Nothing like starting off a new year with a few good men whom Mama is happy to see are back on TV:
“Cougar Town”
(Tuesday, 10 p.m., TBS)
Courteney Cox guest starred on former “Friend” Matthew Perry’s short-lived sitcom “Go On,” so he repays the favor by showing up on the improbable fifth season of her wine-fueled comedy. And even though Cox’s Jules is married, “Cougar” found a way around it – she loses her wedding ring in a car accident — so we can all enjoy a few minutes of the former on-screen spouses as they show off their chemistry again.
“Helix”
(Friday, 10 p.m., Syfy)
The better-with-aging Billy Campbell was last seen as a philandering, politically motivated murder suspect on “The Killing,” but now he’s on the receiving end of betrayal as the scientist whose wife (Jordan Hayes) had an affair with his brother (Neil). Campbell’s suddenly sexy CDC scientist is tasked with heading to the Arctic to save his infected brother and the rest of the world in this series from the people who brought us “Battlestar Galactica” and “Lost,” which this new sci-fi series closely resembles.
“Banshee”
(Friday, 10 p.m., Cinemax)
The fun action-movie is back for another season of ex-con Lucas Hood (Antony Starr) assuming the life of a small-town sheriff in Pennsylvania. Every good action series needs a fresh villain to threaten our hero for a second season, and nothing says creepy bad guy like Zeljko Ivanek (“Damages”), who appears in the season premiere as – you guessed it – a creepy bad guy.
“True Detective”
(Sunday, 9 p.m., HBO)
Yes, this new gritty detective duo’s story moves at a snail’s pace, but that just gives Mama more time to leer at stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, who returns to the small screen for his first full-time TV gig time since he left “Cheers.”
“The Good Wife”
(Sunday, 9 p.m., CBS)
Bruce Springsteen’s new album provides the soundtrack for this week’s continuing courtroom battle between Alicia (Julianna Margulies) and Will (Josh Charles) to see who can turn each other on the most. And while he doesn’t appear on screen, the Boss sound is always a welcome addition to liven up any story. The law drama also welcomes Victor Garber (“Alias”) as the latest guest judge and Tom Skerritt (“Picket Fences”) as a new Lockhart/Gardner client.