Yahoo Lifestyle The Best TV Of 2024
2024 was a deeply weird year. So it’s probably no coincidence that our TV viewing habits ranged all over the place.
Sometimes, we turned to shows that revealed or reflected something about the chaotic world this year. Other times, we turned to something silly and escapist. Wherever the show landed, we mostly sought out television that eschewed hacky formulas and safe choices for originality and authenticity.
As we head into a bleak period of growing political and economic instability and cowardice from the people in charge, which will likely bring about a lot more challenges for artists, let us bask in the warm glow of great television from bold creators.
‘Abbott Elementary’
Let’s talk about “Abbott Elementary,” which has been included on this list since its premiere in 2021. The series just keeps on getting better, with bigger laughs, more touching storylines, and, at last, the romance we’ve all been waiting for between Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams). Miraculously, we got two new seasons in 2024, with Season 3 premiering in February and Season 4 returning in October. The series has added Josh Segarra, Cree Summer and Zack Fox as guest actors and recurring stars to the delight of its audiences. (Please, for the love of all beautiful humans, add Matthew Law to the recurring cast!) “Abbott Elementary” is must-see viewing that guarantees a bunch of laughs in its 30-minute time slot. — Erin
‘Agatha All Along’
I can’t claim to be a Marvel Cinematic Universe head, and I’ve never once flipped the pages of a superhero comic book. But give me a well-crafted, pitch-dark witch story (or any other kind of deliciously evil female villain tale, as it turns out), and I’ll come running. “WandaVision” pleasantly surprised me with its sinister dance with classic TV shows and an unhinged antihero. And it planted the seed for its sequel series, “Agatha All Along,” that is just as good. Every episode delves deeper into the ominous Agatha’s (Kathryn Hahn) world and opens up a thrilling opportunity to introduce a coven of delightfully weird, dangerous and self-motivated women who may or may not be working against the titular witch. I watched every episode — and then read everything I could about it (the Easter eggs, the comic book lore, etc.). It is so digestible and wicked. — Candice
‘America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’
The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders returned to reality television this year on Netflix’s “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.” The docuseries follows one of the most celebrated professional cheer squads as training camp begins and ends, and a new football season commences. Viewers meet veteran cheerleaders like Victoria Kalina and rookies like Reece Weaver, who became a fan favorite among audiences, and the longtime cheer squad director Kelli Finglass and choreographer Judy Trammell. The series is a follow-up to the long-running CMT show “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team” and offers the same level of access to see just how demanding and competitive it is to join this impressive team of athletes. “America’s Sweethearts” is, at times, a tearjerker of a series but also enthralling in the ways you’d hope any sports competition show via docuseries would be. — Erin
‘Anatomy of Lies’
The story of Elisabeth Finch and her lies rocked the community of “Grey’s Anatomy” fans when Vanity Fair published an investigation into the TV writer and co-executive producer. Finch, who claimed she had cancer and wrote about personal traumas online, rose up the ranks in the writers room of the popular ABC medical drama and then abruptly resigned when it was revealed that she had lied about her medical history and other stories that wound up embedded in the series. “Anatomy of Lies” unpacks that two-part Vanity Fair feature over three episodes of a docuseries with archival footage of Finch talking about her work, as well as interviews with Finch’s ex-wife, Jennifer Beyer, Beyer’s children and other writers who worked with Finch on “Grey’s Anatomy.” The docuseries does an incredible job of untangling all of Finch’s mess, and its impact on “Grey’s Anatomy” is incredibly revealing whether you’re a fan of the show or not. — Erin
‘Baby Reindeer’
Zero promotion and a pretty ridiculous title seemed like a good enough reason to assume that “Baby Reindeer” was yet another Netflix offering dropped as something strictly to have on while you’re doing a load of laundry. Boy, was that wrong: an unhinged stalker, debilitating career exploitation, rape, drugs, romantic manipulation, and a protagonist (Richard Gadd, also the series’ creator) who’s pathetic, terrifying and deeply sympathetic — “Baby Reindeer” is the kind of thing you need to sit down for. It’s far from binge. Instead, it’s a thoughtful journey of deeply complex humanity, sexuality, and contradictions that compel you to wrestle with all of it — difficult and challenging in the way any great work of art should be. — Candice
‘The Big Cigar’
“The Big Cigar” follows Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton (Andre Holland) as he tries to escape the U.S. for Cuba. The Apple TV+ series is based on a 2012 Playboy article of the same name. In a six-episode arc, Newton hatches a crazy plan to evade the FBI with the help of Hollywood bigwigs Bert Schneider (Alessandro Nivola) and Stephen Blauner (P.J. Byrne). Sure, biopics can often be too vast or uninteresting when telling the full story of a notable person’s life. But “The Big Cigar” focuses mostly on this one pivotal moment in Newton’s journey, to its credit. Tiffany Boone and Marc Menchaca round out a great cast (though Boone’s role as Newton’s girlfriend, Gwen, could have used a bit more oomph in the writing), while Holland, as always, is a convincing leading man. — Erin
‘Boarders’
Tubi should personally thank “Boarders” for giving the streamer perhaps its first original hit show this year. The British coming-of-age dramedy follows five Black scholarship students from South London as they navigate the woes of attending an all-white boarding school. Not only is the show a timely take on the pitfalls of institutional racism, but it’s also incredibly funny, with rich comedic dialogue supplied by its charming newcomer cast: Josh Tedeku, Jodie Campbell, Myles Kamwendo, Sekou Diaby and Aruna Jalloh. If you need a refreshing, bingeworthy show to tune into, “Boarders” is one to watch — and lucky for us, the show has another season on the way. — Njera
‘Bel-Air’
The most recent season of “Bel-Air” was the best so far. Hands down. It was also the season that properly utilized each character and gave them storylines worth watching. Hilary (Coco Jones) juggled her feelings for fiancé Lamarcus (Justin Cornwell) and ex Jazz (Jordan L. Jones). Vivian (Cassandra Freeman) and Phil (Adrian Holmes) struggled with their own marriage as other suitors caught their attention. Carlton (Olly Sholotan) navigated recovery while experiencing his own complicated love story with Amira (Alycia Pascual-Pena), whom he met in rehab. And even Ashley (Akira Akbar) had a little boo thang while exploring her sexual identity. Surprisingly, Will (Jabari L. Banks) putting down the basketball for an LLC was one of the least interesting storylines of the season. But judging by that turbulent finale, this fourth and final upcoming season will have a lot more to unpack. — Taryn
‘Chimp Crazy’
“Chimp Crazy” might’ve been one of the craziest yet most engaging things I watched all year. The HBO docuseries follows Tonia Haddix, a chimpanzee fanatic who treats former film star chimp Tonka like her own child. She ends up embroiled in a battle with animal rights group PETA and federal authorities over Tonka, who she says died amid their investigation. Directed by Eric Goode, of “Tiger King” fame, the four-part docuseries is so wild that you won’t believe what you’re seeing even as it unravels before you. — Erin
‘Diarra From Detroit’
It takes all of about five minutes for “Diarra From Detroit” creator and star Diarra Kilpatrick’s hysterical mystery series to go from zero to 1,000. Her eponymous hero goes from flailing from the throes of a divorce (to a man played by Morris Chestnut, no less) to falling into a scorching hot one-night stand situation and scouring the streets of Detroit searching for her 24-hour lover when he turns up missing. It’s a lot, and she brings her friends and frenemies along with her. It’s a dab of “Murder, She Wrote” blended with Kilpatrick’s own brand of hijinks, Black woman eye rolls, and comedy that keeps you guessing and hollering the entire time. — Candice
‘Doctor Odyssey’
The most pleasant surprise of the fall network TV premieres, ABC’s Ryan Murphy-produced cruise ship medical procedural has turned out to be as soapy and ridiculous as that description suggests. Each week, the team aboard the cruise ship Odyssey — led by Joshua Jackson as Dr. Max Bankman (or should we say, Dr. Pacey) — tackles some wild medical mystery, usually involving ailments specific to cruise ships. There’s also a spicy love triangle between Max and nurses Avery (a spectacular Phillipa Soo) and Tristan (Sean Teale) and a boatload (pun intended) of great guest stars. Unlike the team, who dreads each new clown car of passengers (understandably), I eagerly await escaping into a new episode. Sadly for me, the show is on hiatus until March, but that means if you have yet to board the Odyssey, there’s plenty of time to catch up. — Marina
‘English Teacher’
“English Teacher,” in my humble opinion, was one of the most underrated comedies of the year. Set in the suburbs of Austin, Texas, the Brian Jordan Alvarez-created FX series takes on the schoolhouse sitcom genre with extremely bold humor to counteract its commentary on the American public school system. Leading that charge is Alvarez, who stars as the titular English teacher often running into trouble for his moral crusades against his fellow educators, problematic parents and Gen Z students. The absurdity of the show’s plots is what makes “English Teacher” so entertaining — the episode where a drag queen teaches high school football players how to pose as cheerleaders for an annual powderpuff game is still burned into my memory. The show is both raunchy and hysterical but proves it has something worth saying to reflect the current times. My hope is that it gets renewed for a second season because eight episodes for one season just feels like a tease. — Njera
‘The Great British Bake Off’
After several stodgy seasons of wildly offensive theme weeks and tonally dissonant hosting duos, the famously feel-good British baking competition series (known as “The Great British Baking Show” in the U.S., but real fans know it’s just “Bake Off”) delivered its best season in years. This year’s batch of bakers was somehow even nicer and more joyous to watch than usual. The challenges were inventive but not gimmicky, and in her second season as co-host, Alison Hammond’s warmth and ebullience have cemented her as perhaps the best host “Bake Off” has ever had in its 15 seasons. I could really use one of her pep talks right now, actually. — Marina
‘Grotesquerie’
“Grotesquerie” almost didn’t make this list. The eight-episode FX series started off as one of the most compelling TV series of the year but crashed and burned at the end in a way that was so utterly disappointing and downright confusing. However, the show is pretty remarkable for the majority of the season — and with the potential for a Season 2, we can only hope that it rights its wrongs in the future. The cast — led by Niecy Nash, along with Courtney B. Vance, Lesley Manville, Raven Goodwin and Nicholas Alexander Chavez — is stellar across the board, and the show’s creepiness never ceases. “Grotesquerie” is the kind of TV series that sticks with you, for better or worse. — Erin
‘Hacks’
This year, few shows had as deeply satisfying final scenes as the Season 3 finale of “Hacks,” in which the student became the master: Ava (Hannah Einbinder) stuck it to Deborah (Jean Smart) by taking a page directly out of the latter’s playbook. In a lesser show, the premise of “Hacks” — the tension between a boomer comedian and a Gen Z comedy writer — would probably have gotten repetitive by now, but not here, where everyone involved is so good. “Hacks” continues to find more material for its sharp and delicious satire of the entertainment industry and the richness of its characters. — Marina
‘How to Die Alone’
It was so good to see Natasha Rothwell in a starring role (albeit, she had to create the show for it to happen). In the Hulu series, Rothwell plays Mel, a JFK airport employee who’s given up on truly living life until a crab rangoon and an Ikea cabinet nearly take her out for good. The tragic — and frankly embarrassing — near-death experience changes her perspective on life as she sets her fears of flying aside and books her first flight: Hawaii for her ex-boyfriend’s wedding (even though she still has deep feelings for him). Watching this show is so refreshing because Mel, a plus-sized Black woman, is flawed, figuring things out in a messy, complicated, fun, and relatable way. There are still some things we’d like to see in future seasons (less credit card fraud and more sex, please), but this show has the ingredients we need for a streaming staple. — Taryn
‘Industry’
There are few things better than watching a brilliant show really come into its own in its third season, firing on all cylinders and confidently doing exactly what it’s meant to do. Season 3 of HBO’s riveting finance drama “Industry” did just that, taking its characters in even wilder and more unpredictable directions than ever, slinging some of the spiciest insults on TV, and ratcheting up the tension. Now excuse me while I go check my blood pressure. — Marina
‘Interview with the Vampire’
“Interview with the Vampire” returned with a fantastic Season 2 (though I stand by my opinion that its first season is even more of a marvel). The AMC drama, an adaptation of Anne Rice’s novel series, continues in Europe after World War II, with Louis de Pointe du Lac (the phenomenal Jacob Anderson) and Claudia (Delainey Hayles, who seamlessly replaced Season 1’s Bailey Bass). Though Lestat (Sam Reid) has less screen time this season, his ghostly presence in Louis’ mind is enough to keep his haunting presence known until he finally appears in Episode 6. I’m dying for Season 3 to air so I can soak in the erotic and chaotic drama of “Loustat” once again. — Erin
‘A Man on the Inside’
My plan was to watch an episode or two to see what it was about before I presumably flipped to one of the 9,000 other shows on my watch list. But “The Good Place” creator Michael Schur got me hooked again with another charming and deceptively meaningful series. “A Man on the Inside” follows a somewhat stagnated septuagenarian (an unsurprisingly great Ted Danson) who falls into an opportunity to become a spy and infiltrate a retirement community that’s been overwhelmed with theft cases. As frothy as that premise might seem, “A Man on the Inside” feels like a worthy and welcome descendant of “The Golden Girls” in that it is an uproariously funny and authentic small-screen portrayal of seniors that have full sexual lives, fears and shortcomings. A truly wonderful offering. — Candice
‘The Ms. Pat Show’
“The Ms. Pat Show” has been a mainstay on this best of TV list for the past few years — and for good reason. The BET+ sitcom, which features a live studio audience and actually plays to them quite well, centers on comedian Ms. Pat, who is raising her family in middle America. It’s a genuinely funny sitcom with a huge heart, as it explores racism, parenthood, abortion, queer relationships and healing past wounds. Sure, those don’t necessarily sound like topics you can make jokes out of, but “The Ms. Pat Show” finds authentic ways to hilariously address the issues that are on everybody’s minds. The ensemble cast — which includes J. Bernard Calloway, Tami Roman, Vince Swann, Briyana Guadalupe, Theodore John Barnes and Brittany Inge — play off each other so well. The show can even find ways to get deep, with the Season 4 finale, which aired over the summer, being raw, heartfelt, and one of the most emotional moments on TV all year. — Erin
‘Owning Manhattan’
There’s something about a real estate reality TV series that I can’t resist. Enter “Owning Manhattan,” starring Ryan Serhant, who is known for Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing New York.” Sure, you’d think this series wouldn’t satisfy beyond what’s already offered on Netflix’s “Selling Sunset” franchise. But where “Owning Manhattan” really wins is that Serhant is not shy about confronting the interpersonal issues between his realtors and is decisive in his business dealings as a CEO. The series was renewed for Season 2 in August, and I cannot wait to see what mess unravels — and what beautiful real estate we’ll see. — Erin
‘The Penguin’
It took an episode or two for me to be convinced that “The Penguin” was going to be worth the ride. But boy did it deliver. The Max series is a spinoff sequel to the 2022 film “The Batman” and follows Oz Cobb’s rise as the Penguin in Gotham City. Colin Farrell reprises his role as Oz and completely transforms through makeup and prosthetics. Cristin Milioti stars as Sofia Gigante of the Falcone family, who hopes to take power of the city’s crime world after the death of her father and crime boss, Carmine. Rhenzy Feliz stars as Vic, who becomes Oz’s right-hand man. Across the board, the performances are phenomenal, especially Milioti in the fourth episode of the season, which is where the drama really kicks up. Fans of the series are already itching for more episodes, though the show was only intended as a miniseries. “The Batman II” is slated for release in 2026, with Farrell reprising his role for a few scenes, but he told The Hollywood Reporter he’d be down for a Season 2 of “The Penguin.” Here’s hoping. — Erin
‘Ripley’
Goodness knows we’ve had too many TV adaptations and remakes of older, better offerings. So, going in, showrunner Steven Zaillian’s “Ripley,” inspired by the titular character from the 1999 film “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” has a lot working against it. And yet, it rises above each of those reservations to examine the even stranger life of the cunning con artist Ripley (Andrew Scott). Beautiful black-and-white cinematography and deeply intriguing performances throughout — including ones from Dakota Fanning and Johnny Flynn — delicately expand on a story with which many of us are familiar. Unlike so many adaptations, “Ripley” isn’t a sour entry in his existing story. Rather, it actually complements the movie. That’s both refreshing and surprising. — Candice
‘Shōgun’
I had some misgivings when I first heard about the new “Shōgun” series — in 2024, did we really need to resurrect James Clavell’s 1975 novel about a white foreigner in feudal Japan who falls in love with his beautiful Japanese translator and rises to the rank of sword-carrying hatamoto? In hindsight, I should have asked: Would I enjoy an exquisitely detailed period drama loosely based on historical events and featuring scene-stealing, moving performances by Japanese and Japanese diaspora actors? Please, give me all the drama, all the historical precision and sumptuous attire, and all the palace intrigue and betrayals. I even appreciated the series’ restrained approach to the principal romance: Desire operates in the margins, overshadowed by the characters’ crushing sense of duty, and the series explores the supporting cast’s hidden desires and motivations as well. “Shōgun” is a visually rich, frequently violent soap opera with substance; I devoured it and would encourage anyone else to do the same. — Mari
‘Somebody Somewhere’
All good things, they say, never last. In its final season, the joy of the HBO comedy series “Somebody Somewhere” shone bright. Co-created by and starring Bridget Everett as Sam, who moves back to her hometown of Manhattan, Kansas, after the death of her sister, the show’s three seasons proved that audiences really crave a warm, gentle comedy about characters finding their people, trying their best, and celebrating the small victories along the way. — Marina
‘Supacell’
I am admittedly not a big fan of the superhero genre (namely when it comes to DC or Marvel), but the first few scenes of “Supacell” immediately grabbed my attention this summer. The six-part Netflix original is centered on a seemingly ordinary group of Black Londoners, most strangers to one another, who suddenly find themselves connected through extraordinary superpowers, which are actually mutations of sickle cell disease. One man serves as the catalyst for the group’s newfound abilities, Michael Lasaki (Tosin Cole), who must rely on them to help save his fiancée. However, there’s more to the story in “Supacell.” Other Black people who’re also suspected of having powers are going missing, and a strange organization of white people is responsible. The show is layered enough that it doesn’t succumb to the generic superhero plot where there’s one person trying to be a hero. It actually tries to have depth by tapping into gang culture, racial power dynamics and the hardships of Black people — a goal achieved by creator and showrunner Rapman and the show’s all-Black cast. Though the season ended with a twist, there’s more to see from “Supacell” when it returns for its second season — and I’ll be right there watching. — Njera
‘The Traitors’
“The Traitors” is yet another TV series this year that topped its first season. Season 2 featured an incredible cast, including Phaedra Parks, Larsa Pippen, Marcus Jordan, Parvati Shallow and Sandra Diaz-Twine, among several others. Alan Cumming stuns as a host once again as he leads these traitors and faithfuls through a series of missions. But it’s Parks, the lawyer/mortician/reality TV star, who really stole scenes in every episode up until she was revealed as a traitor and voted out. Her funny glances, stinging one-liners and adorable showmance with Chris “C.T.” Tamburello made for incredible TV. Once Parks was voted off, there was a lot less to root for in the season — but Tamburello and Trishelle Cannatella end up pulling off a win in stunning fashion in the finale over Mercedes “MJ” Javid. Here’s to an equally enthralling Season 3, which premieres in January. — Erin
‘True Detective: Night Country’
Showrunner Issa López brought a well-needed perspective shift to the fourth season of “True Detective.” The true-crime anthology series has had a history of centering primarily on white men. But in this latest installment, the best since the show’s first season a decade ago, Jodie Foster and Kali Reis star as two grizzled detectives in northern Alaska, where it’s completely dark all winter (hence the season’s subtitle), reopening a cold case involving the murder of an Indigenous woman. The show shines a light on the real-life epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and what happens when a long-neglected community rightfully does not trust the so-called authorities. López is also slated to helm a fifth season of the show. We can’t wait to see what she does with the franchise next. — Marina
‘The Vince Staples Show’
Vince Staples is effortlessly entertaining, so when “The Vince Staples Show” premiered early this year, my first reaction was, “About damn time!” The show, which is somewhat a continuation of his YouTube series of the same name, follows his misadventures in his hometown, Long Beach, California. We see Vince, who stars as himself, at the butt of a running joke. He’s a famous rapper, but not that famous, which leaves him susceptible to getting caught up in shit, including wrongful arrests, bank robberies, shootouts and family reunion chaos. It hilariously brings satirical elements to everyday (though less than mundane) events and makes for an easy binge. The show’s greatest shortcoming is that the first season gave us just five episodes. Let’s hope that Netflix wised up and doubled that order for Season 2. — Taryn
‘We Are Lady Parts’
There’s nothing on TV quite like “We Are Lady Parts.” Created by British Pakistani writer-director Nida Manzoor, the Peacock comedy series follows the members of a punk band composed entirely of Muslim women, making it one of the few shows with a multidimensional range of Muslim characters. The show’s even bolder and more assured second season explored bigger-picture questions about the band navigating the clash of art and commerce and staying true to their identity, featured some impressive musical numbers, and, of course, continued to rock on. — Marina
‘Worst Roommate Ever’
It didn’t seem possible that Season 2 of “Worst Roommate Ever” could be better than the first season, which premiered in 2022. Then, this summer, Season 2 dropped — and so did my jaw at each of these stories over the short, four-episode installment. If you’re into true crime documentaries, “Worst Roommate Ever” checks off all the elements to keep you hooked in each story. For instance, in the second season’s very first episode, Janie and Rachel become best friends, and then Janie eventually helps co-parent Rachel’s son. But shit goes awry when Janie starts obsessing over taking care of the child, and she even goes to the dark web to poison Rachel with a staph bacteria. Yeah, exactly. The series finds the most compelling narratives to follow that’ll have you Googling even more details about whatever — if anything — the editors might have left on the cutting room floor. — Erin
