Make a resolution to catch up on these great series.
“Scandal” (Thursdays, 10 p.m., ABC, returns Jan. 10) It was a mid-season replacement on the 2011-12 schedule, and you may have thought you’d had your fill of Shonda Rhimes after enduring the 2 billionth seasons of “Grey’s Anatomy” and spin-off “Private Practice.” But it turns out that all the antics that feel so stale in the hospital ward are exactly what the Oval Office needed.
Unlike “The West Wing,” there’s little policy discussion or hand-wringing over polarizing issues. No, these political wonks and their spin masters are hitting the sack, hatching murder plots and in general fighting dirty. Did I mention how much fun it was to take a break from reality?
When we last left DC, President Fitz (Tony Goldwyn) was incapacitated after a shocking shooting and Kerry Washington’s Olivia was back in the White House to keep an eye on power-hungry veep Sally Langston (Kate Burton). Washington is radiant and engaging, so if nothing else, watch her wear the hell out of those improbably perfect dresses as she and the prez ignite the screen.
“Burn Notice” (Thursdays, 10 p.m., USA, returns summer 2013) Normally, the sixth season of a basic cable spy caper wouldn’t make a must-see list, but they loaded this show with fantastic guest stars to play the baddies — “Justified’s” Jere Burns as the blackmailing Organization leader, “Scrubs” alum John C. McGinley as the wolf in sheep’s clothing, and “The Wire” veteran Sonja Sohn as the unhinged renegade agent — which has breathed new life into the Miami drama. Tossing in a few budget-busting explosions and chases a-go-go, this series managed to keep an action-movie pace week after week.
“General Hospital” (Weekdays, 2 p.m., ABC) There isn’t a lot to be celebrating in the soap world, with the demise of so many stalwarts in the past five years. But those that remain — “The Young and the Restless,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” Days of Our Lives” and “General Hospital” — are all making concerted efforts to keep the remaining viewers tuning in.
The leader among them was “GH,” which pulled out every star from its swashbuckling 1980s lineup. They were right to do so: We saw the return of Finola Hughes’ former super-spy Anna Devane, proving that women over 40 are still leading lady material and re-affirming that the ridiculous plots that made soaps fun in the ’80s can still make daytime drama worthwhile.
“Treme” (Sunday, 10 p.m., HBO, Fall) The stepchild of HBO dramas — “Game of Thrones,” “Boardwalk Empire” and even “True Blood” get all the love — finally united the various stories, or at least the various characters, under one roof by the end of its best season yet as they rallied around the beleaguered LaDonna (Khandi Alexander). And seeing as how next season is the New Orleans tale’s truncated final performance, you can find a little room in your 2013 schedule to enjoy the best music on any series ever.
“Nashville” (Wednesday, 10 p.m., ABC, returns Jan. 9) Nashville is about country music about as much as “Friday Night Lights” was about football. Now that you know there aren’t (too many) rhinestones or twang, will you please give this under-loved show a chance?
There’s plenty of mainstream appeal — super-cute Hayden Panettiere’s diva superstar was picked up for, like, shoplifting and stuff! But what makes this show great is that the adult storylines are more interesting than the younger demo’s travails, with plenty of tawdry love affairs mixed up with a fantastic family drama. Mama fantasizes about an episode where Powers Boothe’s conniving daddy and Britton’s Rayna James get trapped in an elevator just so she can watch an entire episode of these two sparring.
And even though the younger set may be a little grating at times (naïve Scarlett may have the voice of an angel, but she has the brain of a toddler), none of the characters are as one-note as you’d expect from a network drama.