I truly didn’t know when David Letterman ended his stint as host of the ‘Late Show’ in 2015 whether I would continue to watch the show. I had been a Letterman guy for at least 20 years, starting as a kid who would stay up late to watch the show during summers and holiday breaks and then almost nightly throughout college and into early adulthood.

However, it didn’t take me long to find a new late-night TV friend in Stephen Colbert. He was a great steward for the show during such a trying time in America. Colbert wasn’t as wacky as Letterman, but he was as good an interviewer and had just as cool musical guests. Colbert was certainly capable of being wacky, and I enjoyed it when he was, but he — and late-night television for the most part — were thrown for a loop circa 2016 and had to change as America did. Colbert said during the early stages of the finale on Thursday, May 21, that his mission statement on his previous show, “The Colbert Report,” had been: “Anyone can read the news to you. I promise to feel the news at you.” He then said, “I realized pretty soon in this job that our job over here was different. We were here to feel the news with you — and I don’t know about you, but I sure have felt it.”

It’s that honesty that made me a fan of Colbert. It’s why people who didn’t feel like him hated him. It’s why the rest of us loved him.

I was a bit surprised how much of the elongated finale of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” felt like a normal episode — sure, it opened with his summation of what the show had been for over 1,800 shows, but after that, the monologue, “Meanwhile” segment and even an interview with a guest felt pretty normal.

Letterman opted not to have a guest on his elongated final episode 11 years ago, and I kind of expected that. Colbert’s final guest, Paul McCartney, was a fitting one given that the show’s home was the Ed Sullivan Theater, where McCartney and his Beatles compatriots made their American television debut in early 1964.

It was also a bit surprising that the show ended mostly with a pre-taped segment, though it was certainly fun. Under the guise of technical difficulties, Colbert revealed there was a wormhole in the studio ready to take him and everything within the Ed Sullivan Theater to somewhere else within time and space. This segment featured great cameos from his friend Jon Stewart and fellow late-night TV hosts Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and John Oliver before Colbert eventually got sucked into the wormhole.

Inside the wormhole looked like that place Eleven goes to in “Stranger Things” where it’s nothing but vast darkness, but Elvis Costello was there, and he started singing an unbelievably old deep cut “Jump Up” before being joined by Colbert, Colbert’s first band leader Jon Batiste and his latest band leader Louis Cato. It was a charming and lovely sing-along.

Then the show jumped briefly back into reality at the Ed Sullivan Theater stage, where McCartney appeared once more, accompanied by Colbert, Costello, Batiste, Cato and the Great Big Joy Machine (‘Late Show’ band) for an instant classic version of The Beatles' hit “Hello, Goodbye,” a fitting one to end the show, with the entire staff of the ‘Late Show’ and Colbert’s family eventually joining the group on stage. At the end of the performance, Colbert and McCartney flipped off the power switch, and in a bit of TV homage to the series finale of “St. Elsewhere” and whimsy, the entirety of the Ed Sullivan Theater turned into a snow globe in Midtown Manhattan with Colbert’s dog Benny wandering up to it for a sniff before hearing Colbert’s voice say, “Come on, Benny. It’s time to go.”

My favorite part of Colbert’s final shows was last week when he was joined by Letterman, the man who created the series for CBS in the early ‘90s, for an extended interview that concluded with Letterman and Colbert tossing CBS property off the roof in a classic Letterman bit. It ended memorably with Letterman echoing the great CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow, with a hint of sarcastic edge and a pointed message to the network that aired the show: “Good night and good luck, motherfuckers.”

Kentucky Derby (NBC) – Saturday, May 2
The most exciting two minutes in sports … the Kentucky Derby takes place on the first Saturday each May to begin the Triple Crown of horse racing. If you’re like me and are only interested in those two minutes, the post time for the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for 5:57 p.m. (CST), but if you’re into the whole spectacle that is watching the incredibly rich and their fashion, NBC and Peacock will have you covered nearly all afternoon.  

Legends (Netflix) – Thursday, May 7
Netflix’s latest British crime thriller is “Legends,” from writer Neil Forsyth, about the true story of customs officials in the United Kingdom who went undercover to infiltrate criminal drug gangs in the ‘90s. The series stars Steve Coogan, Tom Burke and Hayley Squires, and premieres on Thursday, May 7. 

Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix) – Friday, May 8
Netflix’s latest original film, “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” directed by Olivia Newman, brings Shelby Van Pelt’s sweet 2022 novel about an elderly widow who befriends an octopus while working as a janitor at an aquarium to life. Two-time Oscar-winner Sally Field plays Tova, the widow, and Alfred Molina is the voice of Marcellus the octopus (the book is told partially from the octopus’s point of view). The film also co-stars Lewis Pullman. “Remarkably Bright Creatures” premieres on Netflix on Friday, May 8. 

Late Show with Stephen Colbert Finale (CBS) – Thursday, May 21
The end of a late-night era. The final episode of CBS’s “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and the entire “Late Night” series, which began with David Letterman in 1993, will air on Thursday, May 21. Colbert, who has been the host of the show since 2015, is the best interviewer of all the active late-night TV hosts and has been an important ally of those on the side of sanity and morality in this country over the last decade. He and the show will be sorely missed.

The Boroughs (Netflix) – Thursday, May 21
The Duffer Brothers are back on Netflix with their latest science fiction series, though this time instead of focusing on teenagers, they have gone the opposite route and set their new series, “The Boroughs,” inside a retirement community, in which a group of citizens must band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing something they’re running out of … time. “The Boroughs,” which premieres on Netflix on Thursday, May 21, features an incredible cast of Geena Davis, Bill Pullman, Clarke Peters, Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, and Denis O’Hare. 

Indianapolis 500 (Fox) – Sunday, May 24
The 110th running of the Indianapolis 500, billed as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” takes place every Memorial Day Weekend and is the premier event of the IndyCar Series. This year’s race, which will begin around 11:45 a.m. (CST) on Fox, will see series champion Alex Palou try to capture his second consecutive Indy crown, while veteran Helio Castroneves looks to become the first driver to ever win the event five times. Other stars like Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Will Power and Takuma Sato will try to add to their Indy 500 victory totals. 

Hacks: Final Season (HBO Max) – Thursday, April 9
“Hacks” has been one of the best shows on television throughout its run, which comes to an end beginning Thursday, April 9, on HBO Max. The fifth and final season of “Hacks” will see comedians and officially BFFs Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) in the aftermath of Deborah losing her late-night talk show in season four. I’m not ready to say goodbye to perhaps the best set of characters and cast of the last half-decade, but “Hacks” has the chance to do something few TV shows accomplish – going out on top.  

Big Mistakes (Netflix) – Thursday, April 9
Dan Levy’s first television series since “Schitt’s Creek” wrapped, and it being a collaboration with the fabulous Rachel Sennott has certainly piqued my interest. “Big Mistakes” will see Levy and Taylor Ortega as lackluster criminal siblings who are blackmailed into the world of organized crime. Oh, and Laurie Metcalf plays their mother, which is chef’s kiss casting. “Big Mistakes” premieres on Netflix on Thursday, April 9. 

The Audacity (AMC) – Sunday, April 12
AMC is still making great drama series. “Dark Winds,” which recently wrapped its fourth season, might be the most underrated drama on television. However, it doesn’t seem to draw the type of hype it once did with shows like “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.” AMC hopes to bring some hype back with “The Audacity,” premiering Sunday, April 12. “The Audacity,” from creator Jonathan Glatzer, follows a self-appointed “inventor of the future” as a tech CEO, who is engulfed in controversy involving the exploitation of personal data. Billy Magnussen stars as the CEO with a talented supporting cast that includes Sarah Goldberg, Rob Corddry, Simon Helberg and Zach Galifianakis. AMC has already picked up “The Audacity” for a second season, ahead of its series premiere. 

“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” (Apple TV) – Wednesday, April 15
Showrunner David E. Kelley has adapted Rufi Thorpe’s novel Margo’s Got Money Troubles about a young woman navigating an unexpected pregnancy and financial struggles in the modern world. One of Hollywood’s most talented young actresses, Elle Fanning, plays the lead in this Apple TV dramedy premiering Wednesday, April 15. The show has an amazing supporting cast, which includes Nick Offerman and Michelle Pfeiffer as Margo’s parents, and Nicole Kidman and Greg Kinnear in other roles. 

Half Man (HBO) – Thursday, April 23
Richard Gadd’s “Baby Reindeer,” which aired on Netflix in 2024, was one of the biggest TV surprises and best TV shows of that year, winning Gadd a multitude of awards. His second TV miniseries, “Half Man,” premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Thursday, April 23, and stars Gadd and Jamie Bell as estranged “brothers” over multiple decades in Glasgow, exploring themes of brotherhood and the fragility of male relationships. The six-part series is another showcase for Gadd to display his multi-talented skills both in front of and behind the camera. 

Widow’s Bay (Apple TV) – Wednesday, April 29
Matthew Rhys has proven himself as one of television’s finest dramatic actors, but it’ll be interesting to see how he does in a comedy, with horror aspects thrown in. Showrunner Katie Dippold’s “Widow’s Bay,” premiering on Apple TV on Wednesday, April 29, will see Rhys as the mayor of a cursed New England town, who dismisses the superstitions of the townsfolk at his own peril. The show will co-star Kate O’Flynn and the wonderful Stephen Root. 

​Yeah, we're not fucking doing that. 

“Saturday Night Live UK” premiered on Sky One in the United Kingdom on Saturday, March 21, with ‘SNL’ legend Tina Fey as its inaugural host and English indie rock group Wet Leg as the first musical guest.

American TV watchers, like me, had to wait until Sunday evening to check out the U.K. iteration of ‘SNL’ when it dropped on Peacock.

The U.K. version of the show will be familiar to American audiences of ‘SNL.’ The show begins with a cold opening, the cast credits roll, the host gives a monologue, sketch after sketch airs (including things like faux commercials), the musical guest performs twice and the episode is broken up in the middle by Weekend Update, the fake news segment.

The only thing that might not work for American audiences is that things will undoubtedly and understandably get lost in translation with the differences in cultures and politics between the U.K. and the U.S.

The only time I really struggled to keep up was during the cold opening, which featured the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, being psyched up to take a call from U.S. President Donald Trump about the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. I hate to show my American ignorance, but I couldn’t even name the British P.M. before watching this episode (though they seem to change quite often lately).

George Fouracres, who impersonated Starmer, Hammed Animashaun, who portrayed deputy P.M. David Lammy and a Gen Z influencer played by Jack Shep had the honor of being the first ever cast members to shout the iconic “Live from London, It’s Saturday Night.”  

Fey, one of the most famous alumni of America’s ‘SNL,’ may have been a head-scratcher for some as the first ever host of ‘SNL UK,’ not being a U.K. citizen and all, but it made sense to begin with someone so familiar with the format of the show, especially from her time as head writer in New York. Most of the hosts going forward will likely be of U.K. origin, with Northern Irish actor Jamie Dornan and British actor Riz Ahmed hosting the next two episodes.

Fey’s monologue was something U.S. fans are familiar with as she took questions from the audience, which included cameos from “Derry Girls” and “Bridgerton” star Nicola Coughlan, American actor Michael Cera and longtime British television host Graham Norton.

The show was pretty impressive for its first outing, undoubtedly drawing on a half-century of the American version to take the lead.

The 51st season of ‘SNL’ in the States has been one of the weakest this longtime fan can remember, so this U.K. premiere would’ve ranked in the top five episodes had it been done at Studio 8H in New York City.

Among the best sketches of the evening were a “Hamnet” parody where William Shakespeare, played mostly by Fouracres and eventually by Shep, returning home to Stratford-on-Avon from producing plays in London a bit more and more modern each time, a sketch about a group of technology folks who are in charge of making the Internet annoying by doing things like making the ‘X’ boxes smaller and smaller, and a fake commercial for a skin care line called Underágé.

The majority of standout cast member moments came from male cast members on the show, with Fouracres definitely getting the most screen time with his impressions of Starmer, documentarian David Attenborough, and a bit called “45 Seconds with George Fouracres. He might well be the “glue” of the show, a la Phil Hartman for the American version for so long.

Though he didn’t appear as the lead as much, Shep seems to be a true star in the making for the show, as the younger, outgoing Gen Z cast member, a la what Marcello Hernandez is to the American version today. Shep’s standout moment in the premiere was as Princess Diana in the Attenborough Last Supper sketch, despite not really saying anything. It was a bit of cheeky British comedy that worked for me but might offend a more hoity-toity British crowd.

Weekend Update is such a vital part of ‘SNL,’ and it’s nice to see the U.K. version come out strong with co-anchors Ania Magliano and Paddy Young hitting some targets, like Prince Andrew and the war in Iran, hard. I rather enjoyed the cheekiness of each of their punchlines and deliveries, and it made me believe Weekend Update should be a regular highlight of the early days of this show. The only thing I hope is that Magliano and Young develop a bit more chemistry going forward. The duo mostly read their own jokes on the premiere without back-and-forth.

The only female highlight, outside of Magliano on Update, was Emma Sidi as a dressing room attendant named Jugs, trying to beef up Fey’s measurements to impress those outside of the room. It wasn’t really my thing, but at least it gave Sidi some screen time – something, hopefully, the ladies of the cast will see more of moving forward.

One thing I figured might happen with the U.K. version of ‘SNL’ that we don’t get in America is more freedom with swearing, since most countries aren’t as prudish as the U.S. about such things. So don’t be surprised to hear things like “fuck” and “cunty” on the U.K. version. Hearing Shakespeare talk about his “cunty” earring was quite humorous.  

‘SNL UK’ will have the same pros and cons as the American version. There will be highlights and lowlights, likely all within the same episode, and some shows will be better than others. The show will be as good as its writing, so hopefully, head writer Jonno Johnson and staff prove to be the right staff for the show.

DTF St. Louis (HBO) – Sunday, March 1
Showrunner Steven Conrad’s “DTF St. Louis,” premiering on Sunday, March 1 on HBO, stars Jason Bateman, David Harbour and Linda Cardellini in a dark-comedy about a love triangle that turns deadly. The seven-episode limited series focuses on the dark side of what may happen during middle-age malaise. 

World Baseball Classic – Thursday, March 5 through Tuesday, March 17
Baseball’s version of the World Cup celebrates its 20th anniversary this March when the best baseball powerhouse countries around the world compete to see who is best in the World Baseball Classic. Japan, the winningest country in WBC history, looks to defend its title, but will have to do so with some of its star pitcher (Roki Sasaki, Shota Imanaga and Shohei Ohtani) unavailable during the tournament (Ohtani will be available to hit for Team Japan). The other favorites in the tournament will be the United States, Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Among the biggest Major League Baseball superstars in the World Baseball Classic will be Ohtani (Japan), Aaron Judge (United States), Tarik Skubal (United States), Paul Skenes (United States), Juan Soto (Dominican Republic), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Dominican Republic) and Ronald Acuna Jr. (Venezuela). The World Baseball Classic, which will be broadcast on Fox and the Fox Sports channels, begins Thursday, March 5 and will have its championship game on Tuesday, March 17.

Rooster (HBO) – Sunday, March 8
Showrunner Bill Lawrence is on a heater right now with the return of “Scrubs,” Apple TV’s “Shrinking” and Apple TV’s “Ted Lasso” returning later this year. Now Lawrence has teamed up with Matt Tarses for the Steve Carell-led HBO comedy “Rooster.” “Rooster,” premiering Sunday, March 8, stars Carell as an author who joins the faculty of the university where his daughter works, after she gets divorced to a fellow professor and causes damage to the school, leaving her job in danger. The series co-stars Charly Clive, Phil Dunster, Danielle Deadwyler and John C. McGinley. 

Sunny Nights (Hulu) – Wednesday, March 11
“Sunny Nights,” an original Australian comedy on that country’s streaming service Stan, makes its American debut on Hulu on Wednesday, March 11. “Sunny Nights” stars Will Forte and D’Arcy Carden as American siblings who relocate to Sydney in hopes of establishing a spray tan business only for it to go terribly array. Forte and Carden feel like an incredible comedy duo. 

98th annual Academy Awards (ABC) – Sunday, March 15
The 98th annual Academy Awards, Hollywood’s biggest night, airs on Sunday, March 15 on ABC. The show will be hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien for the second consecutive year and features director Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” with a record-breaking 16 total nominations. Judging by award season thus far, director Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” might be the night’s biggest winner, but the acting categories are as wide open as they have been in years, particularly the supporting categories.

Imperfect Women (Apple TV) – Wednesday, March 18
Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington and Kate Mara feel like a possible dream team trio, which has creator Amy Weisman’s “Imperfect Women,” for Apple TV, on our radar. The series, based on a novel by Araminta Hall, is a psychological drama centered on a murder that tears apart the lives of three close friends. The eight-episode series premiered on Wednesday, March 18. 

Bait (Prime Video) – Wednesday, March 25
Emmy Award-winning actor Riz Ahmed brings “Bait,” a series he wrote, produced and stars in, to Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday, March 25. In the series, Ahmed plays an actor suffering an existential crisis when he finds out that he may become the next actor to portray the iconic James Bond. 

Dearest Gentle Reader, 
 
This author finds himself compelled to impart the most exciting news of the season! Everyone in the ‘ton will be delighted to know that last Friday, January 29th, “Bridgerton” returned with the first four episodes of Season 4, streaming on Netflix. The last time the ‘ton got a chance to attend a ball in Mayfair was back in June 2024. It is time, dear reader, to know if, in fact, the wait was worth it. 
 
As every “Bridgerton” fan knows, every season depicts the love story of one of the eight Bridgerton siblings. The first season was Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), the second was Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), the third was Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), and this time around, it is Benedict Bridgerton’s (Luke Thompson) turn. Benedict has been depicted as bisexual throughout the series thus far, so it was not known if his love interest would be a man or a woman. It turns out to be Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha).  

Benedict has been notoriously known for not wanting to settle down. He is not interested in the balls or the customs of society, much to the chagrin of his mother, Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell). Back then, marriage was a major measure of success in a person’s life, and Violet just wants what’s best for her children. Violet decides to host a masquerade ball at her home and invites all eligible maidens. Benedict is late to the ball but quickly finds himself enamored with a mysterious maiden, Sophie. He teaches Sophie how to dance, and he is drawn to the fact that she also seems to be somewhat of an outsider to society’s demands. It turns out Sophie is a maid who snuck out of her house to attend the ball. She leaves without telling him who she is, leaving behind a glove. It is definitely a callback to the classic Cinderella story. There is even an evil stepmother, two stepsisters, and a father who tragically passed away as well. It could be uninteresting to viewers, given how this story goes, but the writers and cast sell it, and we are buying it.

A major asset “Bridgerton” has is its casting department. The casting directors have managed to cast each character to perfection every season. Not only did they initially get the right casting for the Bridgerton sibling, but they knock it out of the park every season to find someone for them with whom they have undeniable chemistry. Every season, the chemistry between the couples has been electric. We are drawn to their story and invested in their happily ever after. Every romance has been somewhat forbidden, but the writers have found new obstacles to keep it fresh every season.
 
Thompson and Ha’s Benedict and Sophie are dazzling to watch. The stakes are high in this story because a maid cannot be a lady at this time. This really complicates matters for our couple. How can they end up together? It is outside factors keeping them apart because their love for each other is written all over their faces. 

One of my only slight criticisms of this season is that other stories do not have stakes that are as high. In previous seasons, we had the love story plus the mystery of who Lady Whistledown was. When the audience found out at the end of Season 1 about Penelope being the mysterious writer, the drama was about when she would be discovered. With Penelope being outed in the finale of season three, there is no mystery. Penelope is now trying to manage her place in society, with everyone knowing who the writer is of “Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers.” While it is an interesting angle to watch, the stakes are low. Lady Agatha Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) is trying to break free from the overwhelming feeling she has that her life revolves too much around Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel). Other stories aren’t as riveting as they were in the past, either. One highlight, though, is the exploration of sexuality through the relationship between Francesca (Hannah Dodd) and John Stirling (Victor Alli). It deals with a little-talked-about subject of a woman being able to reach her pinnacle through sex.  

It is so exciting that “Bridgerton” is back. I cannot wait for the last four episodes to be released on February 26th. With a beautiful love story unfolding before our eyes, we cannot wait to see if Benedict and Sophie are able to have their happily ever after. While the other stories do not have very high stakes, they are still interesting. We have spent three seasons getting to know these characters, and now we are seeing some of the everyday problems in their lives. Will the rest of the season continue to deliver electric chemistry and a spectacular ending for Benedict and Sophie? Stayed tuned, dear reader! This author will return shortly with a report on the second part.

68th annual Grammy Awards (CBS) – Sunday, February 1 @ 7 p.m. (CST)
February on television begins the month in style with the biggest night in music, as the 68th annual Grammy Awards will hand out the industry’s most esteemed honors on CBS, beginning at 7 p.m. (CST). Kendrick Lamar leads all nominees with nine nominations and is nominated for Album of the Year alongside Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Clipse, Lady Gaga, Leon Thomas, and Tyler, the Creator. The ceremony, broadcast live from Los Angeles, will be hosted by comedian Trevor Noah.

Winter Olympics (NBC, Peacock, USA Network & CNBC) – Friday, February 6 through Sunday, February 22
You’ll be able to enjoy all of your favorite winter sports like figure skating, skiing, hockey and curling throughout the majority of February, as NBC hosts coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics from Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The opening ceremony will be broadcast live in America on NBC at 1 p.m. (CST) on Friday, February 6 and rebroadcast in primetime that evening. The events will be spread across the NBC networks and Peacock, with the highlight events airing on NBC in primetime, delayed. The Games will see 116 medal events in 16 sporting disciplines, including the Winter Olympic debut of ski mountaineering. Among the American stars competing in the Games are alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin, bobsledder Kaillie Humphries, cross-country skier Jessie Diggins, figure skater Ilia Malinin, hockey stars Connor Hellebuyck and Auston Matthews, snowboarder Chloe Kim and the return of alpine skier Lindsey Vonn.

Super Bowl LX (NBC & Peacock) – Sunday, February 8 @ 5:30 p.m. (CST)
Television’s most-watched event of the year, Super Bowl LX, will feature the AFC champion New England Patriots versus the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks, as the Patriots try to win their record-breaking seventh Super Bowl title, while the Seahawks look for their second in franchise history. These two teams matched up in Super Bowl XLIX in a thrilling matchup in which the Patriots won on a game-saving interception by Malcolm Butler. Worldwide music sensation Bad Bunny will perform the halftime show and millions of viewers will tune in to see which superstars headline the year’s most famous night of TV commercials.

Daytona 500 (Fox) – Sunday, February 15 @ 1:30 p.m. (CST)
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season hits the gas with its premiere event, the 68th running of the Daytona 500, which will see Hendrick Motorsports competitor William Byron attempting to become the first driver in NASCAR history to win the event in three consecutive years. Among the sport's biggest names looking for their first-ever Daytona 500 win are Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney. 

Dark Winds: Season 4 (AMC) – Sunday, February 15
“Dark Winds,” which still remains television’s best-kept secret, returns for its fourth season on AMC on Sunday, February 15. The series, which follows Navajo tribal police chief Joe Leephorn, will undergo a major change in its fourth season, with Leaphorn (the incredible Zahn McClarnon) and his deputy, Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon), traveling beyond their reservation to Los Angeles to search for a missing Navajo girl linked to organized crime. Season four will consist of eight episodes, and hopefully, this will finally be the year the Emmy Awards recognize McClarnon for his excellent performance. 

Paradise: Season 2 (Hulu) – Monday, February 23
“Paradise” was one of television’s most pleasant surprises of 2025, and the Hulu apocalyptic drama returns for its second season on Monday, February 23. The end of season one saw Emmy nominee Sterling K. Brown’s secret service agent Xavier Collins leaving the bunker in search of survivors of a nuclear holocaust, which was thought to have destroyed everything. Season one of the series received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Drama Series, Brown for Outstanding Lead Actor, Julianne Nicholson for Outstanding Supporting Actress and James Marsden for Outstanding Supporting Actor. 

The Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins (NBC) – Monday, February 23
The combination of Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey and Robert Carlock has given us comedy gold before on NBC’s legendary sitcom “30 Rock.” I’m hoping the trio can spark gold again in “The Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins,” a sports comedy created by Carlock and Sam Means, produced by Fey, Carlock, Means and others, and starring Morgan as the titular Reggie Dinkins, a disgraced former NFL player who’s looking to rehabilitate his public image. The series co-stars Daniel Radcliffe, Erika Alexander and Bobby Moynihan. The show received a special preview following an NFL playoff game in January and became NBC’s most-watched new comedy premiere in three years. Hopefully, that special viewing will lead more people to its premiere a month later. 

Scrubs (ABC) – Wednesday, February 25
“Scrubs” was one of television's best sitcoms during the early 2000s, with its original run on NBC from 2001 to 2008, and it finished with a disappointing final season on ABC. The revival of the show, premiering on ABC on Wednesday, February 25, will hopefully be more like the show’s original run than its ending. Series creator Bill Lawrence is riding a hot streak over the last half-decade with his Apple TV comedies “Ted Lasso” and “Shrinking,” which followed the “Scrubs” method of including a ton of heart alongside its hilarity. The revival will feature the show’s original main trio of J.D. (Zach Braff), Turk (Donald Faison) and Elliot (Sarah Chalke), with Judy Reyes’ Nurse Carla (Turk’s wife) and John C. McGinley’s Dr. Perry Cox in guest roles. Unfortunately, the show doesn’t seem to include Neil Flynn’s Janitor, which was one of the highlights of the original series. 

Jamie Ending a nine-year, five-season sci-fi saga turned cultural phenomenon was a Herculean task, but the Duffer Brothers sparked belief in more ways than one for the “Stranger Things” finale.

While the series dragged out to absurdity thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, writers and actors' strikes and just timing, fans finally got their fitting end to beloved characters as this long Dungeons & Dragons-inspired campaign came to a close.

The phrase “I believe,” something The Party — Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin), Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) and Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink) – says at the end of the finale which premiered Dec. 31, 2025, was the mantra for this season, written and directed by show founders Matt and Ross Duffer, and in the larger context, the series.

From the first episode, Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) always believed that her son Will was alive and would be found. It kicked off a story of death, destruction and chaos that would culminate in a finale of hope.

The task was simple in concept — kill Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). But the path there was dangerous and unclear.

The Party, along with the other key players Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer), Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton), Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke), Jim Hopper (David Harbour), Joyce and, oddly, Murray Bauman (Brett Gelman), have to breach the Upside Down through the military base opening, climb the radio tower and climb up into the Abyss before that world collides the Upside Down and eventually Hawkins.

To achieve this, El must go into the water tank one more time in Hawkins Lab in the Upside Down and telepathically find Vecna, bringing her sister Kali (Linnea Berthelsen), and it turns out Max (who had some residual powers thanks to her extended vacation in Vecna’s mind). The three do find him, and the Abyss screeches to a halt just before killing the whole crew waiting on the radio tower. The Duffer Brothers gave viewers the biggest scare when beloved Steve almost falls to his death, only for Jonathan to save his life.

Things, of course, go sideways when Vecna tricks Hopper into thinking he’s accidentally shot and killed El and prematurely pulls her from the tank. It’s a serious misstep that sets things in motion:

-Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) truly becomes Holly the Heroic by helping her 11 friends escape to the cave in Vecna’s mind.

-The military breaches Hawkins Lab, killing Kali, but sparing Hopper and Eleven thanks to Murray’s quick MacGyver skills by taking down a helicopter with a grenade.

-The rest of the crew has climbed up in the Abyss and discovered Godzilla, the spider-monster, the Mind Flayer.

-Vecna faces his biggest fear by going into the cave and relives the memory where this all started for him as a child.

Despite the reality that Vecna is what Henry Creel has become, it’s hard not to feel sorry for him in that cave. Will taps into the mind hive to see just how scared Henry is and tries to convince him to leave the Mind Flayer behind to help them. It’s a selfless moment for Will, especially knowing how much Vecna has tormented him for years. He sees that it was never really who he wanted to be.

But Henry stays Vecna. And he’ll die with that choice.  

In an epic battle, Eleven kills Vecna, and the friends help by debilitating the Mind Flayer. What was never on my bingo card for his finale was Joyce being the one to officially end Vecna. While he’s already been impaled, he lifts his head as if he’s going to come back from this somehow. Joyce calmly grabs her ax, looks at him, and says, “You fucked with the wrong family,” before chopping at his neck as his head eventually tumbles off.

During this gruesome moment, flashbacks of all the people they’ve cared about who have died by Vecna via the Mind Flayer play for us to see in the minds of those watching. It’s a bloody, but poignant moment of good defeating evil, a catharsis for every character and viewer.

While it feels over, it’s just not that simple. Eleven is the soul of “Stranger Things,” and her life as a prized military weapon isn’t something she can just walk away from. Kali put it in her mind that they must stay in the Upside Down as the world is destroyed, to make sure the military can never weaponize anyone again, via their blood. Though Kali dies before, it’s a choice Eleven decides to make in the end.

As the group travels out of the Upside Down, they’re promptly captured by the military. El taps into Mike’s mind, telling him she has to stay behind. It’s the only way to stop the cycle.

And while we see El disappear as the Upside Down disintegrates, it’s still not that simple.

The end of the episode flashes forward 18 months, the day of The Party’s graduation. We see each of them moving on with their lives in different ways: Steve is a coach, Robin and Jonathan are in college, Nancy drops out to work at a newspaper and Hopper proposes to Joyce. I guess we’re all just suspending belief here that the military let all of them go, especially Hopper, who just goes back to being the police chief after murdering several members of the military. 

Dustin, the valedictorian, gives the ultimate salute to their fallen friend, Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn), in his epic graduation speech that has all the vibes of a John Hughes movie. It’s bizarre to see them living everyday lives, but it’s also such a gift.

The series ended just as it began — with a game of D&D in Mike’s basement. The Party visited their childhood one last time, playing a game of fictional monsters after conquering the real ones. It’s here that we learn Mike, the Dungeon Master and storyteller, has a theory about the love of his life, El, as the “mage.” The military’s frequencies had disrupted her powers and debilitated her. But not the last time they saw her, meaning, Kali, before she died, assisted her with illusionary powers to help Eleven disappear instead of die in the Upside Down.

Mike weaves the tale of where he thinks each of his friends will end up. The most touching story is how El is alive in a remote area, staring at the most beautiful waterfalls. Giving the characters (and fans) a viable theory that El is alive was a beautiful sendoff for the group, as each of The Party says, “I believe.” I agree with The Party — Eleven is alive somewhere, but I would have loved to see a little more of a wink that it’s true. But that’s where faith comes in. 

The friends leave the basement and their childhood behind as Holly and her friends try their hand at D&D.

I believe the Duffer Brothers did it. They created a twisted, heartbreaking and hopeful tale full of uniqueness, nostalgia and nerd culture that cannot be replicated. While it was not the best episode of the series, the finale closed the chapter well on an iconic show. The Duffer Brothers are genius storytellers — the ultimate Dungeon Masters. 

by Julian Spivey & Tyler Glover
​
Many of our favorite television series are returning in January, ensuring we kick off 2026 in fine pop-culture fashion. 
​

Will Trent: Season 4 (ABC) - Tuesday, January 6
ABC’s Will Trent has been the best drama on network television for the majority of its run. The series that stars Ramon Rodriguez as the titular detective premieres Tuesday, January 6. Season three was particularly tough on Will Trent with a breakup, the accidental shooting death of a teenage boy and another breakup, so hopefully he’ll be able to catch a break in the fourth season, while still providing us with entertaining cases of the week. 
​

The Pitt: Season 2 (HBO Max) - Thursday, January 8
HBO Max’s medical drama “The Pitt,” which recently ranked as the No. 1 TV show of 2025 on this website, returns for its second season on Thursday, January 8. The reigning Outstanding Drama Series Emmy winner sees a time jump of more than half a year to a hectic July 4th weekend for the Pittsburgh emergency room, and its incredible staff (and the show’s cast). Once again, the show will follow a singular day at the hospital told in hour-long increments. Let’s see if the magic of season one remains. 

All Creatures Great & Small: Season 6 (PBS) - Sunday, January 11 
“All Creatures Great & Small,” which airs in the U.K. in the fall and as part of the PBS “Masterpiece” series in the U.S. every winter, debuts its sixth season on Sunday, January 11. The series, which follows a small-town veterinary practice in 1940s Northern England, is TV comfort food. We’ll see what Siegfried, James Herriot and company have in store for us in season six, with World War II surely still raging.  

Shrinking: Season 3 (Apple TV) - Wednesday, January 28
Apple TV’s “Shrinking” is very likely the single funniest comedy on television, and yet it also contains a whole lot of heart, making it one of the best overall shows. It was disappointing we didn’t get season three at the end of 2025, but at least it wasn’t pushed too far into 2026. Season three of the show will follow the incredible ensemble cast, led by Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, and Jessica Williams, and will see Michael J. Fox return to acting in a much-anticipated guest role. There’s a good chance this one will end up in our year-end top 10. 
​

Bridgerton: Season 4 (Netflix) - Thursday, January 29 
Dearest gentle reader, the wait is almost over! Soon, Lady Whistledown will return to give us the latest delicious gossip on the members of the ‘ton in Netflix’s hit series, “Bridgerton.” Every season, we get to see a different member of the Bridgerton family find love during the social season. This time, it is Benedict’s turn. “Bridgerton” fans are in for a treat as this season promises to be a Cinderella-like story. The first four episodes will premiere on Thursday, January 29th, followed by the final four on Thursday, February 26th, 2026.