2020 Winter Binge Guide: What to watch on TV this season

“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”

If you’re all caught up on this sitcom, now’s a good time to re-watch it all with Season 7 just around the corner.

If you’re not a regular viewer, change that.

“Nine-Nine” is not so much a cop show as it is a light sitcom about cops. Leading the cast is former “SNL” smug-mugger Andy Samberg as Jake Peralta, the alpha detective with daddy issues. Another standout is former “Homicide” star Andre Braugher as the robotic, hospital-corners precinct captain, Raymond Holt.

What else makes this show great?

• Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews)’ love of speaking in the third person. (“Terry loves yogurt!”)
• Captain Holt’s faithful corgi, Cheddar.
• The annual heist competition.
• Everything about Gina Linetti (Chelsea Peretti).
• The recurring sorta-villains, including “Pontiac Bandit” Doug Judy; Keith “The Vulture” Pembroke; and cannibal Caleb John Gosche. 

NBC did the world a favor when it picked up what Fox dropped.

Stream it on: Hulu, YouTube TV

“The Thick of It”

Years before he brought “Veep” to HBO, writer-producer Armando Iannucci was satirizing British politics. Much of “The Thick of It” will look familiar: the X-rated language, the single-camera style, the failed political machinations, the continual sucking up, the brutal insults etc.

Even if you don’t know the fundamentals of British government, you’ll appreciate the similarities to Selina Meyer’s D.C.

Also noteworthy: Malcolm Tucker, the foul-mouthed Scotsman who serves as the prime minister’s enforcer. Peter Capaldi dominates every scene he is in. See for yourself and be warned.

CLOSED-CAPTIONING ADVISORY: Malcolm’s Scottish accent/vulgarities can be tough to understand.

Stream it on: Amazon Prime

“Succession”

First of all, please understand that “Succession” is not about Australian Rupert Murdoch; his News Corp. media empire; and his children, who are all positioning themselves for the future as their aging father struggles to regain his health.

No. This is about Scotsman Logan Roy (Brian Cox); his Waystar RoyCo media empire; and his children, who are all positioning themselves for the future as their aging father struggles to regain his health.

See? Different.

“Succession” is something of a dramedy, in that there are laughs (Will Ferrell and Adam McKay are show-runners). But with other writers like Frank Rich (“Veep”) and Jesse Armstrong (“The Thick of It”) on board, its focus is on how money and power are one and the same.

Are any of the characters likeable? Goodness, no — not with pros like Brian Cox and Kieran Culkin reading the lines.

But you probably won’t mind when the mud is flying.

Stream it on: HBO Now

“Westside”

We take you now to Australia’s Canada — New Zealand — for this comedic drama set in decades past. It chronicles the exploits of Ted and Rita West (David de Lautour and Antonia Prebble, respectively), a loving couple who earn their coin by nicking it. Ted’s a safecracker; Rita dabbles in fencing.

Ted, fresh out of prison, balances his family duties with the equally important work of managing his crew of burglars … and having keggers in his backyard.

“Westside” is wildly popular in N.Z., in part because it’s a prequel to perhaps the most popular, critically acclaimed show in Kiwi history, “Outrageous Fortune.” 

It’s fun and (be advised) frequently sex-drenched. The bad news is that there aren’t enough episodes: Amazon Prime only has three seasons currently, and even though Season 6 is in the works, Seasons 4 and 5 haven’t dropped stateside.

Sounds like a heist is in order.

CLOSED-CAPTIONING ADVISORY: New Zealand accents can be tough to understand.

Stream it on: Amazon Prime

“John Mulaney and The Sack Lunch Bunch”

Netflix premiered comedian John Mulaney’s special for kids late last year. The vibe is big-budget “Sesame Street,” with music, dancing, sketches. Throughout is self-aware writing that is a cut above the fare generally fed to kids and even us adults.

The “SNL” veteran’s Broadway chops are strong. (He co-stars in the long-running “Oh Hello!” — also on Netflix.) The execution of it all is flawless. “Plain Plate of Noodles” is a highlight, as is “Girl Talk with Richard Kind.”

Also nice: interviews with cast members and guest stars about their greatest fears. They’re all good reminders that it’s OK to be scared, even after you’ve grown up.

Stream it on: Netflix

“Detroiters”

Most of us can probably name at least one weird local commercial from when we were growing up. “Detroiters” follows two young ad men who make them: best friends and brothers-in-law Tim Cramblin (Tim Robinson) and Sam Duvet (Sam Richardson). The pair have taken over the ad firm once run by Tim’s dad … before he was institutionalized.

While they don’t have the competition’s resources, they scheme to steal clients with enthusiasm (see above), even if it’s misguided much of the time.

“Detroiters” is silly, weird, mindless and probably what many of us need right now.

Stream it on: Google Play

“I Think You Should Leave”

The aforementioned Tim Robinson was a bit player on “SNL,” and later moved to the writer’s room. Many of his sketches that didn’t make it on SNL did make it onto this Netflix series. 

It’s all out of left field: An ad for laser spine surgery somehow turns into a scene involving a sleazy record producer. A wienermobile crashes into a men’s clothing store, and the obvious culprit is stealing suits. An actor needs help figuring out his motivation as a game show mascot.

And above: A vintage carnival organist fills in at a funeral.

It’s strange stuff that stands up on repeated viewings.

Stream it on: Netflix

“The Mandalorian”

The latest “Star Wars” trilogy has reached its end with “Rise of Skywalker.” Talk of more films remains that — just talk —  for now.

TV’s history with the mythology hasn’t been stellar. “The Mandalorian” redeems it.

If you’re not into “Star Wars,” don’t sweat it. Jon Favreau keeps it easy for the non-faithful to enjoy. It’s set in the era after the empire’s fall (i.e., post- “Return of the Jedi”) and follows a mysterious bounty hunter with — as we find out — a strong moral core.

And yeah, there’s that thing that looks like a baby Yoda. If it talks in season 2, it will probably melt down Twitter.   

The pacing is brisk, the look is polished, and the acting is top-shelf. Casting legendary director Werner Herzog and his distinctive accent, for example, was a master stroke. Other big name actors include Amy Sedaris, Carl Weathers, Nick Nolte and Jason Sudeikis. 

More streaming series like this Disney+ offering will likely be how The Force stays with us in the years to come.

Stream it on: Disney+

“Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse”

Here’s a movie to break up the monotony. 

It’s a comic book movie. Yes, those seem to be our sole cultural export these days, but keep an open mind here. “Into the Spider-Verse” is not a CGI-heavy film featuring trendy actors du jour doing glorified cosplay for 90 minutes. 

It’s a breathing, moving comic book, with emotive, next-level animation that raises the bar by, oh, a mile or so.

If you’ve already heard good things, know that “Into the Spider-Verse” probably exceeds them. 

This origins story is not about Peter Parker. Rather, it’s another name the comic nerds will recognize: Miles Morales, a New York cop’s kid who does graffiti when he’s not buried in homework.

Miles meets Peter Parker, who (minor spoiler) dies. Then he meets him again. No point in getting into the why. It will all make sense.

If you’re hungry for pure popcorn fare, this really is as good as it gets.

Stream it on: Netflix

“Cobra Kai”

When we last saw karate bully Johnny Lawrence back in the mid-1980s, he had walked away from his sensei — after literally getting his face kicked in by “Karate Kid” Danny LaRusso. 

Thirty-four years later, reality is still kicking Johnny in the face. He’s an estranged father, struggling for odd jobs and socializing with his best friend, a six-pack of Coors. Indeed, the times have seemingly passed him by. Does anyone else still love hair metal?

And to make it all even worse, Danny LaRusso owns a successful auto dealership that “kicks the competition.”

“Cobra Kai” is a curious follow-up series to the “Karate Kid” movies. As we all live in a post-“Sopranos,” antiheroes-are-OK world, one can’t help but root for Johnny as he starts his own dojo — even if he is a bit of a jerk. 

While the writing and acting can be painful, the nostalgia is strong enough to break a concrete block.

Stream it on: YouTube TV

“The Boys”

Another comic-book narrative merits another plea to keep an open mind. This one is unlike anything DC or Marvel is cranking out — and it’s darker than Batman’s worst night. 

The premise: What if The Caped and Superpowered were terrible people? And what if they all worked for an enormous corporation? “The Boys” follows a ragtag band of vigilantes who take them all on — in a world where PR, so far, has hidden the truth from humanity. 

It is bloody, violent, vulgar and disturbing. Yet it’s fun and, at times, hilarious. Seth Rogen is one of the executive producers, which is probably why its sense of humor is refined.

As Billy Butcher — the hard-drinking alpha alpha and closet Spice Girls fan — Karl Urban knocks it out of the park with a cricket bat. Antony Starr is also great as the psychopathic, detached Homelander. And Jack Quaid (Dennis and Meg Ryan’s kid!) is great, too, as the average guy who joins Billy et al. to take on “The Seven.”

Season 2 rolls out later this year. Now’s the time to get caught up.

Stream it on: Amazon Prime

“Joe Pera Talks With You”

Is it an art film? Is it ASMR? Is it comedy? 

It’s all of the above.

Comedian Joe Pera stars as what one assumes is an exaggerated version of himself: a young-yet-grandfatherly choir teacher in small-town Michigan. The episode titles do a better job of explaining it: “Joe Pera Talks You Back to Sleep”; “Joe Pera Takes You to Breakfast”; “Joe Pera Gives You Piano Lessons”; and so on.

The fourth wall frequently disintegrates as we learn about Joe’s life, which includes a budding relationship with a doomsday-prepping band teacher. The vibe is reminiscent of “Napoleon Dynamite” or a Wes Anderson film, frequently accented with moments of heartbreaking beauty.

Not far from all of this is a subtle acknowledgment that these are anxious times, and that small-town America has seen better days. 

But as Joe will tell you, it’s OK: There’s a fish fry Friday night.

Stream it on: YouTube TV, Hulu

HONORABLE MENTIONS: “A.J. and the Queen,” “Outrageous Fortune,” “Fleabag,” “Shrill,” “Schitt’s Creek.”