Top 10 Anticipated New TV Shows of 2015

We really are in the golden age of television, and the year 2015 continued that glorious trend. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 anticipated new shows of 2015.

For this list, we’re looking at those shows that have a significant amount of hype behind them, due to their intriguing stories, a famous actor, a respected showrunner, or countless other reasons. Everything is fair game on this list, including cable, network, and internet-based TV, just as long as it has a confirmed 2015 release date. However, we’re excluding shows that were anticipated but, after airing an episode or two, failed to live up to the hype. So without further ado, let’s take a look at what to expect for 2015.

Set for release exclusively on Netflix in March, in a partnership with Sony Entertainment, this show revolves around a group of siblings whose estranged brother returns home, causing long-kept secrets to come forth. Why do people think it’ll be good? Well, it’s created by the showrunners of “Damages,” and stars Kyle Chandler in the main role, and really, who doesn’t love that guy? Expected to be a dark, intriguing family drama with some great writers and actors, and with the Netflix and Sony names behind it, you know this one will continue Netflix’s legacy as a leading player in TV.

Premiering on CBS on March 1st, this show trails a pair of…let’s call them dissimilar detectives as they battle crime in the fittingly named “Battle Creek.” While the premise sounds cliché, what distinguishes this is the star power of leads Josh Duhamel and Dean Winters, and the cachet of “Breaking Bad”’s Vince Gilligan as creator. While it may be Gilligan’s brainchild, the showrunner is actually “NYPD Blue” and “House”’s David Shore. Either way, with great actors and two well-respected names as the “created by” credit, this show is almost guaranteed to be a hit.

A prequel to the 2001 film of the same name, this one will be unlike any other series this year. With a star-studded cast, including original cast members Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper, and Amy Poehler, and with the same writers as the film, this show is set to premiere on Netflix and run as an 8 episode miniseries. Considering these actors were at least ten-years old to play campers when the movie came out, we’re looking forward to seeing this all-star cast return for another hilarious couple of hours – at over 20-years too old.

It’s a period piece, and it’s Marvel. What more could you want? This show chronicles the adventures of Peggy Carter as she tries to offset her normal office functions with her work on secret missions with Howard Stark in the ‘40s. Taking inspiration from Marvel films like “Captain America,” and starring various characters from the Marvel universe, we can’t help but feel excited knowing that Marvel is branching their critically acclaimed stories out into the television medium. And, after the first few episodes, it was garnering practically rave reviews.

Coming to Netflix on March 6th, the show follows adorable Ellie Kemper as Kimmy Schmidt, a woman who escapes a cult and travels to New York to start life anew. A typical fish-out-of-water comedy, the show is distinguished by the perfectly cast Kemper and its creator Tina Fey. We’re looking forward to this one due to the star and writing power, plus the prestige of broadcaster Netflix. Given a two-season order before it even began, Netflix must have had faith in the show, and we can’t wait to see the result.

Another Marvel creation and Netflix creation (noticing a trend here?), “Daredevil” is set to air on April 10th and follows Charlie Cox as Daredevil as he balances life between his superhero persona and his day job as a lawyer. Like “Agent Carter,” having the Marvel name behind the project is what has us excited. What’s also promising is that Drew Goddard, writer of “World War Z” among other successful pieces, is acting as consultant. With a successful brand name and a consultant with an impressive résumé on board, this show is definitely in the right hands.

Airing March 1st on Fox, this show chronicles the life of Phil Miller, who just so happens to be the of last man on Earth, as he travels the desolate world looking for signs of life. And while that may sound like a drama, it’s actually a comedy starring Will Forte, with a pilot episode directed by the team of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller of the “Jump Street” movie series, as well as other acclaimed films like “The LEGO Movie.” With an intriguing premise, a single camera setup, and a dynamic team behind the project, this series is shaping up to be the new comedy hit of the year.

Based on the 1973 Michael Crichton film of the same name, this show is about robots running wild in an amusement park and a robotic western gunslinger who hunts the two protagonists. This show is just a checklist of amazing ideas and people. Created by Christopher Nolan’s brother Jonathan and executive produced by J.J. Abrams, there’s talent behind the camera as well as in front, with stars Anthony Hopkins and James Marsden. Oh, and it’s being broadcast by HBO. Yep, it’s the recipe for an amazing show.

On September 8th, funnyman Stephen Colbert will be sitting down behind the “Late Show” desk, taking over from David Letterman who’s retiring after 22 years at CBS. While that may seem like a daunting task, we believe Colbert is up to the challenge. While we do know the who and the when, not much else is known about the show at this point. While Colbert said he’d retain the classic interview segments, beyond that, we can only guess. However, you can bet your ass that his biting satire and political humor will carry over, making this show one to look out for.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

- “Wayward Pines” (2015-)

- “Man Seeking Woman” (2015-)

- “Fresh Off the Boat” (2015-)

- “Empire” (2015-)

A spinoff of the infinitely praised “Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul” tells the story of criminal lawyer Saul Goodman before he gets tangled up in Walter White’s meth empire. With returning actors Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks, as well as creators Vince Gilligan and “Breaking Bad” producer Peter Gould, the show is up against some very high expectations, but we’re confident that Gilligan can pull it off. More dark comedy than drama, we don’t expect the grittiness of “Breaking Bad,” but we do anticipate strong storytelling, amazing performances, and some hilarious dialogue from Goodman.

Do you agree with our list? What new show of 2015 are you looking forward to the most? To anticipate more top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.