12 Popular Shows That Didn’t Air New Episodes in 2020

TV and movie production ground to a standstill in March due to Covid-19, which halted filming for several months. And while some shows were able to return to the airwaves this fall, others have remained sidelined because of the pandemic, which means that more than a year will pass in between seasons.

So if you’re wondering why some of your favorite shows weren’t on any top TV lists for 2020, it might very well be because the series didn’t air any new episodes this year.

Here are 12 popular shows that were MIA in 2020, along with the latest information about when you can expect them to resurface.

American Crime Story (FX)

It’s been nearly three years since FX aired the last installment of Ryan Murphy’s anthology drama, The Assassination of Gianni Versace. Season 3, called Impeachment, is focusing on the national scandal involving Monica Lewinsky (played by Beanie Feldstein) and President Clinton (Clive Owen) that led in 1998 to the country’s first impeachment in more than a century. Told through the point of view of the women involved (including Lewinsky and Linda Tripp, played by Sarah Paulson), Impeachment had initially been scheduled to air this fall. But principal photography didn’t start until November, and FX has not yet set a revised airdate.

Atlanta (FX)

Like American Crime Story, Atlanta also appeared on last year’s list of shows that didn’t air in 2019. Adweek ranked Donald Glover’s critically acclaimed comedy as one of the decade’s best shows, but it hasn’t aired on FX since May 2018. The network had ordered not one, but two additional seasons of the series, which were supposed to shoot back-to-back last spring. Instead, Atlanta won’t start shooting until early 2021. Glover vowed it will be worth the wait, tweeting in November, “atlanta s3+s4 are going to be some of the best television ever made. sopranos only ones who can touch us.”

Barry (HBO)

Bill Hader’s dark comedy about a hitman (Hader) questioning his life who moonlights as an aspiring actor was one of 2019’s best shows. Season 3 production had been set to begin in April, but HBO said when filming will commence yet.

Cobra Kai (Netflix)

Even though the Karate Kid revival was Netflix’s No. 1 show after it began airing on the streamer in August, subscribers weren’t actually watching new episodes of the series. Instead, they were bingeing the first two seasons, which were already available on YouTube Premium.

That’s because early this year, Cobra Kai exited YouTube Premium as part of that platform’s shift away from scripted originals, and Netflix agreed to pick up the series, and the already-filmed Season 3. That season will debut Jan. 1 on Netflix, and the streaming service has already ordered a fourth season of the show.

The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)

The Hulu series had just started shooting Season 4 when the pandemic hit. It went back into production last September, and Hulu said the 10-episode fourth season will premiere sometime in 2021. Earlier this month, Hulu renewed the series for Season 5.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FXX)

The comedy hasn’t been seen on FXX since Season 14 wrapped in November 2019, but there’s a lot more Sunny coming your way. Earlier this month, FX Networks gave the show a whopping four-season renewal, through Season 18, which will make Sunny the longest-running live-action comedy series in TV history, ahead of The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet. Season 15 will air in 2021.