Five new TV shows to get excited about

Constantine is one of the must-see televisions shows of the year.

This week, the American television networks unveiled their 2014-2015 lineups. Here are five of the most interesting shows we think should head to New Zealand screens.

Gotham
Before there was Batfleck, there was Gotham.

The show stars Ben McKenzie (The OC) as future Batman police commissioner James Gordon during his early years as a detective. Gotham also includes untold stories of DC Comics villians like Cat Woman and the Penguin, and will introduce a new character, Fish Mooney played by Jada Pinkett Smith.

This looks like a brutally good take on a back story.

Wayward Pines
M. Night Shyamalan has created some of the best, most suspense-filled films of recent history including The Sixth Sense, and his new trip into television seems to have a similar feel.

The Twin Peaks-esque show stars Matt Dillon as a secret service agent trying to figure out just what the heck is going on in a small, very creepy, town.

Also completing a stellar cast are Terrance Howard (Hustle & Flow), Juliette Lewis (August: Osage County) and Melissa Leo (The Fighter). TV really is the new cinema.

Gracepoint
Broadchurch has recently started screening here, a year after it first aired in the UK. And unsurprisingly - when something is that good - America has picked up the hit show and put their own spin on it. Sort of. The US remake sees David Tennant reprise his role as an out-of-town detective investigating the murder of a young boy, and this time he is joined by Breaking Bad's Anna Gunn. When you compare the UK and US trailers, the similarities are very, very obvious.

Constantine
Based on the popular DC Comics series Hellblazer, seasoned demon hunter and master of the occult John Constantine specialises in giving hell a hard time. The supernatural show stars Matt Ryan as a man struggling with his faith and haunted by his past. Keep the lights on when you watch this one.

Bad Judge

You've seen her in

Grey's Anatomy

. You've seen the story played out in

Bad Teacher

. Bring them together and there is every chance this new comedy starring Kate Walsh will be terrible, but going on the trailer, the story of a "wild child" judge might be okay.

- nzherald.co.nz