There are lots of new series in the works, from the traditional networks, cable channels, and streaming services alike, and while you can ignore some of them, a lot are going to demand your attention. These are the new shows likely to be dominating conversations, trending on Twitter, and taking over your lives next year (or 2023, which is when you might finally find time to get round to them).

20. The X-Files Revival

Ok, so technically I'm cheating right out of the gate, but it's been so long since there were new episodes of The X-Files on TV that this does basically count as a new show. Fox are bringing back Mulder and Scully, with David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprising their iconic roles, for a limited run of six episodes starting in January. Given it's been 13 years since the original show ended, and even longer since Duchovny was on the small screen as Mulder, it's fair to say there's a lot of hype and expectation around this one, which will be tackling similar supernatural cases, and adding the likes of Joel McHale to the cast. Learn to Trust No One, starting January 24.
Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.