The 20 Best New TV Shows of 2018

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – December 28, 2018

Above are the highest-scoring first-year TV series debuting in the United States between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018. Shows are ranked by Metascore (an average of grades from top professional critics on a 0-100 scale) prior to rounding, and any programs with fewer than 7 reviews are excluded. (Note that limited series, as well as TV movies and specials, will be ranked in a separate list arriving this weekend.)

12 of 22 photo by Chris Haston/NBC

77 #12: Making It

Like The Great British Baking Show, NBC's competition series features a bucolic setting and friendly, feel-good tone. But instead of cakes and pastries, the talented amateur contestants here make crafts, ranging from terrariums to toys and revolving around a different theme each episode. Former Parks and Recreation co-stars Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman host and produce the six-episode series—which will return in 2019— joined by expert judges Simon Doonan and Dayna Isom Johnson.

“It brims with nice, talented people making impossibly crazy beautiful things. It’s charming and sweet and might just inspire you to make something.” —Mark A. Perigard, Boston Herald

Where To Buy