Pilot season is back, and streaming wars are heating up! The TV world keeps reinventing itself weekly. Whether you like spy thrillers, West Texas dramas, or comfort TV, there’s something for everyone if you know where to look.
In this edition of TV Corner Notes, NBC kicked off 2026 with an exciting lineup of new pilots, including a lively reboot of The Rockford Files, Josh Safran’s compelling U.S. Marshal drama Protection, and Dick Wolf’s intriguing What the Dead Know.
Peacock brought joy to fans with Ponies, a vibrant ’70s spy thriller featuring Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson. Meanwhile, Ted reminds us that even a furry, foul-mouthed teddy bear can be irresistibly lovable in its prequel series (Season 2 premieres on March 5!). And, of course, Landman wrapped up a thrilling Season 2 with a finale packed with action, touching moments, and satisfying resolutions. Let's dive in.
Pilot Season is Back
In a move that feels like a return to tradition, NBC is back in the pilot game this week with six major orders. While many networks have moved toward straight-to-series models, NBC is sticking to the developmental "Hunger Games," and the slate is an intriguing mix of reboots and high-concept procedurals.
NBC is making another attempt at reviving the classic series The Rockford Files, this time with writer Mike Daniels (The Village) at the helm. Another is Protection: A U.S. Marshal drama from Quantico creator Josh Safran and, interestingly, The Today Show’s Jenna Bush Hager. And don't forget the Untitled comedy from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici are returning to the network with a new PI pilot that is sure to bring their signature wit.
Another pilot pick-up is Puzzled, written by Joey Falco (Charmed). This series follows Mike Brink, a once-promising college athlete whose life is changed by a traumatic brain injury. The injury leaves him with the unique ability to "see" the world in complex patterns, which he uses to help local police solve impossible crimes.It can't be NBC without another Dick Wolf-produced series. What the Dead Know: From the Dick Wolf powerhouse and writer Beth Rinehart (FBI: Most Wanted), this show centers on Ava Ledger. Ava is a brilliant death investigator who is a natural with the deceased but struggles significantly with the living. She’ll team up with the NYPD on their grimmest cases.
It’s great to see NBC keeping the pilot tradition going! While many reboots don't quite get off the ground, the mix of Dean Georgaris' experience and a new take on the "gifted investigator" idea in Puzzled makes this lineup really promising. We're looking forward to the Upfronts in May to find out which shows will be part of the Fall 2026 schedule.
Which of these pilots has you most excited? Are we ready for a new Jim Rockford, or should some classics stay in the vault? Let us know in the comments!
First Look: Sophie Turner’s Lara Croft
This week, the internet was buzzing with excitement over the first official photos of Sophie Turner as the legendary Lara Croft. Prime Video shared a charming "wardrobe test" image to celebrate the start of production for Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Tomb Raider series, and it’s a delightful nod to the '90s! With the classic green tank, black shorts, and dark sunglasses, Turner effortlessly channels the vintage video game explorer we all adore.
Of course, even with the spot-on look, some folks are still curious about her casting. While Turner’s fame from Game of Thrones and the X-Men movies is well-known, many of us are eager to see if she can bring the toughness and physical strength that this iconic role deserves.
The good news? We won't have to wait long to see her shine again. Her newest Prime Video thriller, Steal, premieres this Wednesday, January 21. Playing an everyday office worker caught up in a daring heist, this part might just be the perfect chance for her to show the depth and grit she’ll need as Lara Croft.
What are your thoughts on the photos? Do you think Turner is the right choice, or is she just capturing the look? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
Landman Delivers a Gritty, Satisfying Season 2 Finale
The Landman Season 2 finale is classic Taylor Sheridan: tense, gritty, emotionally grounded, and quietly game-changing.
Without getting into spoilers, the episode reshapes the power dynamics in a big way. Characters who’ve been underestimated all season finally get their moment, and the story pivots from survival mode toward something more dangerous — control.
Billy Bob Thornton remains the show’s anchor, giving his best performance of the season as a man who’s tired of being cornered and ready to redraw the map. The finale also sneaks in some genuine emotional payoff, letting a few long-running relationships breathe while setting up bigger complications ahead.
It’s not flawless — there’s one plot convenience you’ll probably clock, and a running joke that’s worn thin — but the landing is strong, confident, and full of uneasy promise.
If this season was about enduring the system, next season feels like it’ll be about trying to beat it… and paying the price.
Read my full recap and review for spoilers and deeper thoughts.
Ponies Is a Neon-Cold Spy Thriller About the Power of Being Overlooked
Peacock kicked off 2026 with one of the coolest surprises on streaming: Ponies, a slick, neon-cold spy thriller set in 1970s Moscow that proves the most dangerous people in the room aren’t always the ones in suits… sometimes they’re the ones carrying groceries.
The series follows two “embassy wives” — played by Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson — who quickly discover that being overlooked might actually be their greatest weapon. What starts as culture shock and quiet frustration turns into something far riskier, smarter, and more emotionally layered than your average spy drama.
The tone hits a sweet spot between The Americans–style tension and a darker, sharper sense of humor. Clarke brings tightly wound intensity, Richardson supplies chaotic charm, and together they make a genuinely fun, unpredictable duo. Add in a killer ’70s aesthetic (grainy visuals, split screens, and an excellent soundtrack), and you’ve got a show that feels stylish without being hollow.
It’s not perfect — the pacing wobbles a bit early on, and a few side plots linger longer than needed — but once it locks in, it’s gripping, funny, and quietly devastating in places.
If you like spy stories with personality, atmosphere, and women who refuse to stay underestimated, this one belongs on your list.
Read my full recap and review for deeper thoughts.
Ponies is streaming now on Peacock.
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Ted Is Way Funnier Than It Has Any Right to Be
Season 2 of Ted drops this March, which reminded me that I somehow never wrote about how much I loved Season 1 when it premiered in 2024. A personal failure, honestly.
Because I fully expected this prequel series to be unnecessary.
A foul-mouthed teddy bear… again? A young version of Mark Wahlberg’s character? I was ready to roll my eyes and move on.
Instead, I blew through all seven episodes in two days.
Set in 1993, the show finds Ted crashing with teenage John Bennett and his very stressed-out family, causing chaos wherever he goes — including, yes, public high school. What unfolds is basically a coming-of-age story filtered through bad decisions, hormones, and one stuffed animal with zero impulse control.
The surprise is how well it works.
Max Burkholder nails the “young Wahlberg energy” without doing an impression, and Giorgia Whigham is a standout as John’s cousin Blaire, the only person in the house who consistently calls out the nonsense. Scott Grimes and Alanna Ubach also quietly steal scenes as John’s wildly unbalanced but weirdly lovable parents.
It’s filthy, ridiculous, and very Seth MacFarlane… but it’s also kind of a cozy family sitcom in disguise. And the ’90s setting actually adds something real — no phones, bad fashion, chaotic vibes, the whole thing feeling lived-in instead of retro for retro’s sake.
If MacFarlane’s humor has never been your thing, this won’t convert you. But if it is? This might be his best TV work yet.
Long story short: Ted had no business being this funny or this charming. It’s perfect, “accidentally watched four episodes” comfort TV.
If you missed it the first time around (like I almost did), now’s a good moment to catch up before Season 2 hits March 5.
Full review up now on The TV Corner.
What to Watch This Week
Monday, January 19
Hidden Assets Season 3 (Acorn TV)
Judy Justice Season 4 (Prime Video)
7:30/6:30c College Football Playoff National Championship (ESPN)
Hoops, Hopes and Dreams (Hulu): The documentary short explores how Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Barack Obama used basketball to unite communities, inspire civic engagement, and spark generational change.
Tuesday, January 20
Handsome Devil: The Charming Killer (Paramount+, three-episode binge): The docuseries unravels how Wade Wilson, a 25-year-old Florida man arrested for the brutal murders of two women, unexpectedly became a social media fixation.
WWE: Unreal Season 2 (Netflix, five-episode binge_
9/8c Star Search (Netflix): Airing Tuesday and Wednesday nights, the revived talent competition is hosted by Anthony Anderson and features live performances with real-time voting.
Wednesday, January 21
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 finale (Disney+)
Queer Eye final season (Netflix)
Steal (Prime Video, six-episode binge): Sophie Turner stars as an office worker taken hostage during a violent heist at a London pension fund, pulling her into the center of a high-stakes crime.
9/8c The Beauty (FX, three-episode premiere): From executive producer Ryan Murphy, the thriller stars Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall as FBO agents investigating murders linked to a mysterious virus concocted by a tech billionaire (Ashton Kutcher) that promises physical perfection at a deadly cost.
9/8c Fear Factor: House of Fear Episode 2/time slot premiere (Fox)
Thursday, January 22
Canada Shore (Paramount+, two-episode premiere): The Canadian edition of MTV's "Shore" franchise follows a group of singles living together for a summer of partying, hookups, and hangovers.
Finding Her Edge (Netflix, even-episode binge): To save her family's rink, a former skater (Madelyn Keys) returns to the ice with an exciting new partner while holding onto feelings for her old one, her first love.
8/7c Hell's Kitchen Season 24 finale (Fox)
8/7c Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man! (HBO, two-night event): Airing over two consecutive nights, the docuseries explores the life, career, friendships, and loves of a legendary writer, director, producer, and performer.
Friday, January 23
8/7c Nowhere Man Episode 2/time slot premiere (Starz)
8/7c Skyscarper Live (Netflix live event): World-famous free solo climber Alex Honnold attempts to ascend one of the planet's tallest skyscrapers in a high-stakes live event from Taipei, Taiwan.
10/9c Real Time with Bill Maher, Season 24 (HBO)
Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie (Peacock)
The Smashing Machine (HBO Max)
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (Hulu)
Saturday, January 24
8/7c Planet Earth: Kingdom (BBC America): Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, the latest installment chronicles the interconnected lives of leopards, gyenas, wild dogs, and lions in a remote river valley in Zambia.
9/8c Have I Got News for You Season 4 (CNN)
It looks like this week is a great reminder that TV still has a lot to surprise us! Whether you’re exploring new pilot season favorites, relaxing with familiar comfort shows like Ted, or getting lost in the vibrant world of Ponies, there’s so much to enjoy on your screen.
What shows have caught your eye this week? We'd love to hear your top picks in the comments. Don't forget to check out the full recaps and reviews of all the exciting shows making waves.
Until next time,
Adam
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