Your new favourites.
As well as some incredible returning series’ – more about those later – 2016 is shaping up to be an incredible year for new TV shows.
Here are some of the titles that jumped out at us.
Preacher
What’s it about? : After a supernatural event at his church, a preacher enlists the help of a vampire to find God.
The vibe: Imagine The Walking Dead but with better characters, more swearing and an Irish vampire. The scope of Gareth Ennis’ graphic novel is incredible and if the TV is show is even half as good as the material, we’re all in for a treat.
Vinyl
What’s it about? : A New York music executive in the late 1970s hustles to make a career out of the city’s diverse music scene.
The vibe: Sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll from the producer and writer of The Wolf of Wall Street, Boardwalk Empire and The Sopranos. A certain Mr Scorsese is also involved.
Billions
What’s it about? : U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades goes after hedge fund king, Bobby “Axe” Axelrod in a battle between two powerful New York figures.
The vibe: The always brilliant Paul Giamatti plays a fast-talking hard-ass that’s up against a shifty and untrustworthy Damian Lewis. Can you say Emmy and Golden Globes?
11/22/63
What’s it about? : JJ Abrams, Stephen King and ‘The Last King of Scotland’ director Kevin MacDonald come together for this genre bending mini-series.. High school teacher Jake Epping travels back in time to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy – but his mission is threatened by Lee Harvey Oswald, falling in love, and the past itself, which doesn’t want to be changed.
The vibe: Expect mystery, twists and lots of fun from seeing James Franco struggle with the pitfalls of time travel.
The Get Down
What’s it about? : New York City in the ’70s was broken, beaten up, violent and dying. From Bronx tenements, to the SoHo art scene; from CBGBs to Studio 54 to the glass towers of the just-built World Trade Center, The Get Down is the story of how New York gave birth to hip-hop, punk and disco.
The vibe: Netflix’s latest original series is being overseen by Baz Luhrman so you know exactly what’s in store. Cracking music, vibrant imagery and a gripping story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMba3mHn80w
First Dates (Ireland)
What’s it about? : If you’re knew to the reality-dating show then you’re in for a treat, especially since it’s being adapted for Ireland. Car crash and sweet in equal measure, it’s going to be some craic with Irish participants.
The vibe: Imagine your very best and worst dates.
Twin Peaks
What’s it about? : Who the bejesus knows? I’d wager that not even David Lynch knew what the was going on in the original. Kyle MacLachlan is back alongside newbie Amanda Seyfried.
The vibe: Weird and wonderful.
Outcast
What’s it about? : Robert Kirkman created The Walking Dead comics but he’s now turning his macabre tastes towards this story of a man whose loved ones have been plagued by demonic possession ever since he was a child.
The vibe: What if the demons from The Exorcist never left?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS20D-UKKcY
Angie Tribeca
What’s it about? : Lone-wolf detective Angie Tribeca (Rashida Jones) and a squad of committed LAPD detectives investigate the most serious and crazy cases, from the murder of a ventriloquist to a rash of baker suicides.
The vibe: Satire and slapstick that’s in the mold of The Naked Gun with cameos from Bill Murray, Adam Scott, James Franco and more.
Rebellion
What’s it about? : Rebellion is a five part serial drama about the birth of modern Ireland. The story is told from the perspectives of a group of fictional characters who live through the political events of the 1916 Easter Rising.
The vibe: The first episode was solid and we’re intrigued about what’s in store.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ueThSkUgk4
Westworld
What’s it about? : Jurassic Park scribe Michael Crichton wrote the original novel and this show sounds equally bonkers.
Imagine a futuristic theme park where paying guests can pretend to be gunslingers in an artificial Wild West populated by androids. If you think this sounds cheesy then don’t worry, Christopher Nolan’s brother Jonathan is working with HBO on this one while Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Evan Rachel Wood lead a very impressive cast.
The vibe: The Hunger Games with a tinge of Jurassic Park and Deadwood We’re in.
Baskets
What’s it about? : After failing at a prestigious French clowning college, Chip Baskets ( Zach Galifianakis) looks to keep his dream of becoming a professional clown alive.
The vibe: Eastbound and Down…but with a clown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5yuV0q61s8
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
