TV picks for Jan. 8: "Babylon," "Archer," "Portlandia"

Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire") is the latest A-list director to get back into the TV business with "Babylon," a workplace dramedy set in a London police station that's in dire need of a public-relations makeover. James Nesbitt, so haunting as a father who has lost his child in "The Missing," gets to play for laughs this time as the chief constable. 9 p.m. Sundance

"Portlandia" enters a new season with even more ambition, stretching out its quirky stories to make room for more absurd antics. Guest stars this season include Matt Groening, Anna Gunn, Seth Meyers, Paul Reubens, Paul Simon, Oscar the Grouch and Steve Buscemi, who will also direct an episode. 9 p.m. IFC

"Archer," the best animated series not named "BoJack Horseman," returns for a sixth season that starts with the title character salvaging a crashed plane filled with World War II relics. Creator Adam Reed continues to find irreverent and hilarious ways to spoof James Bond and every other spy franchise in pop-culture history. 9 p.m. FX

Neal Justin