12 TV Shows to Remember

A staple of summer competition, NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” continues to innovate with its courses, spotlighting athletes of all backgrounds. Emceed by Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila, in a TV landscape full of mean-spirited reality contests, “Ninja Warrior” remains refreshingly earnest and uplifting — something worth rewarding.

Based on the 2009 novel by Dennis Tafoya, this tightly constructed miniseries follows two small-time hustlers who pose as DEA agents — only to get swept up in the very criminal underworld they tried to infiltrate. Anchored by magnetic performances from Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura, and a gritty visual aesthetic, “Dope Thief” explores identity, ambition, and the cost of deception. It’s a quintessential Apple production: sleek, cerebral, and impossible to stop watching.

Michelle Khare’s boundary-pushing docu-series continues to grow in ambition and production value. From training with NASA to tackling emergency rescue drills, this YouTube original blends spectacle with genuine vulnerability. The series debuted its first feature-length episode, “Challenge Accepted: 90 Day Black Belt,” at the Montclair Film Festival last year to critical acclaim. It’s time Emmy voters caught up with where (hosted) nonfiction storytelling is going.

Few unscripted series are as consistently revelatory. Dr. Orna Guralnik’s sessions pull back the curtain on intimacy, resentment and growth with profound humanity. In an era of performative reality TV, Season 5 of “Couples Therapy” remains a masterful work of documentary storytelling and is long overdue for its time in the Emmy spotlight.

This quirky ABC crime procedural — starring Kaitlin Olson as a single mom with uncanny detective skills — strikes an impressive balance between comedy and suspense. It’s a fresh addition to ABC’s drama slate and shows real promise in Olson’s layered turn that hopefully won’t be ignored entirely.

This semi-anthological Netflix dramedy, created by Tina Fey, Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield, and based on the 1981 film by Alan Alda, is a tender ode to friendship and time. With standout turns from Colman Domingo, Will Forte and Kerri Kenney-Silver, along with an immaculate ensemble cast that slips effortlessly between tones, it’s a quiet darling that deserves a louder presence at the Emmys. Consider it for writing, directing and performances (at minimum).

Benito Skinner’s coming-of-age story about masculinity, sexuality and image culture deserves recognition for its original voice. As a queer-led comedy that subverts the influencer tropes, “Overcompensating” is equal parts hilarious and incredibly moving. The confidence has to submit its fifth episode, titled “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites,” instead of the pilot, which new shows tend to favor. The Prime Video series has a heartwarming charisma that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan’s modern ode to “Golden Girls” is led by the sharp comedic timing of its four hilarious cast members and a script that lovingly skewers Boomer culture. This multi-cam sitcom breathes new life into a format that voters too often overlook, and marks a heartfelt and respectful farewell to the late Linda Lavin. “Mid-Century Modern” has style, wit and a surprisingly expressive center.

Tense, layered and anchored by a haunting score, this FX political thriller is based on the award-winning nonfiction book about Northern Ireland’s Troubles. “Say Nothing” introduces a star in Lola Petticrew. The Joshua Zetumer series interrogates memory, guilt and silence with a slow-burn power. It’s a worthy contender for outstanding limited series, writing, and any of its actors, and shouldn’t be forgotten.

Part daredevil thriller, part unconventional romance, this documentary scales the heights of human achievement and emotional vulnerability. Chronicling the lives of a real-life couple who risk it all to climb the world’s tallest structures, “Skywalkers: A Love Story” from directors Jeff Zimbalist and Maria Bukhonina is a breathtaking meditation on obsession, trust, and the thin line between adrenaline and intimacy. With astonishing cinematography and a pulse-pounding score, it’s a standout in the race and a reminder that some love stories are told at 90 stories high.

Adapted from the beloved novel by Edward Kelsey Moore, this Hulu/Searchlight film brings heart, humor, and sisterhood to the screen in rich, lived-in detail. Starring Uzo Aduba, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Sanaa Lathan as lifelong friends navigating love, loss and legacy in a Midwestern Black community, “The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat” is a soulful and stirring ensemble piece. With warmth in every frame, it’s one of the most worthy entrants in the television movie race, and a celebration of friendship that resonates long after the credits roll.

It’s not reality… It’s the Valley!

While Season 2 is becoming increasingly unhinged and boiling over (read Variety’s glorious piece on it), “The Valley” is in contention for Season 1, you know before all the divorces and “whore” accusations. The chaotic cousin to “Vanderpump Rules,” this reality series finds surprising jaw-dropping depth amid the drama. It’s messy, sure, but also compelling — a study in mid-life reinvention, broken friendships and the occasional tragic hilarity of Bravo fame.

A satire of Hollywood egos and influencer entitlement, the sketch-adjacent series from Dropout is as whip-smart as it is unhinged, led by the dynamic Vic Michaelis. A natural and admittedly curveball fit for the talk series category, “Very Important People,” also deserves a look for makeup and editing. Season 2 shows that it’s only getting better and bolder as it continues.