LOS ANGELES — Television … now more than ever: To paraphrase the satirical film studio slogan of Robert Altman’s “The Player,” TV’s dominant mode these days is the avalanche, the deluge, the endless binge. But even amid the clutter of 500-some scripted and countless unscripted series, there’s plenty to be excited about, including originals from nascent (or still-to-be-launched) platforms like Apple TV+, HBO Max and Quibi. Let the Times TV team help you plan your viewing schedule with this list of our 20 most anticipated new and returning shows of 2020.
‘Party of Five’
More than 25 years after the original “Party of Five” reminded viewers that everybody wants to live like they wanna live, Freeform’s updated version of the TV drama is politically timely: The new series, set in Echo Park, revolves around the five Acosta siblings, who are forced to raise themselves and navigate the struggles of daily life after their parents are suddenly deported back to Mexico. It will be among the first to weave today’s immigration crisis into its premise. (Freeform, Jan. 8) –Yvonne Villarreal
‘The Outsider’
After last year’s invasion of projects from the mind of Stephen King (“It: Chapter 2,” “Doctor Sleep,” Season 2 of “Castle Rock”), do we really need more King? HBO thinks so, unveiling this limited series based on King’s novel. The logline is intriguing: “‘The Outsider’ begins by following a seemingly straightforward investigation into the gruesome murder of a young boy. But when an insidious supernatural force edges its way into the case, it leads a seasoned cop and an unorthodox investigator to question everything they believe in.” The trailer is dark and creepy, and the impressive cast includes Jason Bateman (“Ozark”) and Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet”). (HBO, Jan. 12) –Greg Braxton
‘Everything’s Gonna Be Okay’
Josh Thomas, an Australian comedian and actor who previously created the wonderful coming-out-and-of-age series “Please Like Me” back in 2013, returns with a new series, set in California, in which he becomes the willing if not quite ready guardian to his teenage half-sisters (Maeve Press and Kayla Cromer, who, like her character, is autistic). As in his previous series, there is a delighted interest in natural human weirdness, now with middle-school tropes mixed in. (Freeform, Jan. 16) –Robert Lloyd