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More than 10 new and returning TV shows you should watch this spring

There are so many new offerings this spring that it could be hard to narrow your viewing down. Let's call it what it is: paralysis by analysis.

Accessibility can even make it harder on viewers; there's no longer a tether to a TV or the imposed viewing schedule.

If you're like me, you want to see everything but you have to draw the line somewhere. So here's what to watch. You can pick your own when.

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NEW SHOWS

Making History

A layabout facilities employee at the local college finds a body-sized duffel bag that doubles as a time machine. His life being almost non-existent in 2017, he makes one that's the envy of others in Colonial America 1775. Problem is, he changes history along the way. Adam Pally stars as the bumbling Dan Chambers, who falls in extreme like with Paul Revere's daughter, Deborah (Leighton Meester of Fort Worth). And that, my friends, is how you stall the American Revolution. He talks history professor Chris Parish (Yassir Lester), into going back in time to help him set things right. No joke is off-limits here: The denizens of the 1700s cast a wary eye on the "slave," Chris. Dan hilariously uses song lyrics from No. 1 hits and quotes to woo and charm. The whole thing is outrageous, and can be very funny: Why did he get in the duffle bag in the first place? How did he find out ham could be used as currency? And when he did, does he use honey-baked? And why does Sam Adams like to play tricks with beer? It's revolutionary, too: Dan encourages the beautiful damsel away from distress and toward empowerment. The show premiered on March 5 at 7:30 p.m. on Fox.

News Roundups

Catch up on the day's news you need to know.

Or with:

Freddie Stroma might need a change of clothes if he's going to fit in present-day America.
Freddie Stroma might need a change of clothes if he's going to fit in present-day America.(SARAH SHATZ / ABC)

Time After Time

There could possibly be one too many time-travelling television series out there. And you may have thought you heard this one before: An icon comes to the future to try to stop impending doom. But instead of the wildly supernatural Sleepy Hollow, this is a detective, chase story featuring H.G. Wells (Freddie Stroma) trying to stop his friend John Stevenson (Josh Bowman) who he realizes is Jack the Ripper. Throw in a musem curator who joins the hunt, and time will fly right by. Premieres Sunday, March 5 at 8 p.m. on ABC

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Carl Weathers plays State's Attorney Mark Jefferies in "Chicago Justice."
Carl Weathers plays State's Attorney Mark Jefferies in "Chicago Justice."(Parrish Lewis / NBC)

Chicago Justice

What's one more? Justice is the fourth series in the Dick Wolf's franchise set in the Windy City. It joins P.D., Med and Fire, three series that have the ER tone and tension down pat. But it may owe more allegiance to Law & Order than even those because the subject matter is topical more often than not. If you like the others, you'll love this one. Especially with Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed in Rocky, Action Jackson in, ahem, Action Jackson), a bona fide icon, along for the ride. Premieres 8 p.m. March 5 on NBC

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Finn Jones stars as Danny Rand in "Marvel's Iron Fist."
Finn Jones stars as Danny Rand in "Marvel's Iron Fist." (Netflix)

Marvel's Iron Fist

If there was a misstep to be made in the Marvel TV universe, then Iron Fist would be the vehicle. But lead actor Finn Jones has other notions. Jones imbues Danny Rand, who was declared dead in a plane crash with his parents years ago, with child-like wonder and a precious naivete that has you rooting for him from the start, when he trips through the streets of New York to the sounds of Outkast's "So Fresh, So Clean." Whereas Daredevil, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage are mired in the muck, Rand is above-ground with his face to the sun. Each of these shows has been tonally different, fitting together like so many puzzle pieces for their eventual union with the upcoming Defenders. The other three were like a punch to the mouth. Iron Fist, with fight scenes so lyrical one could dance to them, is light on its feet. The show premieres March 17 on Netflix.

The Arrangement

Josh Henderson, late of Dallas, the show and the city, stars in the 10-episode drama about love, Hollywood-style. He's Kyle West, a big honkin' Movie Star, who offers his hand in marriage and a $10 million contract, to struggling starlet Megan Morrison (Christine Evangelista). Oh, she also gets to co-star in his latest film. West answers to self-help group, The Institute of the Higher Mind, and its leaders (Michael Vartan of Alias) has plenty to say about it. Familiar? It will premiere on March 5 a 9 p.m. on E

Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis and Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford.
Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis and Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford.(Suzanne Tenner / FX)

Feud: Bette and Joan

Producer Ryan Murphy can take just about any subject and make it highly watchable TV. See GleeThe People v. O.J. Simpson and the awfully passed-over Popular. He turns his attention to serious acrimony with his limited series, Feud. This installment -- the next one featuring Princess Diana and Prince Charles has already been ordered by the network --features  the story of the enmity between screen legends Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. I don't think it's a coincidence that the show premieres at the start of Women's History Month. Who's taking notes? Begins 9 p.m. March 5 on FX

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Also: Trial & Error on Tuesday, March 14 at 9 p.m.; The Handmaid's Tale, April 26 on Hulu; Annedroids, already available on Amazon

Returning shows

Heh. The season opener is titled "No Good Deed." That's par for the course for the crew...
Heh. The season opener is titled "No Good Deed." That's par for the course for the crew around Sterling Archer, private eye (H. Jon Benjamin). (FXX)

ArcherThis show reinvents itself from season to season. This time, it's 1940s LA noir, and it moves to FXX. Each member of the bananas team takes on a new role, but some things never change: Archer's still enamored with Lana, and he still doesn't learn from mistakes. Thank goodness. Wednesday, April 5 at 9 p.m. on FXX

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Underground: The intense rollercoaster first season ended with the daring Macon 7 down in numbers but not out. And freedom fighter Rosalee's mother being sold off. Where do they go from here? The group running to freedom has used the Underground  Railroad before, but this time the conductor is around; Aisha Hinds plays Harriet Tubman as figures from history join the fray, along with a legendary guest star. 9 p.m. March 8  on WGN America

The mid-season premiere of "Empire" is called "The Sound and the Fury." That should be...
The mid-season premiere of "Empire" is called "The Sound and the Fury." That should be Cookie Lyon's (Taraji P. Henson) nickname. (Chuck Hodes / FOX)

Empire: Renewed for Season 4 in January, the sudsy show with a serious pedigree is back from its midseason hiatus. Eldest son Andre Lyon has stepped to the bad side with promises to "kill my father." The midseason finale left plenty of things hanging on a cliff: Jamal is in rehab, Lucious ambushed Cookie's boyfriend and Hakeem was back in the arms of Tianna. What everyone wants to know, though, is what is Cookie, looking for all the world like comics villain Harley Quinn, doing with that bat in the trailer? The midseason premiere is at 8 p.m. March 22 on Fox.

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Daniel Gillies as Elijah, Joseph Morgan as Klaus, and Phoebe Tonkin as Hayley IN "The...
Daniel Gillies as Elijah, Joseph Morgan as Klaus, and Phoebe Tonkin as Hayley IN "The Originals."(BOB MAHONEY / THE CW)

The Originals: With The Vampire Diaries coming to a close, Klaus and his family are the vampires left running things on The CW. The season opens five years after they were defeated by his once-son, the vampire Marcel. (Let's be real, shall we? I come for the blood.) This is one spin-off that could have always stood on its own. Now, it will have to prove it. March 17 at 7 p.m. on The CW

Mavis McCready (Oprah Winfrey) and Lady Mae (Lynn Whitfield) make a point on "Greenleaf."
Mavis McCready (Oprah Winfrey) and Lady Mae (Lynn Whitfield) make a point on "Greenleaf."(OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Greenleaf: Scandal. Death. Intrigue. Oprah Winfrey co-stars in this series set amidst some holy hot mess at a Tennessee megachurch headed by Bishop Greenleaf. She and co-stars Lynn Whitfield and Merle Dandridge rightfully graced a recent cover of TV Guide. The second season will be as tumultuous as the first. The second season premieres on March 15 at 9 p.m. on OWN

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