TV Hotlist: A Curated Selection of Top-Rated Shows
TV Hotlist takes a look at some of the most talked about shows on television. The list is based on established ratings combined with new analysis that measures engagement on social media.
Broadcast sitcoms are on the rise, while sci-fi is heating up with breakout hits like Ghosts and Young Sheldon. Plus, don't miss the season premiere of Best Friends Whenever on June 27th and Xfinity On Demand a week before airing live. Avatar: The Last Airbender
A decade after its premiere, Nickelodeon’s animated adventure remains a beloved TV classic. Fans adore the characters and their cultural references, art direction, voice acting, soundtrack, humor, and complex themes like war, genocide, imperialism, totalitarianism, and indoctrination.
Whether you’re looking for medical dramas where heart surgeries are as important as love triangles, dystopian worlds where women survive in a sexist society, or Hulu’s intense political thriller about Handmaid-turned-enemy of the state June Osborne, this list has a show for you.
If Dexter’s blood-soaked murders aren’t enough, we have a whole other list of crime shows that satisfy your need for revenge. Or maybe you’re craving dark comedies about tortured hitmen, macho dramas about the bonds of brotherhood, or heart-pumping action. You can also get your fill of silly superheroes and hunky men in these shows. Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Barry
From a heartwarming comedy where nerdy friends know everything about science but have no clue about love to a dystopian thriller about women fighting back against the totalitarian Republic of Gilead, this list has shows that offer a dose of escapism. It also includes medical dramas where hearts are on the line, as well as comedies with lovably dysfunctional ensembles
Bill Hader’s Barry is a depressed drip of a hitman who, after following his mark into an acting class, discovers that performing may unlock some emotions he’s been trying to bury. The series’ cheeky mix of absurd humor, jarring violence and bold drama has earned it critical praise. It’s the kind of show that demands you stick around. Euphoria
The teen drama Euphoria is a sexy, shocking, and smart look at high school life. Featuring Drake and Future The Prince as executive producers, the show stars Zendaya and an emotional ensemble cast as they navigate love, friendship, drugs, sex, and trauma.
The second season of Euphoria was just as compelling as the first, if not more so. Among the highlights were a sexy drug-dealing grandmother in hot pants, some bathroom coitus, and a harrowing scene of a heroin overdose thwarted by a snort of Adderall.
Not much else on TV can give you that kind of sexy and gritty teen drama. But we’ve rounded up more shows to watch that capture those cursed high school years—from crime anthologies to sci-fi with complex political maneuvering and bleak morals quandaries. Samba TV’s Smart TV app, available for Philips, Sanyo, and Magnavox TVs, makes it easy to find and stream these shows from anywhere you live. The Expanse
With its interplanetary scope and impressive cast, The Expanse is one of the most underrated sci-fi shows of recent memory. Unlike other space-set dramas, it takes the time to deepen its characters’ complex relationships amid all the planetary bombardment.
Season 5 of this Amazon Prime Original continues to impress with a well-paced narrative and cinematic action. Its climax, set in the asteroid belt, tonally feels like The Empire Strikes Back and confirms this show’s strength as an immersive epic with a flair for character study.
Paper Girls is a smart, fast-paced murder mystery that’s worth your time. Starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge and directed by Tyler Perry, it’s a fresh take on the genre that’s sure to satisfy fans of the classics. Stream now on Amazon Prime Video. The X-Files
Few shows captured the 1990s zeitgeist like The X-Files. The iconic sci-fi procedural drama aired for nine seasons, and its characters became cultural archetypes—the believer and the skeptic who pair up to investigate spookiness.
The show spawned two feature films and inspired other spin-offs, including Millennium and The Lone Gunmen. But the true legacy of The X-Files may be in its final episode, which stared down Mulder and Scully’s mortality.
This HBO series starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Laura Dern chronicled a family’s funeral business with a gimmick that added to the suspense: each episode began with the arrival of a corpse. The show’s eerie visuals, which often featured rain-drenched woods and shadowy government conspiracies, led to scores of copycats. The spooky imagery also found its way into the likes of True Detective and Twin Peaks. Girls’ Night
Whether it’s the uplifting CW drama Hart of Dixie or the heartwarming Netflix series Friends, these shows about small towns and quirky families are sure to satisfy your girls night craving. For more like these, we have recommendations from a variety of genres, including heartwarming dramedies, sports comedies and fish-out-of-water rom-coms.
Seeing a cabaret show is an unforgettable experience for a girl’s night. You’ll find lots of laughs, beautiful costumes and some serious talent on the stage.
Starting a new show can be like a domino effect, with one episode leading to the next. For more similar options, check out our list of shows that have been recommended by other TV Guide readers. Our Watchworthy feature lets you track and build lineups for shows and movies. You can even limit your selection to streaming options if you’re a cord-cutter. Fleabag
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the creator and star of Fleabag, is every cool girl’s pin-up. Her ability to serve alcoholism, pedophilia and miscarriage alongside sarcasm and burning wit is masterful. She would also make a fantastic Doctor, serving up all the British humour and knowing how to deliver that wry grin with such panache.
The Last Man on Earth alum Will Forte will star in this suicide drama from Harry and Jack Williams (Fleabag, Liar). The Peacock series centres on Robin, who finds life insurance that covers his suicide—but only if he carries out the act within a year. It’s the kind of show that will have you craving more from its cast. And it’s sure to get a second season. Chesapeake Shores
Inspired by the beloved novel series by Sherryl Woods, Chesapeake Shores chronicles the multigenerational family drama of the O’Briens. It stars Jesse Metcalfe, Robert Buckley, Meghan Ory, Treat Williams, Emilie Ulleurp, Barbara Niven and Laci J. Miley.
Wall Street executive Abby O’Brien Winters doesn’t have much time for love with a demanding job and two energetic daughters to tend to. But one panicked call from her youngest sister Jess brings Abby back to her Maryland hometown to help renovate the charming Inn at Eagle Point.
Soon, she’s confronted by feelings she pushed aside and a run-in with high school sweetheart Trace Riley. Will she be able to reconcile her past and create a new life for herself and her daughters in the place she calls home? Only time will tell. The drama airs on Hallmark Channel Bridgerton
Until Bridgerton came along, there were few shows that could sex up period dramas and pull off such an appealing cast and sumptuous production design. It’s no wonder that this Emmy-nominated series from Shonda Rhimes racked up 82 million households in its first month of release.
A lot of books-to-screen adaptations leave some gems on the cutting room floor, but Bridgerton is an exception. Whether it’s the montage of Daphne making love to Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” or the anachronistic use of pop covers, the show’s soundtrack is integral to its success.
Another historical drama that proves women-led productions can be just as fun is Hulu’s The Great, which follows Catherine the Great (Elle Fanning) as she tries to have a royal good time with her spoiled doofus bro emperor husband Peter III (Nicholas Hoult). This show doesn’t have quite as many swoon-worthy bedroom scenes as Bridgerton, but its humor and historical ties make it worth watching. Ginny & Georgia
Easily Netflix’s biggest hit of 2023, Ginny & Georgia raked in 2.52 billion minutes of viewing time in its first week back in the top 10 for a second season. That put it above a few non-Netflix originals in the top 10.
The series centers on thirtysomething single mom Georgia (Batwoman’s Brianne Howey) and her teenage daughter Ginny, who move to a picturesque New England town after Georgia inherits money. But Georgia’s murky past and secrets follow them there, resulting in a tense mother-daughter dynamic with a twist.
The show also features a likable mayor, a love interest for Ginny in the form of the handsome local farmer Joe (Raymond Ablack), and a supportive group of friends that include Max (Ginny’s best friend), Abby (played by Chelsea Clark) and Norah (played by Katie Douglas). The story is filled with thorny topics—like bullying, body image and identity issues—that resonate with young teens.