Slogging through the post-Christmas lull, TV viewers can find quick comfort. Or maybe semi-quick.
Current shows will have new episodes in early January on most networks … or late February on CBS. And they’ll be joined by:
— Nine new scripted series, led by Fox’s amiable “Doc Martin” reboot, starring Josh Charles (shown here on one of the doctor’s many bad days).
— The season-openers of 11 scripted shows, including ABC’s “Will Trent” and “The Rookie.”
— Three new unscripted shows, starting with a Harlan Coban true-crime series, Jan. 8.
— Lots of returning unscripted shows, includinng Fox’s “Masked Singer” (Jan. 7), ABC’s “American Idol” (Jan. 24), NBC’s “The Voice” (Feb. 23) and the 50th editon of CBS’ “Survivor” (Feb. 25).
— Documentaries on PBS. One delight is a Feb. 4 “Nova” that asks: “Can Dogs Talk?”
— And the specials that keep us around. That starts with the Golden Globes (Jan. 11 on CBS). NBC has the Winter Olympics on Feb. 6-22, pausing Feb. 8 for the Super Bowl.
All of this involves the six key broadcast networks, which tend to have stop-and-go schedules. Others simply go year-round, on cable (AMC’s “Dark Winds” returns Feb. 15) and streaming: After winning the best-drama Emmy in its first season, “The Pitt” starts its second Jan. 8 on HBO Max.
But for this, we’ll stick to the changing broadcast schedules. Here’s what’s coming (subject to change); it’s chronological in each category.
NEW SCRIPTED SERIES
— “Best Medicine,” about 8 p.m. ET Jan. 4 (after football), then 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Fox. The British “Doc Martin” has been moved to New England, It lacks the droll sense of the original, but still packs great charm.
— “Bookish,” 10 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 11; PBS. A former goverment agent, now with a book store, solves mysteries.
— “Memory of a Killer, about 8 p.m. (after football) Jan. 25, then 8 p.m. Mondays; Fox. Patrick Dempsey plays a hit man with early stages of Alzheimer’s.
— “The Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins,” 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, then 8:30; NBC. It’s a Tracy Morgan comedy.
— “CIA,” 10 p.m. Mondays, CBS; Feb. 23. It’s from producer Dick Wolf, airing after his “FBI”; Tom Ellis stars.
— “Scrubs,” 8 p.m. Wednesdays, ABC; Feb. 25. It reboots the original, with the same stars.
— “Y: Marshals,” 8. p.m. Sundays, CBS; March 1. This “Yellowstone” spin-off follows John Dutton’s son Kayce (Luke Grimes), a U.S. marshal.
— “The Forsytes” and “The Count of Monte Cristo,” 9 and 10 p.m. Sundays, March 22; PBS. It’s PBS’ third visit to the sprawling saga of the Forsyte family, followed by the oft-remade “Monte Cristo” adventure.
NEW UNSCRIPTED SHOWS
— “Harlon Coben’s Final Twist,” 10 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 7; CBS.
— “Fear Factor,” 9 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 14; Fox. It reboots the NBC show.
— America’s Culinary Cup, 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays, March 4; CBS. Padma Lakshi hosts.
SCRIPTED SEASON-OPENERS
— “Animal Control,” about 8 p.m. (after football) Dec. 28; Fox. Then 9 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 15.
— “Will Trent” and “The Rookie,” 8 and 10 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 6; ABC.
— “The Hunting Party,” 10 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 8; NBC.
— “Miss Scarlet” and “All Creatures Great and Small,” 8 and 9 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 11; PBS.
— “Going Dutch,” 9:30 Thursdays, Jan. 15; Fox.
— “Wild Cards,” 8 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 26; CW.
— “Family Guy,” 9:30 Sunday, Feb. 15; Fox. Then 8 p.m.
— “American Dad,” 9 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 22; Fox.
— “Call the Midwife,” 8 p.m. Sundays, March 22; PBS.
SCRIPTED SHOWS, RETURNING TO NEW EPISODES
— “Brilliant Minds,” 10 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 5; NBC.
— “High Potential,” 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 6; ABC.
— “Doc,” 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 6; Fox.
— “Shifting Gears” and “Abbott Elementary,” 8 and 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 7; ABC.
— “9-1-1,” “9-1-1: Nashville” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” 8-11 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 8; ABC.
— “Law & Order” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” 8 and 9 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 8; NBC.
— CBS’ Tuesday, Thursday and Friday shows, Feb. 24, 26 and 27.
UNSCRIPTED SHOWS; season-openers or returning after a break
— “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” 7 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 4; ABC.
— “The Wall,” 9 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 5; NBC.
— “The Masked Singer,” 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 7; Fox.
— “Police 24/7,” 8 p m.. Wednesdays (with reruns of previous episodes at 9), Jan. 21; CW.
— “Scrabble” and “Trivial Pursuit,” 8 and 9 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 22; CW. Craig Ferguson takes over as “Scrabble” host.
— “American Idol,” 8 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 26; ABC. Carrie Underwood takes over as a judge, as the show trims to once a week.
— “Extracted,” 9 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 26; Fox.
— “Next Level Chef,” 8 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 29; Fox.
— “The Voice,” 9 p.m. Mondays, Feb. 23; NBC.
— “Survivor,” 8 p.m., Wednesdays, Feb. 25; CBS. It’s the 50th edition, stocked with people who made an impact previously.
— “Hollywood Squares,” 10:30 p.m. Wednesdays, March 4; CBS.
DOCUMENTARIES
PBS has plenty of them, including:
— “Finding Your Roots,” 8 p.m. Tuesdays, with new episodes Jan. 6 to Feb. 23.
— Profiles of Elie Wiesel (9 p.m., Jan. 27), Barbara Jordan (10 p.m., Feb. 23), Bella Abzug (9 p.m., March 17) and, via Ken Burns, Henry David Thoreau (March 30-31).
— A five-week “Nature” series on animal parenthood. That’s 8 p.m. Wednesdays, starting Jan, 14; one hour blends neatly into the “Nova” hour on dogs triggering voice cues to communicate.
— And much more, with a strong emphasis on new weather and old dynasties.