“BRIDGERTON”

(Netflix, premiere date to be announced) A crunchy-gravel British period drama from producer Shonda Rhimes? You bet. Inspired by Julia Quinn’s bestselling novels, this fastpaced series is set in early 19th century London, in the middle of debutante season, where future marriages hang in the balance — all of it sharply observed by the pseudonymous Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews), who writes a high-society gossip column. Worth noting: a refreshing degree of casting diversity, once unheard-of in this genre.