Midseason 2022 TV highlights: ‘Atlanta,’ ‘Bridgerton,’ ‘The Gilded Age,’ ‘Naomi,’ more – OregonLive

Last year, looking ahead to the winter TV schedule felt a bit like a gamble. The pandemic was forcing sudden production pauses, and demanding pivots from networks and streaming services in response to rising case numbers. Now, with 2022 getting off to an uncertain start, COVID-19 variants have already forced some abrupt changes in schedules, and led to the cancellation or postponement of previously announced shows.

Does this mean the winter 2022 TV schedule will throw us more curveballs? If there’s one lesson we’ve all learned, it’s that there’s really no way of knowing what may be coming. But at least the midseason lineup promises to include some much-anticipated new series (“The Gilded Age”), the return of others that have been absent (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) and what we can only hope are some surprises that turn out to be delightful, not dismaying.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights of the midseason 2022 TV schedule:

JANUARY 2

“Around the World in 80 Days”: Jules Verne’s saga about a wealthy Victorian gentleman who makes a wager that he can circle the globe in 80 days gets a new adaptation. David Tennant (“Broadchurch”) stars as Phileas Fogg, Ibrahim Koma plays Fogg’s intrepid valet, and Leonie Benesch plays a journalist who joins them on the journey (8 p.m. PBS)

JANUARY 4

“Abbott Elementary”: A sneak preview of the first episode of this new comedy about teachers and students at a financially strapped Philadelphia public school indicated that this will be one of the best new shows of the year. The “mockumentary” approach that became popular thanks to “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation” gets a new breath of life here, thanks to executive producer/writer/star Quinta Brunson, and costars Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and more. (9 p.m. ABC; stream on fubo TV)

JANUARY 5

“The Amazing Race”: After being forced to pause production in 2020 because of the pandemic, the competition series resumed filming and returns for Season 33. Among the teams competing in an itinerary that includes London, Scotland, Switzerland and more are Taylor Green-Jones, 38, and Isaiah Green-Jones, 31, a couple from Portland. (8 p.m. CBS; stream on Paramount + and fubo TV)

Adrienne Warren in Women of the Movement

Adrienne Warren in “Women of the Movement.” (Photo: ABC/James Van Evers)
ABC

“Women of the Movement”: The true story of Mamie Till-Mobley, the mother of Emmett Till — the Black teenager who was brutally killed in Mississippi in 1955 — inspired this six-episode series. Adrienne Warren stars as the woman whose grief helped spur her to become a public face of the emerging civil rights movement. The cast also includes Tonya Pinkins, Cedric Joe, Ray Fisher, Glynn Turman and Chris Coy.  Gina Prince-Bythewood, Tina Mabry, Julie Dash and Kasi Lemmons are among the directors.  (8 p.m. ABC; stream on fubo TV)

Callum Woodhouse and Nicholas Ralph in All Creatures Great and Small Season 2

Callum Woodhouse as Tristan Farnon and Nicholas Ralph as James Herriot in “All Creatures Great and Small” Season 2. (Photo: Matt Squire/Playground Television/PBS)

JANUARY 9

“All Creatures Great and Small”: The endearing new production based on James Herriott’s memories of working as a veterinarian in Yorkshire in the 1930s returns for a second season. It may not be groundbreaking television, but there’s comfort and joy in watching nice people, lovable animals, and a likable ensemble of actors that includes Nicholas Ralph, Samuel West, Anna Madeley, Callum Woodhouse and Rachel Shenton. (9 p.m. PBS)

JANUARY 11

“Naomi”: The superhero comic series from Portland-based writers Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker, and illustrated by Jamal Campbell, makes the leap to TV in this new series. Adding to the excitement is the fact that the series is written and executive produced by Ava DuVernay (“Selma,” “When They See Us”) and “Arrow” writer and co-executive producer Jill Blankenship. Set in a Pacific Northwest community called Port Oswego, “Naomi” stars Kaci Walfall as a teenager and Superman fan who learns there’s more to her world – and her destiny – than she thought.  (9 p.m. The CW)

Related: ‘Naomi’ comic brings diversity and ‘Portland spirit’ to the DC universe

JANUARY 13

“Peacemaker”: John Cena returns as the character first seen in executive producer James Gunn’s movie, “The Suicide Squad.” Gunn wrote the eight-episode comic adventure series, and directed five episodes. In addition to Cena, whose Peacemaker isn’t above committing mayhem to achieve his supposed nonviolent aims, the cast includes Danielle Brooks as Adebayo, Freddie Stroma as Vigilante, Jennifer Holland as Harcourt, Chukwudi Iwuji as Murn, Steve Agee as Economos and Robert Patrick as Auggie Smith. (Stream on HBO Max)

JANUARY 21

“Ozark”: After a lengthy delay, the drama returns for a fourth and final season. We can only hope this installment lives up to the intense, heart-wrenching third season. Jason Bateman, Laura Linney and Julia Garner are among the three standouts who will be back. Bruce Davison also joins the cast as a guest star, playing a retired U.S. Senator from Illinois. Considering Bateman and Linney’s Marty and Wendy Byrde are up to their eyeballs in criminal activity, we can hardly expect any new faces to be there to cheer everyone up. The final, 14-episode season will arrive in two parts, so this is the first batch of seven episodes. (Netflix)

JANUARY 24

“The Gilded Age”: Expectations are through the roof for this new period drama from “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes. Instead of taking place across the pond, the story here is set in New York City, when the Gilded Age of the title was minting new family fortunes, along with reinforcing old-money empires.  Louisa Jacobson stars as a young woman who, in 1882, moves from her home in Pennsylvania following the death of her father, and joins the household presided over by her wealthy aunts, Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon). As if that doesn’t sound promising enough, the aunts are, as the series description says, “enmeshed in a social war” involving the nouveau riche upstarts, George Russell (Morgan Spector), a railroad tycoon, and his wife, Bertha (Carrie Coon). (9 p.m. HBO; stream on HBO Max)

Rachel Brosnahan in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 4

Rachel Brosnahan in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Season 4.Christopher Saunders/Amazon Prime Video

FEBRUARY 18

“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”: It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen the latest adventures of Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), thanks to a pandemic-caused production delay. The show is at least returning for Season 4, and while details are so far scarce, the season will begin in the 1960s. Midge will no doubt work to further her stand-up comedy career, deal with her manager, Susie (Alex Borstein), and her parents (played by Tony Shalhoub and Marin Hinkle) and that the guest case includes Milo Ventimiglia, the “This Is Us” star who worked with “Maisel” executive producers creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino back in their “Gilmore Girls” days. Luke Kirby, who has made a strong impression as the trailblazing comic Lenny Bruce, is also scheduled to return.  While “Maisel” can be irritatingly cute, and Midge is hard to believe as a stand-up, the show’s style and fantastic costume and production design make it a treat for the eyes. (Stream on Prime Video)

MARCH 20

“Sanditon”: The popular miniseries inspired by an unfinished novel by Jane Austen returns for a second season. The story begins nine months after the first season’s rather unromantic conclusion. While Theo James isn’t set to return, Rose Williams again plays Charlotte Heywood, Crystal Clarke is Georgina Lambe, Kris Marshall is Tom Parker, and Anne Reid is Lady Denham. (9 p.m. PBS)

MARCH 24

“Atlanta”: It’s been a whopping three years since we’ve seen a new episode of Donald Glover’s inventive series, “Atlanta.” So it’s wonderful to report that the show will finally be back for Season 3, premiering with two episodes. According to the announcement, Season 3 will be set almost entirely in Europe, where Earn (Glover), Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry), Darius (LaKeith Stanfield) and Van (Zazie Beetz) are on tour, and dealing with their surroundings and the success they’ve been trying to achieve. (10 p.m. FX; stream on fubo TV)

MARCH 25

“Bridgerton”: At least, the delicious series set in Regency era England returns for a second season. Expect more travails as members of the Bridgerton family and others in their orbit jockey for social position. Unfortunately, we shouldn’t expect to see the return of the handsome Duke of Hastings, Simon Bassett (Regé-Jean Page), who won the heart of Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) in Season 1. Instead, the second season will focus on Lord Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and his love life. (Stream on Netflix)

More of our coverage:

Midseason TV 2022: Premiere dates for new and returning shows

— Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

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