2. The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
WHEN IT"S ON: Available for streaming on Netflix on March 6
WHAT IT IS: The latest from Tina Fey and Robert Carlock (30 Rock), this NBC-turned-Netflix comedy centers on Ellie Kemper as a cult survivor.
WHAT WE THOUGHT: It's easy to see why NBC sold this lovable and wacky show to Netflix and we're kind of happy they did. Ellie Kemper is perfect as cult escapee Kimmy Schmidt and Tina Fey and Robert Carlock have a distinct—and wonderfully hilarious—style that will play well on Netflix…but on NBC, this show would surely be canceled. Thankfully we're already getting another season. More Jane Krakowski for all!
1. Empire
WHEN IT'S ON: Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Fox.
WHAT IT IS: A family hip-hop drama from Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, centering on Lucious Lyon, the head of a music empire who wants one of his three sons to take over the company after he's secretly diagnosed with ALS. Things get even more interesting when his ex-wife, Cookie, is released from prison after 17 years and wants the company.
WHAT WE THOUGHT: Um, not to get all dramatic a la Cookie Lyon, but EMPIRE IS THE GREATEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO TELEVISION. Seriously, it's the soap we've all been waiting for and now can't live without. The music is addictive, the sexual shenanigans are insane, the clothes are ah-mah-zing, and don't even get us started on Taraji P. Henson as Cookie. She was born to play this role.
And guess what? It's basically doing the TV impossible: going up in the ratings in each of its first three episodes. That. Doesn't Happen. Long live Empire!
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