David Bianculli

This new series, based on Richard Russo's 1997 novel Straight Man, stars Odenkirk as a tenured English professor who struggles to navigate the tiny fiefdoms and giant egos of academia.

In 1981, Brooks wrote, directed and starred in a collection of short comedy sketches, called History of the World: Part I. Forty-two years later, he's presenting an eight-episode TV sequel for Hulu.

Billy Crudup plays a traveling salesman, hawking new homes on the moon in this Apple TV+ series. Hello Tomorrow! is a colorful fantasy world, populated with characters real enough to care about.

Oliver rarely has guests, so the HBO show relies on him to sell both the jokes and the facts — which he does, always counter-punching with a punchline whenever things start getting too serious.

Schoolhouse Rock used catchy tunes and videos to teach math, grammar and history. We listen to archival interviews with music director Bob Dorough, songwriter Dave Frishberg and singer Jack Sheldon.

Netflix, in association with the BBC, has just unveiled a five part comedy mockumentary series called Cunk on Earth. Diane Morgan stars as the titular Philomena Cunk, a TV correspondent traveling the globe to talk about art, science, history, and other things. Its writers and producers include Charlie Brooker, co-creator of the fabulous "Black Mirror" anthology show.

Jason Segel and Harrison Ford play therapists who're sometimes too honest with their patients — and not honest enough with themselves — in this winning new Apple TV+ comedy series.

Lyonne plays a cocktail waitress with an odd psychic power: She can sense when people aren't telling the truth, which makes her a great (accidental) detective in this delightful new Peacock series.

There was a lot of great television this year, but the winning moment came from HBO's special, The Howard Stern Interview: Bruce Springsteen, an extended two-plus hour conversation between two icons.

The look and tone are perfect — and the characters, settings and subplots are just what you hoped they'd be — in this new Netflix series starring former Disney Channel star Jenna Ortega.