TV Madness 2019: Animal Kingdom, Mayans MC, Jack Ryan, Magnum PI featured in play-in round
TV Madness 2019 is officially upon us! March is one of our favorite times of the year for many reasons — spring is in the air, the days are getting longer, and the idea of a bracket is a part of our pop-culture lexicon. TV Madness is CarterMatt’s version of March Madness, where a number of fantastic shows from across the map face off against each other. There are seedings, head-to-head showdowns, and the performance of each show is based entirely on you, the reader.
Over the past few years, the one thing that we’ve seen become prevalent within the world of college basketball is the idea of a play-in game — a competition between teams vying to get into the tournament. That is something that we’ve adopted over at our own TV Madness the past few years, where here we offer a number of shows the chance to fight their way into the main competition. We’ve come up with twelve great contenders this year — the majority of these shows have never had an opportunity to appear in TV Madness before, and of the ones that have appearances have been brief. This is a chance to either make a big splash or get a little bit of redemption.
How voting works – Vote however often you would like! (Technical instructions for multiple voting can be found at the bottom of this article.) We will keep this poll open until Saturday, March 9 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific time, which is when the Play-In Winner will be added into the main TV Madness tournament. They will then compete against Grey’s Anatomy — it will be a tough challenge, but one that any good underdog should be able to take on!
You can see the full bracket (including start dates for each individual round) in the graphic at the top of this article. Now, let’s get to breaking down the contenders for the play-in round.
A Million Little Things – A new entry this season, and a fantastic, emotional series that is coming off of a surprising season 1 finale. We know it has a devoted audience, but will they rally within this tournament?
Animal Kingdom – The TNT drama is entering its second straight year as a play-in contender. It didn’t make it into the main competition last year, but a groundswell of support could change that.
Bosch – Perhaps the biggest surprise here is that the Titus Welliver – Amazon series has never been in contention of winning TV Madness before. This year feels like the perfect time to give it a shot.
Dynasty – For the past two years it’s been the little engine that could at The CW, getting renewals at a time when people severely discounted its chances. We can’t think of a more perfect Cinderella story for this tournament.
Grantchester – The British series has long been one of those programs that should have more of a US audience. Is it possible that taking part in this competition will boost its exposure stateside?
Jack Ryan – This is the first year the show is eligible, and it clearly has a lot going for it — a big star in John Krasinski, a large contingent of Tom Clancy fans, and also the promise of more on the horizon.
Magnum PI – Consider this new CBS show a reminder that few people create successful remakes (while still honoring the original) like executive producer Peter Lenkov. It becomes more popular with each passing episode.
Mayans MC – There was a time in which Sons of Anarchy was a major player within many different polls at CarterMatt. Will its spin-off achieve the same thing in its first year of eligibility?
One Day at a Time – The Netflix comedy is critically beloved and is in the process of fighting to get another season. We hope that happens, and it would also be fun to see it have a great showing here.
Siren – The mystical Freeform drama boasts a fantastic sense of imagination, devoted fans, and a smart, environmental message at the same time. There are few shows that bring this same great combination to the table.
Star Trek: Discovery – It was recently renewed for a third season, but like Bosch, it’s never been featured within TV Madness. This is its first opportunity to see if it can rise to the occasion.
Supernatural – While at one point the Jared Padalecki – Jensen Ackles series was a TV Madness contender, it has faded in recent years. This is a chance for a comeback, and it’s coming right after the 300th episode.