The producers of ABC's newest reality show "True Beauty" are truly stretching the definition of beauty (come on, Ashton and Tyra -- I know you can do better).
Episode one delivered much more in the promo than it did in execution, although the first eliminated contestant (Hadiyyah-Lah) responded by hopping on the crazy train when the host Vanessa Minnillo revealed the real premise of the show. Other than that, it was lukewarm at best save for a vaguely interesting but soon-to-grow-old clash of personalities between Joel and Chelsea. Contestants are unknowingly being watched on cameras by Minnillo and her two fellow judges, former supermodel Cheryl Tiegs and "America's Next Top Model" fashion expert Nolé Marin, then being judged on both their interactions and reactions to various planted challenges.
In their first "challenge," the 10 beauties are scored on their physical aspects by a plastic surgeon and so-called "beauty expert," then left alone in the room with all the contestants' medical files "accidentally" next to them. Only three opted for a sneak, including Hadiyyah-Lah, an audio engineer whose least offensive statement was to call herself the most beautiful person in the world. Contestants were judged both on their score and on whether they looked in the files. Yawn.
If anything, the show is screaming for a desperate nip and tuck. First of all, none of the contestants are all that attractive -- most of them are dolled up, 'roided up or just plain fuuuugly. Then, unlike "Beauty and the Geek," where you actually get a feel for the characters and end up liking the most unlikely contestant, there's very little time between the planted challenges to get to know or even empathize with any of these yahoos. The only potentially interesting part of the show is that only the eliminated contestant is made aware of the true nature of the show, meaning it could take several or more episodes for our participants to realize how they're being judged. Or, given the caliber of these contestants, never.
Verdict? Wait for the sixth season of "Beauty and the Geek" on MTV. This show is on its face -- and on the inside -- a waste of time. The show airs on ABC on Mondays at 9 p.m. Episode one repeats on Saturday at 9 p.m. for local viewers.
It's hard for any of us to remember what we ate for dinner last night. So you'll have to excuse us for cursing Bravo and the two week "Top Chef" hiatus that left us scrambling to recall just what happened last time the knives got sharpened.
Oh that's right, some Christmas contrivance led to everyone being spared -- setting the stage for new judge Toby Young to play "Top Chef" bad boy and potentially send two contestants (at least according to promos) home tomorrow night.
Most important, this week is a shot at redemption for your humble Channel Surfing bloggers who collectively whiffed during Week One of our Power Ranking challenge. The slate is clean heading into Week Two. Rules are the same: If someone in your top three wins the Quickfire, you get a point. If your No. 1 seed wins the Elimination Challenge, you get 5 points. Each week, you also have to designate someone to sit at the bottom, and if that person is eliminated, you also get 5 points. This week's potential double elimination is obviously a bonus.
Remember: "Top Chef" fans can play along with us by leaving a tally in the comments section. Score high enough and you'll be eligible to win Sara Boyd's fantastic new cookbook, "Cooking with Jicama: Fun To Say, Even More Fun To Eat."
First let me apologize in advance for getting Montell Jordan's "This Is How We Do It" stuck in your head. It's already playing on an endless loop in mine — to the point where Mr. Jordan could sue my cranium for royalties — and for that I blame Howie Mandel and NBC.
Having effectively run "Deal or No Deal" into the ground (shocking how a show built around the thrilling concept of opening suitcases could ever grow stale), the Peacock is giving its host du jour Mandel another shot at prime time with "Howie Do It," yet another in the oh-so-lame stable of hidden camera shows. See Howie in a wig pretend to be a waiter and stick is finger in a diner's glass of water! See Howie as a funeral director knock over an urn full of ashes as a mourner looks on in shock! See me turn off my TV!
The concept of the show is simple: Howie lures in people who think they're going to be on a reality show, then humiliates them. I don't pity fame-hungry idiots clamoring for their 15 minutes — especially when they're too stupid to see that this dude is HOWIE MANDEL IN A WIG — but from what I've seen and read about "Howie Do It," the results don't even approach funny, and in fact skew a little mean. Keep in mind, I haven't seen a full episode, but NBC's horrible promos are more than enough to go on:
Variety has a great review that you can read here, which condemns "Howie Do It" as "a foretaste of NBC's plan to turn its prime time lineup into TV's version of a discount mart — a cheaper way to lose on Fridays than with scripted fare like 'Crusoe.'" Everything about this show reeks of bottom-of-the-barrel, from its host and concept, to its 7 p.m. Friday time slot.
Bottom line: If you're an O.G. mack or a wanna-be playa, plan on skipping "Howie Do It."
I confess: "Teen Idols" terribly riveting, but mostly just terrible
Take a long hard look at the above picture.
If you can name four of the supposed "teen idols" from VH1's new Scott Baio-Jason Hervey reality abomination, well, evidently you had less of a life than me growing up. I got stumped at three -- Jeremy Jackson (far left prettyboy from "Baywatch"), Jamie Walters (dastardly "90210" Donna-thrower Ray Pruitt, who looks like he should be on "Prison Break" these days) and Eric Nies (the Jesus-looking vegan dude). I thought Adrian Zmed (second from right) looked more like Mike Myers, and I was totally clueless about the rest (Christopher Atkins of "The Blue Lagoon," David Chokachi of "Baywatch" and Bill Hufsey of "Fame" and "Days of Our Lives") until they were re-introduced to me courtesy of helpful little subtitles on last night's show.
Why did I watch, you ask? I have a soft spot for old "Real World" episodes, so something about another reality show with Nies (an original cast member on the MTV series) looking like the Second Coming must have triggered a Pavlovian reaction. Honestly, it just happened to be on, so I kept watching out of sheer morbid curiosity at who may have been dragged out of their parents' basement for the latest sleazy VH1 roll call. When Chachi and Hervey (that'd be Wayne from "The Wonder Years") showed up as hosts, I immediately cringed knowing full well how Baio's two previous "unscripted" VH1 shows played out.
Anyway, there isn't much depth to cover here. Only Jackson -- he was Hobie, Kid Hasselhoff -- and another displaced lifeguard, Chokachi, made, er, waves on the first episode. Jackson talked about being addicted to fame and everything that came with it, leading to a lengthy drug addiction and prison stay (the latter not for being on one of the worst shows in TV history, mind you.) Meanwhile, Chokachi pulled the classic first episode walk-away after throwing a hissy fit upon realizing the show wasn't what he signed up for (yeah, because if there's one thing reality TV has taught us, it's that producers are always on the up and up.)
The temper tantrum stemmed from an experiment conducted by Baio and Hervey where the two had the "idols" line up backstage at a theater with the belief that behind the curtain were adoring, screaming fans. As each individual's name was called, the crowd got louder and louder -- except when the curtain was eventually lifted, it was revealed to be piped in applause.
Choke on that, Chokachi! Surfer boy got straight CLOWNED.
So yeah, he was kinda mad, packed his bag, left the house and had to get a verbal beatdown from pipsqueak Hervey to realize that humiliation is what it takes to "want" fame again. Drama, I know.
The whole point of the show seems to be "how can one gain back fame" and not "what can one learn from an experience that obviously didn't go so well the first time around." And isn't it a fallacy to be pointing these guys back to the spotlight, when by virtue of being on a reality show that's accessible to a large portion of the viewing public, they already ARE in the spotlight again.
Plus, what ever happened to just waiting out the lows and rising from the dead like Patrick Dempsey. Dude was in "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Loverboy," then fell off the planet, only to return years later as McDreamy. Instead of stooping as low as reality TV, he -- you know -- kept working to regain his fame again. Shocker.
Media exposure: get it while you're no longer hot, right?
With Baio and Hervey, there will no doubt be more scripted humiliation around the corner, and I can't say it's anything I plan on sticking around for. Not because I don't mind seeing people humiliated. But these guys already had their 15 minutes and they're whining about not getting to see 16? Boo-freakin-hoo.
What has this world come to when a reality TV show on VH1 isn't enough fame for one person? Why would anyone need to rise above "Rock of Love Bus," "I Love Money" or "Celebrity Rehab: Sober House"? Greedy bastards.
Forgive my lame headline, but I feel as though TV in 2009 owes us. Us, being faithful television viewers, that is.
Granted, we'll watch just about anything they put on the air ("A Double Shot of Love," anyone?), but we are starting to reach our limits. Last year -- writers' strike or no writers' strike -- was just awful. It's getting to the point where we're so hungry for good TV, we're having television mirages -- picturing good writing, funny plotlines and non-annoying characters. Only after reaching to turn up the volume do we realize we're left with just a fistful of sand.
OK, that's a bit dramatic, but you get the point. We want, nay, NEED good TV. So c'mon 2009 -- how about a television comeback year?
Channel Surfing bloggersSara Boyd, MalavikaJagannathan, Adam Reinhard and Thomas Rozwadowski are more hopeful than ever this year. Taking a glance at the new and returning shows for winter, we eached picked a show to preview -- with our hopes and expectations -- then will return later this week to let you all know how it went, and if we're doomed for another year of bad television.
"Nip/Tuck" -- 9 p.m., Tuesdays on FX
It's been quite the journey for Sean McNamara and Christian Troy, and it seems that moving their plastic surgery practice to Los Angeles only added new drama. So far in its fifth season, I had to wonder what the writers were smoking when they dreamed up some of the plotlines. Don't get me wrong, it was shocking and full of surprises, but also quite clear -- with this show, there is no line they will not cross. I'll be honest, I still have to look away during their quite graphic surgery scenes, but last season, I found myself even looking away when they weren't in the OR. Between Sean's crazed agent/stalker, the return of Dawn Budge (played by loudmouth Rosie O'Donnell) and Gina's return and sudden, er, downfall (yikes) it seems there's a lot riding on "Nip/Tuck's" return. Though I can't imagine with the direction they're taking this show, we'll be disappointed by the return.
-- Sara Boyd
"True Beauty" -- 9 p.m., Mondays on ABC
OK, let’s be honest, I’m kinda figuring that “True Beauty” – premiering tonight on ABC – is a cross between Ashton Kutcher’s other beauty-isn’t-just-skin-deep show “Beauty and the Geek” and Tyra Banks’ ridiculous but addictive “America’s Next Top Model.” With both Kutcher and Banks involved, I don’t think it’s a stretch. Based on the promo, “True Beauty” seems more like “Beauty and the Geek” than “Top Model.” Ten beautiful people come together and compete in challenges that they think are judging them on the outside, but – drumroll – little do they know that it's their “inner beauty” that counts. Although this has guilty pleasure potential written all over it, I’m not quite sure where it’s going after episode one when the true nature of the competition is revealed to the contestants who are still fighting over $100,000 and a spot on People magazine’s “100 Most Beautiful” list.
-- MalavikaJagannathan
"Scrubs" -- 8 p.m., Tuesdays on ABC
New home, fresh coat of paint. It makes sense, but "Scrubs" has been so unwatchable for three seasons, what could possibly bring back fans of the early eccentricity that defined Sacred Heart Hospital? Start with honesty. Creator Bill Lawrence has been shock-'n'-awed by the promotions department at ABC, so much so that he seems re-energized by a series that, despite meager ratings, has managed to keep its talented cast in place all these years. In a recent Entertainment Weekly interview, he promised a return to "real" characters so the audience would once again care as the final pieces of the puzzle -- notably J.D.'s (Zach Braff) exit from his longtime hospital home -- are put into place. It appears some hot and heavy network love is all Lawrence needed for a return to form -- though let's face it, even if the reason is Seinfeldian spite toward NBC ("If this show can pull in better ratings than, like, "Kath & Kim," it would really make me happy," Lawrence said), that's good enough for us non-newbies who wouldn't mind giving the show a second chance in its final season.
-- Thomas Rozwadowski
"According to Jim" -- 7 p.m., Tuesdays on ABC
As one of Channel Surfing's mortal enemies (we have quite a few, actually -- curse you, "American Idol!"), "According to Jim" occupies a rarified position in the world of TV, comparable to GM's role in the automobile market: It's too big to fail. Now in its eighth season, the sitcom, which stars Jim Belushi (who reminds me of the movie "Walk Hard," where the father keeps telling his son "The wrong kid died!"), is critically reviled, and floats just high enough in the toilet bowl ... er, Neilsen ratings ... to keep popping back up year after year. But are we being too hard on this monumental piece of excrement? Having never seen even a full minute of it myself, I volunteer my eyes, mind and soul to the watching of a complete half hour. I vow to go into it open-minded and treat the show fairly ... which is more than I would ever promise to "American Idol."
-- Adam Reinhard
Be sure to check back later this week to see what the Channel Surfing bloggers thought of the week of returns and new shows. Who knows? Maybe we'll even *gasp* like one of them!
If you're lazy, here are some highlights for this week -- I deliberately left out "According to Jim," sorry all you Jim fans out there, because I felt dirty typing the words out.
Today: "Gossip Girl" and "One Tree Hill" on CW, "The Bachelor" and "True Beauty" (aka "Beauty and the Geek: Tyra Banks edition") on ABC
Tuesday: "Scrubs" on its ABC premiere, "Nip/Tuck" on FX, "The Mentalist," "NCIS" and "Without a Trace" on CBS, "90210" and "Privileged" on CW, "The Biggest Loser: Couples" on NBC
Wednesday: "Knight Rider" on NBC, "Damages" on FX and "13 Fear is Real" on CW
Thursday: "My Name is Earl," "Kath and Kim," "The Office," "30 Rock" and "ER" on NBC, "Ugly Betty," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice" on ABC
Friday: "Ghost Whisperer," "Flashpoint" and "Numb3rs" on CBS, "Wife Swap" and "Supernanny" on ABC and "Everybody Hates Chris" and "The Game" on CW
You can tell a lot about TV shows based solely on their early promos. Or at least that's what I've been telling myself as I've become increasingly drawn to debut Fox show "Lie to Me," which is set to premiere Jan. 21.
Now granted, the promo ran about 8,000 times during the Minnesota Vikings-Philadelphia Eagles game playing at my desk in the Press-Gazette newsroom Sunday afternoon (more than tolerable when one considers how much the "American Idol" one played.) But since the show appears to have some promise attached to it, I find myself more intrigued than annoyed.
First, the show has a rock solid premise as far as police procedurals go -- the tell tale signs of deception that all of us unknowingly engage in on a daily basis. And while I'm not saying this as someone who watches that ridiculous body language expert employed by Bill O'Reilly, I do believe that real truth can be found in a slight scratch of the cheek, an uncomfortable twirl of the hair or a not-so-subtle lack of eye contact.
Enough to build a show around? As someone who has loved Tim Roth since "Pulp Fiction" -- and watched him hilariously yell, "Anybody want a side of feces?" during a recent promo -- I certainly hope so.
According to Fox's handy dandy info sheet, the show is based on a real-life specialist who can read clues embedded in the human face, body and voice to expose the truth behind the lies in criminal investigations. A lot of people probably claim to be communication experts -- nonverbal or otherwise -- but are they actually good at applying these tells or ticks to real crime solving?
The Futon Critic has a nice review of the pilot, and points out that the show's universal "microexpressions" are given greater weight by showing clips of real life "storytellers" like KatoKaelin, Hugh Grant and Bill Clinton. The first case revolves around the son of a family of devout Jehovah's Witnesses who is accused of killing his teacher after being caught fleeing the scene, and the review goes so far as to call "Lie to Me" "the new show to watch in January."
Certainly promising, and a nice feather in the cap for those who believe that a good set-up gets you in the door while the characters take it from there. Nab a clever, sardonic actor like Roth and pair him with an intriguing concept, you should be able to move past some of the normal hurdles that plague new shows. Here's hoping "Lie to Me" delivers some TV truth off the bat.
The show premieres at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 21 on Fox.
"Lost" spoilers from the Season Five premiere we didn't get to see
I'm waiting for "Lost" to return. You're waiting for "Lost" to return.
Meanwhile, stupid-faced national TV critics aren't as eager for "Lost" to return because they're too busy gloating about how they already got to see the first two episodes of Season Five earlier this week.
"Oh, I work for Entertainment Weekly or the Chicago Tribune ... I'm soooooooo special."
Screw you guys.
I'm sure Channel Surfing's copies and subsequent confidentiality agreement just got lost in the mail because of the holiday swarm. After all, I'm looking at a two-disc preview of "Frank TV" next to my desk right now, so clearly we're on the bigwigs' radar.
Yeah, it got lost ... that's it.
Also, we've been very generous to "Lost" in our lone year of existence. Without special favors, we could easily shift that extensive coverage to, oh I don't know, "Knight Rider" or something.
That said, Adam Reinhard and I were discussing yesterday whether we actually needed to see the first two episodes to deliver breaking news about one of our favorite shows. After all, the general giddiness from those on the inner circle suggests that both episodes are quite good. But since they aren't in a position to leak secrets for fear of their necks being twisted by Sayid's legs, it's not like you, dear "Lost" viewer, are learning anything you don't already know.
So we're going to beat you at your own game, Team Darlton. We don't need your stinkin' previews. "Lost" regulars already know what's going to happen in the first two episodes ... and because you weren't nice to us, we're letting Sayid's cat officially out of the bag.
Among your spoilers:
- A character who speaks a foreign language is revealed to be dead. Or perhaps there's a clue that indicates he or she is actually (gasp?) alive.
- Charles Widmore says something threatening.
- Ben's eyes bulge and he lurks in some shadows.
- There's a close-up of a clock.
- Desmond tells Penny he loves her.
- Sawyer takes his shirt off.
- Hurley doesn't take his shirt off.
- Sadly, neither does Kate.
- Kate cries and Hurley eats.
- Alpert is exactly the same.
- Faraday twitches a lot and pages through his notebook.
- Someone gets a bloody nose.
- It rains.
- Jack is agitated.
- Aaron doesn't speak.
- Locke looks livelier than he did at the end of Season Four.
- Something rustles on the island and causes someone to look backwards in a panic.
- Someone says something emotional and causes the other person to become more emotional.
- Vincent wags his tail.
- The past becomes present. Or does the present become past?
- Creepy voiceover guy says, "Previously on 'Lost.'"
Sorry, but it had to be done, folks. Now, any other "Lost" soothsayers have some "spoilers" to share?
Before heading into work, I flipped on my TV to see if any Viacom channels had gone black on my Time Warner Cable box.
Imagine my horror when MTV popped on and some skank-a-licious reality TV contestant was giving some hairy dude a backrub, presumably as part of a Tila Tequila marathon or some godforsaken "Hills" spinoff involving made-up words like "bromance."
Hmmm ... maybe we'd all be better off had the plug been pulled.
Anyway, early this morning, Viacom and Time Warner Cable suits settled a dispute over fee hikes in which the cable company threatened to drop MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and 16 other Viacom networks. The details of the deal were not made public, though SpongeBob SquarePants was reported to have shrieked "Wahhhhhhhhh!" in excitement.
Earlier this week, the media conglomerate and the cable operator engaged in a well-publicized spat over how much Time Warner pays to offer Viacom's networks to its nearly 16 million subscribers. Viacom contended that Time Warner was underpaying, given the popularity of its programming; the cable operator accused Viacom of trying to pad its bottom line to make up for slow ad sales.
No harm, no foul, right?
Now go watch that "Brady Bunch" marathon on TV Land while I track down the first baby of the new year for a heartwarming story you just know you're going to want to read tomorrow.
It's New Year's and that means one thing on television that's bigger than Ryan Seacrest's hair: lots and lots of marathons.
It's not all great. In fact, we question some of the choices — for example, Bravo's marathon of "The Biggest Loser" and the obvious lack of a "Law and Order" marathon on any station — but what better hangover cure than a day spent on the couch, flipping between "Looney Tunes" and "The Brady Bunch?" (Unless you have Time Warner in which case you may neither get to watch "Brady" nor "South Park," but pardon our collective bitterness). Channel Surfing bloggersMalavikaJagannathan, Adam Reinhard and Sara Boyd will give you some tips and hints on how to ring in the New Year with the best of, well, just the most of one show.
Travel Channel: "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations"
"Top Chef" fans may recall Anthony Bourdain's appearance as the guest judge on the infamous episode from last season that sent Dale home over the she-devil Lisa. Bourdain's Emmy-nominated show is a must-see for anyone who likes traveling or food. From 2 p.m. onward on New Year's Day, travel with the one-time chef to Jamaica, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Laos and other exotic locations as he samples the local cuisine (some of it downright frightening) and the local culture. Bourdain is a cantankerous bastard, but he's entertaining and adventurous with an ability to find fascinating people around the world. The Saudi Arabia episode is a must-see.
—Malavika
Discovery Channel: "Mythbusters"
What better way to ring in the new year than with the endless series of stunts, experiments, gunshots and explosions from the Mythbusters gang. Mindless television at its smartest, "Mythbusters" tests inquiries from viewers — such as "Can you build a cannon out of a tree trunk?", or "What's the best way to sneak past a guard dog?" — often with liberal doses of gun powder. It's one of those shows where you learn stuff without trying, and I imagine a whole day's worth of episodes would fly by.
—Adam
E!: "Keeping Up with the Kardashians"
If for no other reason, watch it for the fascination of Kim Kardashian's huge ba-donk-a-donk. "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" is truly a guilty pleasure show to the T. No one watches the show because it's good but because we have the Hollywood sickness, that of nosiness and curiosity into the lives of these D-List (at best) celebrities. It's the show you pop on when there's nothing better to watch and so you think "I'll just watch a little bit." But then, by the second consecutive episode — you're hooked and there's no escaping. It's the perfect solution to the New Year's Day hang over — mindless television and a good amount of T and A but beware — keep one finger on the mute button if the Kardashian sisters start their bickering.
—Sara
Cartoon Network: Looney Tunes
Say th-th-th-th-th-that's all, folks, to 2008 the right way — by dropping an anvil on its head. Or maybe by tying a knot in its shotgun barrel and letting it blow its own face off. I guess what I'm saying is 2008 stunk, and watching a bunch of classic cartoons with Bugs, Daffy, Elmer, Tweety and Wile E. Coyote for hour upon hour sounds like a great stress reliever.
—Adam
For more marathons, check out Entertainment Weekly's list by clicking here. Happy New Year everyone! See you in 2009.
Not sure what's worse: that Time Warner customers are about to be lose 19 Viacom channels starting Thursday at midnight, or that the Los Angeles Times can't correctly spell Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's names.
For the dirty details, go here. Or just watch the below clip and curse the sky in anger.
Happy ... um, New Year?
-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com
This might sound strange coming from someone who counts "The Wire" and "Law and Order" among her favorite television shows, but I like funny crime shows.
Not like "Columbo" funny (which is just funny in a sad way, sorry "Columbo" fans), but the shows that either plainly mock the crime-show format or inject a little humor into the serious faces over at "CSI" or even my beloved "Law and Order." Because, let's face it, a lot of crime is funny -- just read the daily blotter items in any newspaper (but preferably the Press-Gazette) for a glimpse of the stupid and the ridiculous.
Apparently, I'm not alone. Both "NCIS" and "Bones" -- best described as "CSI" with humor and eccentricity -- are hits with audiences who may be a little fed up with the standard stab-and-uncover procedurals or the true-crime grittiness of a show like "The Shield." Don't think these shows aren't smart or cool, although admittedly the hipness of "NCIS" definitely skews to an... ahem... older crowd (that's right, mom, I know you love Mark Harmon but he's still old).
So, anyway, I guess that's why I'm pretty excited to see one of my favorite funny crime shows return to television on Jan. 9 for a short winter season. Now, I can totally understand why someone would not find "Psych" funny. I know some of those people, and I don't care what they think because this is one of the best comedies on television. Period. It's ridiculous. It's irreverrent. It's witty. And it doesn't take itself -- or its implausible storylines -- too seriously. Fake psychic Shawn (James Roday) and his reluctant best friend detective Gus (Dule Hill) are adorable in their bromantic quests for criminals in always sunny Santa Barbara. With a little help from Shawn's dad (Corbin Bernsen, no longer Arnie Becker from "L.A. Law"), the duo are the new-age Holmes and Watson, if Holmes and Watson were twentysomething bffs who start all their stories with flashbacks to their childhood.
It's been a long cold lonely winter... so check out some of the sun on "Psych. Episodes start airing Jan. 9 on the USA Network at 9 p.m.
Breath a sigh of relief. The "second season" is almost upon us.
With the help of Rick Kushman at the Sacramento Bee, here's a look ahead to the 2009 TV season as best we could dig up ...
Shows that have already received the ax, either officially or unofficially:
“My Own Worst Enemy,” “Knight Rider,” “Crusoe” and “America’s Toughest Jobs” from NBC; “The Ex List” on CBS; “Do Not Disturb” on Fox, and “Easy Money,” “In Harm’s Way,” “Valentine,” and “Stylista” on CW.
Plus, there are the second-year shows that are doomed. They are ABC’s “Pushing Daisies,” “Eli Stone” and “Dirty Sexy Money” and NBC’s “Lipstick Jungle.”
What's coming back early in the year:
“Scrubs” (ABC): Jan. 6. Remember, NBC canceled it and ABC quickly picked it up.
“Nip/Tuck” (FX): Jan. 6. One of TV’s seriously out-there series comes back after a strike-shortened season.
“Damages” (FX): Jan. 7. There’s a new case and more legal tricks ahead for this slick and terrific show.
“Flashpoint” (CBS): Jan. 9. The Canadian import was a surprising summer success for CBS.
“Monk” and “Psych”(USA): Jan. 9. They both return for short seasons, then “Monk’s” final season will begin sometime in summer 2009.
“24” (Fox): Jan. 11. It premieres with a two-hour episode, then follows with another two hours Jan. 12.
"American Idol” (Fox): Jan. 13 and 14. Show producers added songwriter and music producer Kara DioGuardi as a fourth judge. Other changes include just three weeks of auditions instead of four, more time spent on the Hollywood round, and this season the judges will pick a few “wild card” finalists.
“Battlestar Galactica” (Sci Fi): Jan. 16. This starts the final 10 weeks of one of TV’s most intriguing series.
“Friday Night Lights” (NBC): Jan. 16. It’s the broadcast premiere for episodes that ran this fall on DirecTV.
“Flight of the Conchords” and “Big Love” (HBO): Jan. 18. Both shows lost start dates because of the writers strike.
“Secret Diary of a Call Girl” and “The L Word” (Showtime): Jan. 18. This will be the sixth and final season for “L Word.”
“Lost” (ABC): Jan. 21. After last season’s dazzling run to the finish, fans have been burning up the blogs with rumors and hearsay.
“Burn Notice” (USA): Jan. 22. Like USA’s other shows, this witty spy/caper series is back for a short season, then starts a new run in the summer.
“The Closer” and “Trust Me” (TNT): Jan. 26. “The Closer” will air five episodes, mostly to give a boost to the new “Trust Me,” a light hour starring Eric McCormack and Tom Cavanagh.
“Life on Mars” (ABC): Jan. 28. ABC is hoping that airing it after “Lost” will get this smart series noticed by viewers.
“Medium” and “Heroes” (NBC): Feb. 2. NBC is trying and trying to bring the magic back to “Heroes.” “Medium” has kept its solid, if mid-sized, fan base.
“Life” (NBC): Feb. 4. NBC gets credit for not giving up on one of the most charming and original cop shows on TV.
“Reaper” (CW): March 17. Yeah, we have to wait until St. Patrick’s Day to see this crew again.
Among returnees that are still unscheduled: “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “In Plain Sight” (USA), “Breaking Bad” (AMC), “Rescue Me” (FX), “Saving Grace” (TNT) and “Eureka” (Sci Fi).
The Green Bay Press-Gazette's TV Blog. Or where we write about characters named Jim and Pam as if they were actually real. Brought to you with limited commercial interruption by...
Malavika Jagannathan Metro reporter All-time shows: The West Wing, Seinfeld, Law and Order Current favorites: The Office, Heroes, Project Runway
Kendra Meinert Entertainment editor All-time shows: Friends, Gilmore Girls, Beverly Hills 90210 Current favorites: 24, Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy
Adam Reinhard Copy editor All-time shows: Lost, Freaks and Geeks, Veronica Mars Current favorites: Pushing Daisies, 30 Rock, The Sarah Silverman Program
Thomas Rozwadowski Features reporter All-time shows: Freaks and Geeks, The Wire, Flight of the Conchords Current favorites: Lost, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Pushing Daisies
Sara Boyd Communities reporter All-time shows: Friends, The Office, Late Night with Conan O'Brien Current favorites: 30 Rock, Flight of the Conchords, So You Think You Can Dance
The producers of ABC's newest reality show "True Beauty" are truly stretching the definition of beauty (come on, Ashton and Tyra -- I know you can do better).
Metro reporter
Entertainment editor
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Features reporter
Communities reporter
