Christmas is the worst time of the year for television fans when all of our favorite shows take a break so that everyone can fixate on Santa Claus and school vacation and other pressing matters. But the tube is now back with a vengeance, with some of the buzziest new and returning shows of the entire year kicking off when everyone is curled up on the couch waiting for that spring thaw. Here are some of the standouts.

Jennifer Lopez as Harlee Santos, Ray Liotta as Bill Wozniak and Drea de Matteo as Tess Nazario. Photograph: NBC/Getty Images

What is this show? A bunch of crooked cops, including a working mom, being very bad and super sexy.

When is it on? Thursdays 10pm EST on NBC – it started 7 January.

Who stars in it? J–Lo. Need I say more?

Can it be summed up in a handy if slightly inaccurate portmanteau of two other shows? The Shield meets The Mysteries of Laura

Should I bother with it? No.

From left, Adhir Kalyan, Vanessa Lengies, Dilshad Vadsaria, Rob Kazinsky, Ciara Bravo and Tim DeKay in Second Chance. Photograph: FOX/FOX via Getty Images

What is this show? Frankenstein but now he’s a bad cop who comes back in a younger, hotter body.

When is it on? Wednesdays at 9pm EST on Fox starting 13 January.

Who stars in it? No one you know.

Can it be summed up in a handy if slightly inaccurate portmanteau of two other shows? Forever meets Castle.

Should I bother with it? It’s been through three different titles, can it really be any good?

Murray Monster and Count von Count meet the scarcely less ludicrously named Benedict Cumberbatch. Photograph: AP

What is this show? It’s Sesame Street, do we really have to tell you how to get there?

When is it on? Saturdays at 9.30am on HBO starting 16 January.

Who stars in it? Big Bird and the letters H, B, and O.

Can it be summed up in a handy if slightly inaccurate portmanteau of two other shows? Dude, it’s Sesame Street.

Should I bother with it? Depends on whether you still use a sippy cup.

Hold the phone: Damian Lewis as Bobby ‘Axe’ Axelrod in Billions. Photograph: JoJo Whilden/Showtime

What is this show? A New York attorney searches for a way to bring down an asshole one-per-cent-er hedge fund douche.

When is it on? Sundays at 10pm EST on Showtime starting 17 January.

Who stars in it? Damian Lewis, Paul Giamatti and Malin Akerman, all uttering plenty of curse words.

Can it be summed up in a handy if slightly inaccurate portmanteau of two other shows? The Big Short meets Homeland.

Should I bother with it? My money is on yes.

Grey’s Anatomy meets Downton ... it’s Mercy Street. Photograph: PBS

What is this show? A medical drama set in the American civil war.

When is it on? Check your local PBS station, starting 17 January.

Who stars in it? Josh Radnor, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jack Falahee, amputations.

Can it be summed up in a handy if slightly inaccurate portmanteau of two other shows? Grey’s Anatomy goes to Downton Abbey.

Should I bother with it? Since you have to pay for Sesame Street now, might as well watch something for free.

Send in the clown: Zach Galifianakis in Baskets. Photograph: FX

What is this show? I don’t know, some weird-ass thing Zach Galifianakis is doing. There are clowns in it?

When is it on? Thursdays at 10pm EST on FX starting 21 January.

Who stars in it? I already told you, Zach Galifianakis.

Can it be summed up in a handy if slightly inaccurate portmanteau of two other shows? Louie plus BoJack Horseman minus the animation.

Should I bother with it? How do you feel about clowns and comedies that don’t make you laugh?

Legends of Tomorrow. Photograph: The CW Network

What is this show? All the DC Comics superheroes who don’t already have their own show, now do.

When is it on? Thursdays at 8pm EST on the CW starting 21 January.

Who stars in it? Victor Garber, Wentworth Miller and Brandon Routh (not playing Superman).

Can it be summed up in a handy if slightly inaccurate portmanteau of two other shows? The Arrow plus The Flash plus Supergirl plus Smallville plus Gotham plus …

Should I bother with it? Writer and director Greg Berlanti’s other 19 superhero shows are pretty good, so why not? But also, there are 19 other superhero shows to choose from.

X hits the spot: Mitch Pileggi, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson and William B Davis. Photograph: FOX/FOX via Getty Images

What is this show? You know, Mulder, Scully, aliens, conspiracy theories, the whole bit. It’s back.

When is it on? Mondays at 8pm EST on Fox starting on 24 January.

Who stars in it? David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, and that guy who plays the Smoking Man.

Can it be summed up in a handy if slightly inaccurate portmanteau of two other shows? The X Files plus Cocoon.

Should I bother with it? The truth is out there, but I can’t tell it to you yet.

Grease Live: tell us more (or not). Photograph: Fox

What is this show? It’s the musical Grease but live and on your TV and being live-tweeted by your neighbour’s daughter.

When is it on? Sunday 31 January at 7pm EST on Fox.

Who stars in it? Julianne Hough, Vanessa Hudgens, Aaron Tveit, Martin Short, Carly Rae Jepsen and Eve Plumb (you know, the original Jan Brady!)

Can it be summed up in a handy if slightly inaccurate portmanteau of two other shows? The Wiz Live! with more leather.

Should I bother with it? It’s the one that you want, the one that you really want, woo hoo hoo.

American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson. Photograph: FX

What is this show? It’s a true crime show from Ryan Murphy about the OJ Simpson case. Because we didn’t watch it on TV the first time around.

When is it on? Tuesdays at 10pm EST on FX starting 2 February.

Who stars in it? Cuba Gooding Jr, John Travolta, Nathan Lane, David Schwimmer, Sarah Paulson, and the dancing Itos.

Can it be summed up in a handy if slightly inaccurate portmanteau of two other shows? American Horror Story plus America’s Most Wanted.

Should I bother with it? It’s going to be a delightful train wreck with a white Bronco chase. Duh.

Vinyl: stand by for sex, drugs and rock’n’roll. Photograph: HBO

What is this show? A look at the record industry of the 1970s written by Terence Winter and directed by Martin Scorsese.

When is it on? Sundays at 9pm EST on HBO starting 14 February.

Who stars in it? Bobby Cannavale, Olivia Wilde, Ray Romano, Andrew Dice Clay and cocaine.

Can it be summed up in a handy if slightly inaccurate portmanteau of two other shows? Boardwalk Empire plus Mad Men.

Should I bother with it? All your friends will be talking about it, so at least pretend to watch.

11.22.63: JJ Abrams takes on Stephen King. Photograph: Supplied

What is this show? JJ Abrams adaptation of Stephen King’s novel about a teacher who goes back in time to stop JFK’s assassination.

When is it on? Starts 15 February on Hulu.

Who stars in it? James Franco, Chris Cooper, Josh Duhamel, Cherry Jones, and a time machine.

Can it be summed up in a handy if slightly inaccurate portmanteau of two other shows? The Man in the High Castle goes Under the Dome.

Should I bother with it? Is this the right space to ask how Lee Harvey Oswald must feel?

Better Call Saul: poised to get even better. Photograph: AMC

What is this show? The Breaking Bad prequel returns for season two when we finally meet Saul Goodman.

When is it on? Mondays at 10pm EST on AMC starting 15 February.

Who stars in it? All the same people, still no Walter White.

Can it be summed up in a handy if slightly inaccurate portmanteau of two other shows? Breaking Bad plus a show about lawyers.

Should I bother with it? Yes. The first season was a commercial and critical hit, and it looks poised to get even better.

Broad City: they’re back on the streets of New York. Photograph: ComedyC/Everett/REX Shutterstock

What is this show? Just the third season of the funniest show on television.

When is it on? Tuesdays at 10pm EST on Comedy Central starting 23 February.

Who stars in it? Co-baes Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson.

Can it be summed up in a handy if slightly inaccurate portmanteau of two other shows? Girls go Inside Amy Schumer.

Should I bother with it? Of course you should!