10 Best Returning TV Shows Premiering in January

There are some new shows premiering in January that might be a good watch...we trust Rainn Wilson in "Backstrom" and "Galavant" is taking a risk as a medieval-set musical-comedy, but it's just so crazy it might work.

But January 2015 is an especially great month for already existing shows that are premiering a new season. Here are the 10 best ones premiering this month, in order of premiere date:

1. "Downton Abbey" - Sunday, Jan. 4 at 9pm, PBS

Perhaps this period drama doesn't quite have the following and fan fervor that it once did, but that doesn't mean it's gone completely off the rails. The fifth season premiers this Sunday, and we think it's going to be a good one.

2. "Archer" - Thursday, Jan. 8 at 10pm, FX

"Archer" is quite possibly the best animated show on television, and one of the best comedies. After a season experimenting with a continuous story arc, the show will be returning to its more episodic form for season six. With a baby in the mix, expect even more hilarious hijinx from the most inept spy agency in the world.

3. "Portlandia" - Thursday, Jan. 8 at 10pm, IFC

If you don't own a DVR, you'll have to choose between this one and "Archer." We'll be choosing "Archer," but you can't go wrong with this excellent sketch show and the impossibly funny duo of Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein either.

4. "Comedy Bang! Bang!" - Friday, Jan. 9 at 11pm, IFC

Formerly a podcast, this strange interview/sketch show has been doing its thing on IFC for three seasons now. This will be the fourth season premiere, and in addition to host Scott Aukerman and musical genius Reggie Watts, you're bound to see some big names in comedy as guests.

5. "Glee" - Friday, Jan. 9 at 8pm, Fox

This marks the sixth and final season for the musical-comedy-soap-opera, so even if you gave up watching a while back, now might be the time to tune in and see how it all ends.

6. "Girls" - Sunday, Jan. 11 at 9pm, HBO

Lena Dunham et al are back for a fourth season, this one seeing Hannah attending her writer's program in Iowa. "Girls" recovered from a minor season-two funk and returned with an excellent third season, so here's hoping that trend continues.

7. "Parks & Recreation" - Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 8pm, NBC

"Parks & Rec" is entering its final season, set in the near future and following that time jump we saw in last season's finale. That means that Leslie and Ben already have their twins, and Leslie's new branch of the National Parks department is already set up in Pawnee. What will happen to our favorite government employees in this seventh and final season?

8. "Broad City" - Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 10:30pm, Comedy Central

This is only the second season for this half-hour comedy, and a lot of people missed the first season. That is a crime. "Broad City," featuring Abbi Jacobsen and Ilana Glazer as two stoner girls living in New York City, is one of the funniest shows on television right now, and everyone should be watching it. Everyone.

9. "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" - Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 10pm, FXX

It's unfortunate that the Gang has been moved to FXX, a channel that not all cable subscribers will get, but if you have the channel, they'll be there on Wednesday nights being as clueless and irreverent as ever in their 10th season.

10. "The Americans" - Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 10pm, FX

Back on the original FX, there's the season three premiere of this period drama about KGB spies masquerading as an average American couple during the Cold War. The twists and turns are unexpected in this series, and if you haven't caught any of it yet, we suggest catching up on Amazon Prime, where the first season is available streaming for free.