When all else failed and the future of the world looked bleak, we had TV shows. Despite a pandemic sweeping through the world, laughing and crying over the journeys of our favourite characters definitely provided the life-affirming comfort we needed in these trying times.

Here a a few more to look forward to in the new year:

1. ‘Bel-Air’ (Peacock)

NBC’s streaming service Peacock’s 2020 launch may not have been that noteworthy, but the year ahead looks promising with a fresh take on the 1990s Will Smith-led family comedy ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’. Based on Morgan Cooper’s viral video that paid homage to the iconic series, Quincy Jones and other original producers come together to reimagine what it means to be a Black man in America today.

2. ‘Girl5Eva’ (Peacock)

’30 Rock’ creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock reunite for this musical comedy about a former one-hit girl band that takes another shot at stardom. With a cast that features Tony-winners Sara Bareilles and Renée Elise Goldsberry, and comedy stars Busy Philipps and Paula Pell, this series definitely looks like a delight.

3. ‘Impeachment: American Crime Story’ (FX)

Originally slated to air before the 2020 presidential election, the third season of the Emmy-winning FX anthology from Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk explores the Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton scandal, basing it on Jeffrey Toobin’s best-seller A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Story of the Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President. Lewinsky produces the season, and Annaleigh Ashford (Masters of Sex) is set as Paula Jones.

4. ‘Colin in Black and White’ (Netflix)

This six-episode scripted drama explores the adolescent life of Colin Kaepernick, describing his high school years, and the experiences that led him to become the activist he is today. Jaden Michael stars as the young quarterback and activist; while Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds) and Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) play his adoptive parents. Ava DuVernay (‘Now They See Us’) is the show’s executive producer while Kaepernick appears as himself as the narrator. 

5. ‘Dad, Stop Embarrassing Me’ (Netflix)

Two decades after his last series regular role, Oscar winner Jamie Foxx returns to television in this scripted comedy inspired by the relationship with his daughter, Corinne. The father-daughter duo exec produce the series, which will see Foxx play multiple characters opposite Kyla-Drew (who plays Corinne). 

6. ‘Lisey’s Story’ (Apple)

Based on Stephen King’s 2006 horror-romance best-seller, about a woman who realizes her late husband wasn’t all that she believed, this series stars Oscar winner Julianne Moore. King will write all eight episodes of the thriller, reteaming with exec producer J.J. Abrams. 

7. ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ (Hulu)

Based on the book by Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty, the limited series reunites the team behind the HBO Emmy winner. David E. Kelley reteams with Nicole Kidman, who stars as a woman running a wellness center, on a mission to reinvigorate the minds and bodies of nine strangers. The star-studded cast includes Melissa McCarthy, Luke Evans, Michael Shannon, Manny Jacinto, Regina Hall and Samara Weaving.

8. ‘Underground Railroad’ (Amazon)

Barry Jenkins (‘Moonlight’) adapts Colson Whitehead’s 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel as a limited series that chronicles a young woman’s journey as she searches for freedom in the antebellum South. Thuso Mbedu plays the lead role, while Joel Edgerton and Chase W. Dillon co-star. 

9. ‘Schmigadoon’ (Apple)

SNL star Cecily Strong collaborates once again with Lorne Michaels for this star-studded comedy that’s described as ‘Groundhog Day’ meets ‘Enchanted’. Strong and Keegan-Michael Key star as a couple who go on a backpacking trip to reinvigorate their relationship and discover a magical town in which everyone acts as if they’re in a musical from the 1940s. Fred Armisen, Kristen Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit, and Jane Krakowski also star.

10. ‘WandaVision’ (Disney+, Jan. 15)

 Disney+’s Year of Marvel begins in January with Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany reprising their roles as Wanda and Vision, respectively, in a not-so-idyllic suburbia.