The 20 Best New TV Shows of 2016
Below are the highest-scoring first-year TV series debuting in the United States between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016. 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, are ranked in a separate list.)
It's one thing for a network to make a concerted effort to showcase a more diverse array of faces in its primetime lineup. But ABC's recent efforts are more than merely well-intentioned: they are actually producing some quality shows, including critic favorites like Fresh Off the Boat and Black-ish. Add fall newcomer Speechless to that list. Created by former Friends writer/producer Scott Silveri, the sitcom centers on a family with a special-needs child (played by actor Micah Fowler who, like his character, has cerebral palsy). But this is not a preachy or overly sentimental half hour. Instead, it's a comedy first—a warm and funny one at that, and one that just happens to have a character with a disability (among its many recognizably flawed but relatable characters).