The Dog Days of December TV Almost Over
And Not a Second Too Soon
I don’t know if it’s the added impact of the seemingly endless writers strike or what, but this month has been the dullest December of television I can remember.
Thankfully, relief is rapidly approaching in the form of a few new series worth looking forward to when January and the New Year finally arrive. Some of these shows are even scripted and not just reality dreck. All together now—Yay! Read on for what I’m personally anticipating (all times are EST).
January 2 | Wednesday
- Law & Order: The two-hour 18th-season premiere will mark the debut of smokin’ new cast members Jeremy Sisto and Linus Roache, both colleagues on NBC’s prematurely canceled 2006 serial thriller Kidnapped. Welcome back to the tube to both actors. [9pm/NBC]
January 4 | Friday
- Stargate Atlantis: Sci Fi Channel’s superb space drama returns to complete the back half of its intriguing fourth season. [10pm/Sci Fi Channel]
January 6 | Sunday
- American Gladiators: The one reality show I’m really, really excited to see—just call it nostalgia from my childhood watching the original version—debuts with a two-hour premiere that I hope will get increasingly lazier kids thinking more about physical fitness. [9pm/NBC]
- The Wire: One of HBO’s finest returns the same night for its fifth season. [9pm/HBO]
- The L Word: Not to be outdone by its premium-cable rival, Showtime also has a fan favorite opening a fifth season. [10pm/Showtime]
- Cashmere Mafia: Introducing the first of the Sex and the City knockoffs, this one featuring four female leads rather than a mere three (as on NBC’s version Lipstick Jungle). It begins on a special night before settling into its regular Wednesdays at 10pm time slot. [10:01pm/ABC]
January 7 | Monday
- Dance War: I take that back about American Gladiators being the only reality show I won’t mind watching. I’m also gonna check out this dance entry because Dancing with the Stars judge Bruno Tonioli is a hoot, and Carrie Ann Inaba ain’t too shabby herself. Ditto about the physical activity and kids, as well. [8pm/ABC]
January 11 | Friday
- Monk: The back half of the detective dramedy’s sixth season opens with Mr. Monk pledging his allegiance to a cult. Yikes! I feel sorry for the other members already. [9pm/USA]
- Psych: Right afterwards, Monk‘s companion in funny crime capers commences the final half of its own second season. [10pm/USA]
January 14 | Monday
- Kyle XY: The odd manmade boy with the most beautiful eyes on all of television returns with very welcomed fresh episodes in the second part of its extended sophomore run. [8pm/ABC Family]
- Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: There’s no Arnie on board, but Firefly graduate Summer Glau is putting in lots of face time on this small-screen adaptation of the enduring sci-fi movie trilogy. [9pm/Fox]
January 15 | Tuesday
- 10 Items or Less: Working at the local grocery store has never been such a funny experience. [11pm/TBS]
January 16 | Wednesday
- Reno 911!: The deranged cop squad from Reno, Nevada’s Washoe County Sheriff’s Department is back! [10:30pm/Comedy Central]
January 17 | Thursday
- Scrubs: Off hiatus—at least one NBC sitcom has some new episodes still left on the shelf. [8:30pm/NBC]
January 26 | Saturday
- Torchwood: Season Two of the most excellent Doctor Who spinoff starts. [9pm/BBC America]
January 31 | Thursday
- Lost: Me, you, and just about everyone else, too, is so excited for the return of the spooky island drama, even if the fourth season will be abbreviated as a result of only eight episodes having been completed before the writers strike began. Eight is eight more than none, no? [8pm/ABC]
Lost photo courtesy of ABC
