Winter TV preview
By Casey Gillis on Jan. 05, 2010
It’s a new year, and that means it’s time for the networks to roll out their slate of midseason replacements.
Among the new contenders are a half-hour animated comedy about a spy, a family drama that finds a teen orphan reconnecting with her biological parents and an action drama based on a DC Comics comic book.
Read on for all the details about those series and more, plus when your favorite shows — think “24,” “Lost” and “Big Love” — are returning (new shows are bolded)
All dates and times are subject to change, so keep an eye on local listings for current information.
Already premiered
- ABC just rolled out its newest season of “The Bachelor,” subtitled “On the Wings of Love” for the man at the center of it all: Dallas-based pilot Jake Pavelka, one of Jillian’s jilted suitors from the last “Bachelorette.” It airs at 8 p.m. Mondays.
Also back: “Desperate Housewives” (9 p.m. Sundays, ABC), “Brothers & Sisters” (10 p.m. Sundays, ABC), “Heroes” (9 p.m. Mondays, NBC), “Secret Life of the American Teenager” (8 p.m. Mondays, ABC Family), “Make It Or Break It” (9 p.m. Mondays, ABC Family), “NCIS” and “NCIS: Los Angeles” (8 & 9 p.m. Tuesdays, CBS), “The Good Wife” (10 p.m. Tuesdays, CBS) and “Biggest Loser” (8 p.m. Tuesdays, NBC).
Wednesday, Jan. 6
- The final season of FX’s “Nip/Tuck” kicks off at 10 p.m.
Also back: ABC’s awesome Wednesday night comedy lineup — “The Middle,” “Modern Family” and “Cougar Town” — from 8 to 10 p.m., followed by “Ugly Betty,” now on its new night; NBC’s “Mercy” and “Law & Order: SVU” at 8 and 9 p.m., and “Friday Night Lights” on DirectTV’s The 101 Network at 9 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 8
- “Ghost Whisperer,” “Medium” and “Numb3rs” are all back from 8 to 10 p.m. on CBS.
Sunday, Jan. 10
- The third season of NBC’s charming “Chuck” premieres with a two-hour episode at 9 p.m. before moving to its regular timeslot, 8 p.m. Mondays. This year, Chuck will come to terms with the newfound abilities the latest intersect has given him.
Also back: “Big Love” (10 p.m., HBO).
Monday, Jan. 11
- CBS’s comedy block — “How I Met Your Mother,” “Accidentally on Purpose,” “Two and a Half Men” and “The Big Bang Theory” — airs from 8 to 10 p.m., followed by a new episode of “CSI: Miami.”
Also back: “Castle” (10 p.m., ABC).
Tuesday, Jan. 12
- Paula’s out and Ellen’s in for the ninth season of “American Idol,” which premieres at 8 p.m. Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres will join regular judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi after the auditions air.
- NBC’s “Southland” (10 p.m.) moves to TNT, which swooped in to air its second season after the Peacock network unceremoniously canceled it late last year.
Wednesday, Jan. 13
- CBS’s “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (8 p.m.), “Gary Unmarried” (8:30 p.m.), “Criminal Minds” (9 p.m.) and “CSI: NY” (10 p.m.) return, as does TNT’s “Leverage” (10 p.m.).
Thursday, Jan. 14
- FX’s Archer (10 p.m.) is an animated half-hour comedy set at the International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS), a spy agency full of employees who use espionage and global crises to confuse, undermine and stab each other in the back.
H. Jon Benjamin voices lead character Sterling Archer, whose less-than-masculine codename is “Duchess.” Other voice actors include Jessica Walter (“Arrested Development”), Aisha Tyler (“Talk Soup”), Judy Greer (“Miss Guided”) and Chris Parnell (“Saturday Night Live”).
Also back: Another season of “Project Runway” (10 p.m.) on Lifetime; Fox’s “Bones” (8 p.m.) and “Fringe” (9 p.m.); ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” (9 p.m.) and “Private Practice” (10 p.m.); CBS’s “CSI” (9 p.m.) and “The Mentalist” (10 p.m.); NBC’s “Community” (8 p.m.), “Parks and Recreation” (8:30 p.m.) and “30 Rock” (9 p.m.); and The CW’s “Vampire Diaries” (8 p.m.).
Sunday, Jan. 17
- Human Target (8 p.m., Fox) is that hour-long drama based on the DC Comics comic book of the same name.
It follows Christopher Chance (Mark Valley, “Fringe”), a private contractor, security expert and bodyguard hired when normal means of protection aren’t enough. Chance will completely integrate himself into his clients’ lives, usually becoming the human target that takes the heat off them. Chi McBride, last seen on the late, great “Pushing Daisies,” and Oscar nominee Jackie Earle Haley (“Little Children”) also star.
- Jack Bauer is back to face yet another crisis in the eighth season of “24.” The first two hours of the four-hour premiere air tonight at 9 p.m., and the action picks back up at 8 the next night. Cast additions include Freddie Prinze Jr., and “Battlestar Galactica’s” Katee Sackhoff.
Monday, Jan. 18
- Family drama Life Unexpected (9 p.m., The CW) follows Lux, a 15-year-old who, after bouncing from foster home to foster home, decides it’s time to become an emancipated minor. The process eventually leads her to her biological parents: Nate “Baz” Bazile (Couch Potato favorite Kristoffer Polaha), a bar owner who lives like an aging frat boy, and Cate Cassidy (Shiri Appleby), a local radio personality.
Also back: “One Tree Hill back” (8 p.m., CW)
Thursday, Jan. 21
- Dean and Sam are back to fighting the devil at 9 p.m. on The CW’s “Supernatural,” while super spy Michael Weston returns on new episodes of USA’s “Burn Notice” at 10.
Friday, Jan. 22
- Starz offers up another original series, Spartacus (10 p.m.), which tells the story of the Roman gladiator, while Syfy rolls out Caprica (9 p.m.), which is something of a prequel to “Battlestar Galactica.” Set 58 years before that landmark show, it follows two rival families that live in the peaceful 12 Colonies. Eric Stoltz and Esai Morales star.
Also back: “Smallville” (8 p.m., The CW).
Monday, Jan. 25
- “Damages” (10 p.m., FX) is back for a third season, with new cast members Martin Short and Campbell Scott.
Also back: “House” (8 p.m., Fox), “Greek” (10 p.m., ABC Family) and “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” (10 p.m., Showtime).
Wednesday, Jan. 27
- “Psych” returns to USA at 10 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 31
- Fox’s animated block — “The Simpsons,” “The Cleveland Show,” “Family Guy” and “American Dad” from 8 to 10 p.m. — rolls out new episodes for 2010.
Tuesday, Feb. 2
- “LOST” IS BACK! Yes, that’s right. The final season of ABC’s mind-bending series is upon us, and I don’t quite know what to do with myself. There’s no telling what awaits us, but you know it’ll be good.
Thursday, Feb. 4
- “The Office” (9 p.m., NBC) is back.
Thursday, Feb. 11
- Past Life (8 p.m., Fox) follows a pair of detectives — Dr. Kate McGinn, an outspoken psychologist who believes in reincarnation, and NYPD homicide detective Price Whatley, who does not — as they investigate unexplained phenomena. Richard Schiff, who played Toby on “The West Wing,” also stars.
Monday, March 1
- NBC’s Parenthood (9 p.m.) is a series based on the 1980s Steve Martin comedy of the same name and boasts a star-studded cast: Lauren Graham (“Gilmore Girls”) as financially-strapped single mom Sarah; Peter Krause (“Six Feet Under”) as older brother Adam, whose youngest son is diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome; Erika Christensen (“Traffic”) as sister Julia, a successful corporate attorney; Dax Shepard (“Punk’d”) as their wayward, player brother; and Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia as the family patriarch and matriarch.
Sunday, March 14
- Sons of Tucson (8:30 p.m., Fox) is a family comedy about three brothers who hire a wayward, but charming, schemer (the awesome Tyler Labine, who last starred as sidekick Sock on “Reaper”) to stand in for their father when the real one goes to prison.
Monday, March 22
- Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie” and “The United States of Tara” return at 10 and 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 30
- ABC’s “V,” which only aired four episodes in the fall before going on hiatus, is back at 10 p.m.
Tuesday, April 13
- “Glee” (9 p.m., Fox) is finally, finally back. Let the singing begin.
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