The snow is melting, crocuses are popping up; it can only mean one thing — a fresh crop of spring shows! Here’s what to look forward to in the coming months.
Bates Motel (10 p.m. Mondays, A&E; Series Premiere March 18) – Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air) and Freddie Highmore (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) star as the mother-son duo in this Psycho prequel. Reimagined with a contemporary setting, this new series gives viewers a look at how Mrs. Bates shaped her son into the infamous killer we know he becomes.
Game of Thrones (9 p.m. Sundays, HBO; Season Three Premiere March 31) – This season of the highly addictive medieval fantasy drama will cover the first half of George R. R. Martin’s A Storm of Swords (the third book in his series, A Song of Ice and Fire). Prepare to take notes — even more characters will be added to the abundance of storylines.
Hannibal (10 p.m. Thursdays, NBC; Series Premiere April 4) – Hugh Dancy stars as Special Agent Will Graham, a criminal profiler who turns to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) for help hunting serial killers. As we know, Graham’s attention will soon turn to Lecter, who happens to have a curious appetite.
Mad Men (10 p.m. Sundays, AMC; Season Six Premiere 9 p.m. April 7) – Last season unfolded to be a difficult couple of months for Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. As individuals and a company, everyone experienced losses, but new clients and a new office could provide a fresh start. Expect to learn more about the enigmatic Don Draper.
Veep (10 p.m. Sundays, HBO; Season Two Premiere April 14) – Selena Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who won an Emmy for the role) embarks on the second year of her term, venturing closer to the West Wing. Gary Cole and Kevin Dunn join the cast.
Arrested Development (Season Four released on Netflix in May) – After more than seven years since AD’s final episode aired, the Bluths are back. The original main cast will all return along with favorite characters like Barry Zuckerkorn, Gene Parmesan and Ann Veal (Her?). Each central character will get an episode or two to recap what he or she has been up to since 2006. And, good news for uber-fans, the entire season will be available at once.
WEDNESDAY MARCH 6
Survivor: Caramoan – Fans vs. Favorites (8 p.m., CBS) – Favorite Brandon breaks down and sabotages his own tribe. Here’s hoping for a fans win after four consecutive tribe member losses.
Workaholics (10 p.m., Comedy Central) – Blake, Ders and Adam wait in line for the release of Code of Ronin: Undead Apocalypse, but conflict arises when each guy wants his own copy of the game.
THURSDAY MARCH 7
Parks and Recreation (8:30 p.m., NBC) -– Tom hires Jean-Ralphio’s twin sister (Jenny Slate) to work at Rent-A-Swag; Leslie tries to help a video store owner (Jason Schwartzman) save his failing business.
Project Runway (9 p.m., Lifetime) – In what sounds like an act of futility, the teams regroup and design outfits for Thunder From Down Under — the Australian men’s revue.
The Ben Show (10 p.m., Comedy Central) – Ben redecorates; black women hugging; “Todd Bridges Animated Crack Stories.”
Nathan For You (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central) – This week, Nathan offers advice to a clothing store (allow attractive people to shoplift) and a restaurant (boast a free public restroom). Whether or not the businesses are in on the joke, this show is straight-up deadpan hilarity.
SUNDAY MARCH 10
The Walking Dead (9 p.m., AMC) – The Governor hunts down a certain rebel who left Woodbury. While he’s gone, another anti-Gov. Woodburian tries to stop him from attacking the prison.
Shameless (9 p.m., Showtime) – Fiona struggles to fit in at her new corporate job; Mandy pushes Lip too far; Mickey agrees to marry “The Russian” he got pregnant. And, help us all: Frank inadvertently becomes “the face” of the gay rights movement.
Girls (Season Finale, 9 p.m., HBO) – Worried her boss will sue her, the downward-spiraling Hannah attempts to write her entire e-book in one day. Ray makes a career move in order to keep Shoshanna and Marnie realizes she and Charlie are never ever ever getting back together.
CONTACT JAC KERN : [email protected] or @jackern
