Clear Your DVRs!
It's been real, it's been good, but it's time to say goodbye to 2016 and welcome in 2017. And the best way to do that? Making sure our DVRs are set to catch the best TV offerings in the new year, including new seasons of The Bachelor and Scandal, farewells to Girls and The Vampire Diaries and a slew of can't miss new shows. Here is your guide to the must-watch TV events in the beginning of 2017...
The Mendendez Brothers
The true crime trend isn't going anywhere, and if 2016 was about O.J. Simpson, 2017 is shaping up to be about Lyle and Erik Menendez, the brothers who murdered their parents in 1989, leading to one of the most infamous trials in American history. ABC is airing a two-hour special, Truth and Lies: The Menendez Brothers – American Sons, American Murderers, on Jan. 5, featuring an interview with Lyle in prison, and NBC is taking on the case in the first season of Law & Order: True Crime, set to air at some point in 2017.
One Last Girls Trip
While they might not grow up, the four women at the center of Lena Dunham's Girls are outgrowing us, with the final season set to begin on Feb. 12 on HBO.
Riverdale Comes to Life
Think Twin Peaks-meets-Gossip Girl in the CW's live-action take on the Archie comics, which is our new obsession and one of the best new offerings of the year. Starring KJ Apa (Archie), Cole Sprouse (Jughead), Camila Mendes (Veronica) and Lili Reinhart (Betty), Riverdale debuts on Jan. 26.
The Most Controversial Bachelor Ever
In his fourth appearance in the franchise, Nick Viall is finally the one calling the shots and we can't wait to see happens when his season of The Bachelor premieres on Monday, Jan. 2
Get Nasty
Christine Baranski, Cush Jumbo and Rose Leslie star in The Good Fight, CBS All-Access' The Good Wife spinoff, and judging from the first trailer, we can expect it to be just as sexy and dramatic as the OG. After premiering on CBS proper on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 8 p.m., The Good Fight will debut subsequent episodes premiering on CBS All Access each Sunday.
Bad Religion
Jude Law's not a regular Pope, he's a cool Pope (Lenny Belardo is his name!) in HBO's new drama debuting on Jan. 15. If a Pope named Lenny Belardo isn't enough to get you to watch, Diane Keaton also stars. And Jude Law wears THAT hat.
Endings Suck
After eight seasons in Mystic Falls, viewers will say goodbye to the Salvatore brothers in The Vampire Diaries series finale on Friday, March 10. Who will live? Will who die? Who will end up together? And will Nina Dobrev return as Elena?! So many questions, so little time.
You're Terminated?
So long, Donald Trump. Hello, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The New Celebrity Apprentice is back with a new boss and new cast on Jan. 3 on NBC...and will be debuting a new catchphrase for The Terminator star to deliver to the ousted contestants. Is "Hasta la vista, baby" too obvious?
Disney Overload!
We've got Descendants 2 coming up, which will introduce the offspring of Captain Hook and Ursula, this year, as well as highly anticipated DuckTales revival, featuring the voices of David Tennant, Ben Schwartz, Danny Pudi and Bobby Moynihan. Oh, and we've also got Tangled: The Series to look forward to as well, with Zachary Levi and Mandy Moore returning.
It's Handled
Rejoice, Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) is finally back on Jan. 19 with its sixth season, and we've never needed our Gladiator (and her red wine!) more.
Netflix's Latest Hero
Clear your schedule for March 17 because that's when Iron Fist, Netflix's latest Marvel superhero offering starring Game of Thrones' Finn Jones, drops.
It's Not Really an X-Men Show
Don't know the name David Haller yet? You will after Feb. 8, once Fargo boss Noah Hawley's new FX show about the X-Men comics character, debuts, and gives TV it's most mind-trippy sort-of superhero series yet. Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens stars as David (aka the son of X-Men founder Professor Charles Xavier in the comics), with Jean Smart and Aubrey Plaza also starring.
Drew Gets Weird
Not a lot is known about Netflix's new series The Santa Clarita Diet, starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as a married couple/real estate agent, but we're hearing it's delightfully weird, so prepare to make an indent in your couch when it premieres on Feb. 3.
Reese Witherspoon Comes to TV
Get your book club together now and read Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies before the HBO miniseries starring a stacked cast including Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz, Adam Scott and Alexander Skarsgard, debuts on Feb. 19 and has everyone talking.
The Rebellion Begins
Feb. 12, The Walking Dead FINALLY starts fighting back against Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and we can finally (hopefully) stop being super-depressed by each episode!
Gwen's Back!
When The Voice returns for season 12 on Feb. 27, Gwen Stefani will once again be seated next to her real-life beau Blake Shelton, but we're just as excited to see her chemistry with season 11 newbie Alicia Keys, who is returning for another season.
Jack Isn't Back
24 is back...again...but without Kiefer Sutherland. That's right, 24: Legacy is set to debut on Fox after the Super Bowl on Feb. 5, but it's a reboot as Jack Bauer will not be a part of the series. Taking over the fight against the ticking clock is Corey Hawkins as Eric Carter, with Dan Bucatinsky, Miranda Otto, Teddy Sears and Jimmy Smits also starring.
Peace Out, Uber A!
After seven seasons of torture at the hood of A, Freeform will wrap up Pretty Little Liars' run beginning in April. Finally, we don't have to be terrified every time we see Lucy Hale receive a text message!
Nashville's Big Move
ABC's loss is CMT's gain as the country music soap is set to make its comeback on Jan. 5...without two familiar faces as Will Chase and Audrey Peeples will no longer be series regulars. And according to reports, leading lady Connie Britton may only appear in 10 of the 22 episodes.
Surviving and Thriving
After a few controversial deaths in season three (RIP Lexa and Lincoln!), The 100 returns for its fourth season on Wednesday, Feb. 1 on the CW, and is promising that "from the ashes" they will rise...if they can survive 96 percent of the planet becoming uninhabitable, that is.