What to Watch in January

There's a huge amount of worthwhile TV out there nowadays, so it can be hard to choose what to watch. But who better to recommend shows than the person who programs them? Lisa Tipton, WTTW’s Head of Programming and Pledge, constructs the WTTW schedule by searching through offerings from many different sources which include the national PBS network, the BBC, and independent filmmakers to put together a varied and engaging broadcast schedule. Each month, she recommends a few shows that she thinks you should watch.

Find all the ways to watch WTTW here. Many of the below shows are available to stream or will be once they premiere, especially by WTTW Passport members. 

New Drama and Mystery Seasons

New year, new seasons. There's the third seasons of Brokenwood Mysteries (Fridays at 8:00 pm beginning January 3) and Sister Boniface Mysteries (Saturdays at 8:00 pm beginning January 4). Our Sunday line-up begins on January 5 with season 4 of Vienna Blood at 9:00 pm before filling out on January 12 with the addition of the fifth seasons of Miss Scarlet (7:00 pm) and All Creatures Great and Small (8:00 pm). 

We'll have recaps of the Sunday night shows, and many of them are available to stream. (WTTW Passport members can already watch the whole new season of Miss Scarlet.)

New Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

The eminent historian returns to PBS with two shows in January. First up, there's a new season of celebrity genealogy with Finding Your Roots, Tuesdays at 7:00 pm beginning January 7. Later in the month, he explores the Great Migration that brought African Americans to northern cities, including Chicago, during the early twentieth century – plus other migrations of Black people in the United States since then, including those of African and Caribbean immigrants. Great Migrations: A People on the Move airs Tuesdays at 8:00 pm beginning January 28. 

More New Seasons

Like we said, new year, new seasons. There's Antiques Roadshow Mondays at 8:00 pm beginning January 6. British historian Lucy Worsley delves into Jack the Ripper, Bloody Mary, and more in a new season of Lucy Worsley Investigates, Tuesdays at 8:00 pm beginning January 7. And NOVA expands your mind with black holes and UFOs, Wednesdays at 8:00 pm beginning January 8, with episodes new and old.