Although it may be hard to believe, there are other shows coming on this winter besides “Downton Abbey.” And many of them are new. After a disappointing start to the season — “The Blacklist” is the only hit among the fall shows — the networks and cable stations are rolling out their B line of shows, hoping some of them, which cover genres as diverse as crime, science fiction and comedy, resonate with viewers. Many of these will premiere next month, before the start of the winter Olympics and the long-awaited arrival of Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show” on NBC. Here’s an early look at what’s coming up, just in case your DVR isn’t full yet.
![]()
Jan. 18, 8 p.m., Lifetime
Playing Sally Draper for six seasons on “Mad Men” seems to have given Kiernan Shipka a taste for kinky material. In her first major role, Shipka is co-starring in the remake of “Flowers in the Attic,” the gothic chiller based on the wildly successful novel by V.C. Andrews. “Flowers” weaves the twisted story of the Dollanganger kids who, after the unexpected death of their father, are convinced by their mother, Corrine (Heather Graham), to stay hidden in the attic of their wealthy grandparents’ mansion so she can reclaim the family fortune. But as her visits wane (she soon finds a man), the children endure hostile treatment at the hands of their ruthless grandmother Olivia Foxworth (Ellen Burstyn). As years pass and the eldest children Cathy (Shipka) and Christopher (Mason Dye) come of age — emotionally and physically — their family’s sordid past entraps them further as they turn to each other for comfort.
![]()
Jan. 8, 10 p.m., ABC
Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”) plays Molly Parker, the only female Texas Ranger patrolling the violent Lone Star state frontier. You have to figure Parker’s pretty good to qualify for a spot in this elite law enforcement squad, but “Killer Women,” from the “Modern Family “ star Sofia Vergara, is a television series, so Parker is surrounded by men — like police lieutenant Guillermo Salazar (Vic Trevino) — who want to see her fail. (Been there, done that and it was called “Prime Suspect,” with Helen Mirren.) Anyway, the Rangers have her back, led by company commander Luis Zea (Alex Fernandez). Parker has a complicated personal life as well. In the midst of a divorce, she has started an affair with a DEA Agent. Well, at least Parker is not bipolar like Carrie Mathison of “Homeland” or suffering from Asperger’s syndrome like Sonya Cross from “The Bridge.”
![]()
Jan. 18, 8 p.m., HBO
It’s “Girls” for gay men. An updated version of Armistead Maupin’s “Tales of the City,” the generically titled “Looking” revolves around three friends in San Francisco who explore the fun and sometimes overwhelming options available to a new generation of gay men. The show stars Jonathan Groff, Frankie J. Alvarez and Murray Bartlett.
![]()
Feb. 17, after the Olympics, NBC
NBC’s golden boy — well, he’s not really a boy anymore — makes his debut as host of the network’s historic late-night talk show after Leno signs off. So long Hollywood, hello New York. Fallon’s appointment begat more controversy, as “The Tonight Show,” which had been in LA since 1972, announced that it was moving back to the Big Apple where it originated. This is a seismic shift in the television landscape and New York’s position as the global entertainment capital. Fallon will be able to take advantage of all the talent that comes in and out of the city, not to mention all the Broadway, sports and television stars who are already working here.
![]()
Jan. 9, 10 p.m., IFC
A star-studded cast gathers for a sublimely silly “Spoils of Babylon,” a send-up of multigenerational television sagas in the vein of “The Thorn Birds” “The Winds of War” and yes, “Downton Abbey.”
In the story written by Eric Jonrosh (Will Ferrell), Jonas Morehouse (Tim Robbins), patriarch and oil baron, shepherds his daughter Cynthia (Kristen Wiig) and adopted son Devon (Tobey Maguire) from meager beginnings in the oil fields of Texas to powerful boardrooms in New York City. Already in love, Cynthia and Devon stumble through war-torn battlefields, blazing mansions, filthy drug dens and velvet-sheeted bedrooms on their quest for power and influence.
Despite Jonas’ best efforts to intervene, Cynthia and Devon’s merciless love sets into motion a wave of destruction that crashes down on Devon’s graceful wife, Lady Anne (Carey Mulligan), his daughter Marianne (Jelly Howie), his colleague and lover Dixie (Jessica Alba), Cynthia’s henpecked husband Chet (Michael Sheen), her evil son Winston (Haley Joel Osment) and even two scheming generals (Val Kilmer and Steve Tom) and far beyond.
Rest of the shows @ the Source
ONTD viewing post for Flowers in the Attic, Y/N?
Flowers In the Attic
Jan. 18, 8 p.m., Lifetime
Playing Sally Draper for six seasons on “Mad Men” seems to have given Kiernan Shipka a taste for kinky material. In her first major role, Shipka is co-starring in the remake of “Flowers in the Attic,” the gothic chiller based on the wildly successful novel by V.C. Andrews. “Flowers” weaves the twisted story of the Dollanganger kids who, after the unexpected death of their father, are convinced by their mother, Corrine (Heather Graham), to stay hidden in the attic of their wealthy grandparents’ mansion so she can reclaim the family fortune. But as her visits wane (she soon finds a man), the children endure hostile treatment at the hands of their ruthless grandmother Olivia Foxworth (Ellen Burstyn). As years pass and the eldest children Cathy (Shipka) and Christopher (Mason Dye) come of age — emotionally and physically — their family’s sordid past entraps them further as they turn to each other for comfort.
Killer Women
Jan. 8, 10 p.m., ABC
Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”) plays Molly Parker, the only female Texas Ranger patrolling the violent Lone Star state frontier. You have to figure Parker’s pretty good to qualify for a spot in this elite law enforcement squad, but “Killer Women,” from the “Modern Family “ star Sofia Vergara, is a television series, so Parker is surrounded by men — like police lieutenant Guillermo Salazar (Vic Trevino) — who want to see her fail. (Been there, done that and it was called “Prime Suspect,” with Helen Mirren.) Anyway, the Rangers have her back, led by company commander Luis Zea (Alex Fernandez). Parker has a complicated personal life as well. In the midst of a divorce, she has started an affair with a DEA Agent. Well, at least Parker is not bipolar like Carrie Mathison of “Homeland” or suffering from Asperger’s syndrome like Sonya Cross from “The Bridge.”
Looking
Jan. 18, 8 p.m., HBO
It’s “Girls” for gay men. An updated version of Armistead Maupin’s “Tales of the City,” the generically titled “Looking” revolves around three friends in San Francisco who explore the fun and sometimes overwhelming options available to a new generation of gay men. The show stars Jonathan Groff, Frankie J. Alvarez and Murray Bartlett.
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Feb. 17, after the Olympics, NBC
NBC’s golden boy — well, he’s not really a boy anymore — makes his debut as host of the network’s historic late-night talk show after Leno signs off. So long Hollywood, hello New York. Fallon’s appointment begat more controversy, as “The Tonight Show,” which had been in LA since 1972, announced that it was moving back to the Big Apple where it originated. This is a seismic shift in the television landscape and New York’s position as the global entertainment capital. Fallon will be able to take advantage of all the talent that comes in and out of the city, not to mention all the Broadway, sports and television stars who are already working here.
Spoils of Babylon
Jan. 9, 10 p.m., IFC
A star-studded cast gathers for a sublimely silly “Spoils of Babylon,” a send-up of multigenerational television sagas in the vein of “The Thorn Birds” “The Winds of War” and yes, “Downton Abbey.”
In the story written by Eric Jonrosh (Will Ferrell), Jonas Morehouse (Tim Robbins), patriarch and oil baron, shepherds his daughter Cynthia (Kristen Wiig) and adopted son Devon (Tobey Maguire) from meager beginnings in the oil fields of Texas to powerful boardrooms in New York City. Already in love, Cynthia and Devon stumble through war-torn battlefields, blazing mansions, filthy drug dens and velvet-sheeted bedrooms on their quest for power and influence.
Despite Jonas’ best efforts to intervene, Cynthia and Devon’s merciless love sets into motion a wave of destruction that crashes down on Devon’s graceful wife, Lady Anne (Carey Mulligan), his daughter Marianne (Jelly Howie), his colleague and lover Dixie (Jessica Alba), Cynthia’s henpecked husband Chet (Michael Sheen), her evil son Winston (Haley Joel Osment) and even two scheming generals (Val Kilmer and Steve Tom) and far beyond.
Rest of the shows @ the Source
ONTD viewing post for Flowers in the Attic, Y/N?