Midseason TV Preview

Hundreds of shows premiere midway through the 2017-2018 television season, offering options for fans of almost every genre and viewing format. With a wide selection of original properties, adaptations and reboots, there is simply not enough time to watch all of the new TV addictions arriving. However, these four premieres are a definite must-see for any TV fan.

The Bachelor

In season twenty-two of romantic reality show “The Bachelor,” race car driver and “Bachelorette” runner-up Arie Luyendyk Jr. dates twenty-five women in the hopes of marrying one of them, who he will propose to in the season finale. Luyendyk and the competitors began filming both their one-on-one and group dates in Los Angeles on Sept. 2017. The competition for his heart begins on New Year’s Day 2018, when season twenty-two of “The Bachelor” airs on ABC.

Grown-ish (January 3, 2018 – Freeform)

While the ABC sitcom “Black-ish” focused on the Johnsons, a black family raising four children, “Grown-ish” focuses on their eldest daughter Zoey (Yara Shahidi) heading to college and journeying to adulthood. The spinoff highlights social issues faced by students and staff in the education system as Zoey adjusts to life on campus. Originally written for ABC and titled “College-ish,” the pilot episode of “Grown-ish” premieres Jan. 3 on Freeform.

Taken

A prequel to Liam Neeson’s blockbuster action trilogy of the same name, the “Taken” series follows a young Bryan Mills (Clive Standen) as he begins his career as a special intelligence operative while seeking revenge for his sister’s death. It was renewed for a second season after originally premiering in February 2017, but showrunner Alexander Cary and six main cast members left production. Season two of “Taken,” now run by former “Person of Interest” showrunner Greg Plageman, premieres Feb. 27 on NBC.

The Good Place

Halfway through its second season, “The Good Place” continues Eleanor Shellstrop’s (Kristen Bell) journey to become a better person in the afterlife after dying in a freak accident. Convinced her arrival in the Good Place was a mistake, she spent season one working with ethics professor Chidi Anagonye (William Jackson Harper) to learn ethics and avoid being sent to the Bad Place. However, season two focuses more on the creator of the Good Place, Michael (Ted Danson), as he joins Eleanor in her search for redemption in order to retain control of the afterlife. The midseason premiere of “The Good Place” is set for Jan. 4 on NBC.