Five January TV Premieres We’re Excited About

This is Us, black-ish, lead high-profile January returns and premieres we can’t wait for

“Women of the Movement” stars Glynn Turman as Mose Wright, Tonya Pinkins as Alma Carthan, Cedric Joe as Emmett Till, Adrienne Warren as Mamie Till-Mobley, and Ray Fisher as Gene Mobley. Photo: ABC/Matthew Sayles

Following all the holiday specials and movies, January signals the re-start of the TV season, with long-awaited premieres and returns of fan favorites. Comedy, drama and even Shakespeare are all set to hit the not so small screen in January. The jam-packed line up features several series we’re definitely setting our calendars for. These are the January premieres we’re excited about.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Don Lemon Breaks Down How He’s Building His Media Empire

Tuesday, Jan. 4

This is Us Season 6 premiere – 9 pm NBC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DXxRULFrDk

We’re ready for tears, because there’s no other way This is Us can end. Though we haven’t spent a long time with the Pearsons, the five seasons we’ve been with them have been so emotionally packed, it’s the equivalent of dog years. Not much is known about how the show will wrap up, but Rebecca’s Alzheimer’s is getting worse, Randall’s biological mother may be alive and we need to know what happens with Kate. If the trailer is any indication, we’ll need a Costco-sized supply of tissues.

Tuesday, Jan. 4

black-ish Season 8 premiere – 9:30 pm ABC

Photo: ABC

We’ve been with the Johnsons through graduations, weddings, separations and reunions. Now it’s the beginning of the end, with the premiere of the eighth and final season. We don’t know what to expect for its last bow, but at least one episode will feature a guest appearance from Forever First Lady Michelle Obama. We assume there will be one-liners from Ruby, hilariously devious plans from Diane and epic fails from Junior. However, we also know the show will give us a genuinely heartfelt goodbye. 

Thursday, Jan. 6

Women of the Movement – 8 pm ABC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tApE1-1vdQ

Just because a story is hard to hear, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be told. In its new limited series Women of the Movement, ABC showcases the heartbreak and courage of Mamie Till-Mobley as she fights to get justice for her son and uses her pain to inspire others. Women of the Movement stars Glynn Turman as Mose Wright, Tonya Pinkins as Alma Carthan, Cedric Joe as Emmett Till, Adrienne Warren as Mamie Till-Mobley, and Ray Fisher as Gene Mobley. ABC News will air the companion docuseries Let The World See each week, chronicling the real events of the Emmett Till murder trial. This may be a tough watch, but it’s important that we support projects like this, so they continue to get made.

Tuesday, Jan. 11

Naomi – 9 pm The CW

The CW’s latest superhero series is based on DC Comics’ Naomi. Executive produced by Ava DuVernay, it stars Kaci Walfall as the title hero, a “cool, confident, comic-book loving” teenage girl whose life changes after being involved in a supernatural event. The CW is pretty good at putting a fresh spin on DC characters, so we’re interested to see what they do with one not as well-known as The Flash or Superman. Plus, you know we’re onboard anytime we get a Black superhero. 

Friday, Jan. 14

The Tragedy of Macbeth – AppleTV+

If all we knew was that Denzel is doing Shakespeare, that would be enough. Honestly, we wouldn’t even need to know which play it was. However, Denzel as Macbeth is a recipe for a masterclass in acting. Add in Frances McDormand as Lady Macbeth and Corey Hawkins as Macduff, and we can’t possibly be more excited. Yes, we know all the hyperbole is setting us up for a possible letdown, but did we mention Denzel as Macbeth!

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

These 15 Beloved White Hollywood Icons Have a Racist Past

These 15 Beloved White Hollywood Icons Have a Racist Past

From John Wayne to Doris Day, these 15 Hollywood stars have been accused of being racist …
New Black TV Shows You Need to Watch This Spring

New Black TV Shows You Need to Watch This Spring

Kerry Washington, Chase Infiniti and more are starring in hot new shows that you need to tap into right now! …
Professor: The Tiger Woods Crash Is Exactly Why Rich Black Men Need Drivers

Professor: The Tiger Woods Crash Is Exactly Why Rich Black Men Need Drivers

Opinion: A rollover crash adds to a troubling pattern and raises a bigger question about risk, control, and why some Black stars still insist on driving themselves …
Expert Weighs in on Mental Toll of Record-Breaking Job Loss for Black Women

Expert Weighs in on Mental Toll of Record-Breaking Job Loss for Black Women

Dr. LaNail R. Plummer, CEO of Onyx Therapy Group, explains how job loss can trigger anxiety, depression, and trauma among Black women …
Breaking: Tiger Woods Arrested, Charged With DUI After Rollover Crash in FL

Breaking: Tiger Woods Arrested, Charged With DUI After Rollover Crash in FL

Legendary golfer Tiger Woods was just involved in a rollover crash in Florida almost five years after a previous car accident almost cost his life …
A Latino Man Breaks Down Hispanic's ‘Polite’ Racism Black People Probably Won’t Notice Immediately

A Latino Man Breaks Down Hispanic’s ‘Polite’ Racism Black People Probably Won’t Notice Immediately

A Latino TikToker just said the quiet part out loud, explaining how Hispanics are indeed racist towards Black people and exactly how they do it in front of you …
Howard University Launches Cardi B-Inspired Hip Hop Course

Howard University Launches Cardi B-Inspired Hip Hop Course

Howard University has just announced a new Cardi B-inspired Hip Hop course for students, and we have the tea! …
Arsenio Hall Reveals Why We Have Eddie Murphy to Thank For Keeping 'Coming to America' From Getting Scrapped

Arsenio Hall Reveals Why We Have Eddie Murphy to Thank For Keeping ‘Coming to America’ From Getting Scrapped

‘Coming to America’ may be a beloved cult classic now, but according to star Arsenio Hall, it almost didn’t see the light of day. Now we know what turned things around! …
Here is Why Druski Is Winning!

Here is Why Druski Is Winning!

Druski is not avoiding controversy. He just understands the culture well enough to get it right and build an audience of millions …
Former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay Weighs in on the Show's Current Scandal

Former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay Weighs in on the Show’s Current Scandal

Former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay speaks out on the current season’s major scandal. Let’s break it down …
A Running List of Everything President Trump Is Planning to Name After Himself

A Running List of Everything President Trump Is Planning to Name After Himself

From $100 bills with Trump’s signature on it to renaming several buildings in his honor, here’s everything President Trump has named or renamed after himself …
State Comptroller Targeted More than 15,000 Businesses Owned by Women & People of Color — And It Wasn’t an Accident

State Comptroller Targeted More than 15,000 Businesses Owned by Women & People of Color — And It Wasn’t an Accident

Texas businesses owned by women and people of color just filed a landmark lawsuit against the State …
Black Women Have Proven Their Worth. So Why Are They Being Targeted?

Black Women Have Proven Their Worth. So Why Are They Being Targeted?

Despite historic gains in degrees and entrepreneurship, nearly 600,000 Black women were “economically sidelined” in 2025 alone, according to Fortune. Credentials and hard work have not shielded them from glaring pay gaps, bias or stalled advancement …
Here's a Full Timeline of Trump's Years-Long Beef with AG Letitia James

Here’s a Full Timeline of Trump’s Years-Long Beef with AG Letitia James

If you’re not caught up with the latest beef between Trump and Letitia James, don’t worry. We have you covered with everything to know since 2022 …
HBCU Alumni Score Higher in Brain Health Than PWI Peers, New Study Finds

HBCU Alumni Score Higher in Brain Health Than PWI Peers, New Study Finds

A new study shows that the HBCU experience may actually be connected to a lifetime of well-being …
Rihanna Gives Firsthand Account of Home Shooting Incident

Rihanna Gives Firsthand Account of Home Shooting Incident

New details from Rihanna are emerging about her unfortunate home shooting from Let’s get into it …
Druski Goes Viral With Hilarious Skit on 'Conservative Women in America'

Druski Goes Viral With Hilarious Skit on ‘Conservative Women in America’

Fan-favorite comedian Druski transforms into a satirical “Christian conservative” character, sparking millions of views and a heated online debate …
82 and Fabulous: Diana Ross's Style Through the Years

82 and Fabulous: Diana Ross’s Style Through the Years

As ‘The Boss’ turns another year older, we thought it’d be fitting to revel in the fabulous fashions of the legendary singer over the years. Let’s take a look! …
TikToker Finds Jill Scott’s Family Photos at Goodwill and Launches Mission to Return Them

TikToker Finds Jill Scott’s Family Photos at Goodwill and Launches Mission to Return Them

After stumbling across Jill Scott’s family photos in Goodwill, one TikToker user has returned the precious memories back to the singer …
New Details In Kandi Burruss Divorce From Todd Tucker

New Details In Kandi Burruss Divorce From Todd Tucker

The divorce settlement details between ‘RHOA’ star Kandi Burruss and ex Todd Tucker have been released. Let’s take a look! …