The 9 Best New TV Shows of 2015

While we said goodbye to some top-notch television in 2015 (Mad Men, Parks and Recreation, Forever, just to name a few,) we also welcomed in a new freshman class of programs. Major networks and cable weren’t the only contenders for awesome new programming this year…four of the shows on our list hailed from the streaming television service, Netflix!

Some were utter failures right away (*cough cough* Blood and Oil *cough cough*) but there was a great batch that set themselves apart immediately with their unique stories, stellar casts, and overall excellent quality.

Let’s take a look at nine new shows from 2015 that we hope will keep up hooked for many years to come!

1. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Netflix

They’re alive, dammit! It’s a miracle! This new comedy from Tina Fey and Robert Carlock made us erupt in giggle fits during nearly every episode. Kimmy Schmidt (adorable Ellie Kemper) has just been released from captivity after living as an Indiana mole woman in an underground cult for the last fifteen years and now she’s getting re-acquainted with society in New York City with a little help from her new roommate Titus Andromedon (Tituss Burgess) and her boss/sometimes friend Jacqueline Voorhees (Jane Krakowski). With countless celebrity cameos, plotlines that were just wacky enough, and catchphrases for days (we dare you to say “pinot noir” normally!) this show earned itself seven Emmy nominations in its first year.

2. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The CW

This musical comedy about a smart and successful woman having a quarter-life crisis (or a nervous breakdown, depending on how you look at it,) is nothing short of the most original premise we’ve seen on television in years. Rebecca Bunch was looking for happiness in her empty life and thanks to a run in with her high school boyfriend, Josh Chan, (and a well placed ad for butter,) she decides to leave New York City in favor of West Covina, California, a lovely town that’s just two hours from the beach (four in traffic). The incredible cast, led by co-creator and comic genius Rachel Bloom, handles usually taboo topics with their own brand of comedic sincerity and the added bonus that they can burst into song at any moment. The show has already received many internet accolades, but others have taken note as well; Rachel Bloom has already been nominated for a Golden Globe and a Critic’s Choice Award for her role as Rebecca.

3. Mr. Robot, USA

Computer hacking is a huge part of our culture right now, especially with so many large corporate hackings having taken center stage recently in the news. USA then delivered the summertime thriller, Mr. Robot to our screens and audiences were immediately captivated by the awesome world of programmers, hackers, and cyber security. The show follows Elliot Alderson (Rami Malik) a clinically depressed security engineer who connects to others by, you guessed it, hacking them. He’s soon recruited by fsociety, a team of “hacktivists” who are led by the mysterious Mr. Robot (Christian Slater) and perform missions on his behalf. The show featured many twists and turns, things that we won’t mention here because we don’t want to spoil them for new viewers, and delivered some huge shocking moments. Mr. Robot better build a shelf for all of the awards it will undoubtedly receive in the coming awards seasons; between it’s incredible performances and fantastic writing, it’s a no-brainer.

4. The Grinder, FOX

Fred Savage is all grown up and makes a triumphant return to the small screen as Stu Sanderson, a timid but smart lawyer who is successfully running his family’s law firm. His world is completely turned upside down when his brother Dean (welcome back to comedy, Rob Lowe!) returns home from Los Angeles after his own show about being a lawyer, The Grinder, is canceled. Dean decides that he wants to take everything he knows about being a lawyer on television and apply it to real life at the Sanderson family firm, much to Stu’s dismay.

Lowe and Savage have excellent chemistry together and are perfectly mismatched as brothers. It’s easy to watch The Grinder and fall back in love with Rob Lowe (as if you ever stopped loving him…) but the real joy is watching Fred Savage as Stu. His reaction shots are hilariously priceless. He falls into the “everyman” role seamlessly but manages to stand out next to Lowe’s over-the-top performance as Dean. Both Savage and Lowe have already been recognized for their work on The Grinder with award nominations, sure signs that this court will remain in session next season.

 

Next Page