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Networks starting over in '09

New year brings slew of midseason replacements, fan favorites to small screen

By Rob Owen, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Published January 5, 2009 at 6 p.m.

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After a fall TV season that was a ratings and creative disappointment, broadcast networks are banking on midseason replacements that roll out between now and April to win back viewers. January alone is loaded with season and series premieres on broadcast and cable channels. Here's some of what you can tune in to watch in the next four weeks:

ABC

* The former NBC comedy Scrubs (8 and 8:30 p.m. MST today) migrates to ABC for what is expected to be its final season. In the first two episodes, Courteney Cox joins the cast for a stint as Dr. Kelso's replacement, a chirpy leader whose primary concern is the bottom line.

Scrubs seems more rooted in reality, with more heart this season and fewer flights of fantasy, although there is one amusing inside joke about the show, now in its eighth season: "We never do great come medical-awards season, except Dr. Shalhoub," J.D. (Zach Braff) notes, a reference to multiple Emmy winner Tony Shalhoub from Monk. "He wins everything."

* Bachelorette reject Jason Mesnick, a 32-year-old divorced dad, is The Bachelor (7 p.m. Mondays) for the show's 13th season. Twenty-five women will vie for the affections of Mesnick.

* True Beauty (9 p.m. Mondays) purports to judge six women and four men on their inner beauty, however they define that, rather than their looks or any talent.

* Docudrama Homeland Security USA (7 p.m. Tuesdays) follows the daily exploits of Department of Homeland Security agents, including the border patrol.

* Private Practice moves to 9 p.m. Thursday this week and Life on Mars will slide to 9 p.m. Wednesday on Jan. 28. Lost returns for its new season on Jan. 21.

* Primetime: What Would You Do? (9 p.m. Tuesdays) may come out of ABC's news division but it sounds like a reality show. The series sets up scenarios - a stranger slips an unknown powder into his date's drink, a cashier exhibits racial discrimination - and records people's reactions.

CBS

* The network premiered the hidden-camera series Game Show In My Head Saturday, and its reality stalwarts return next month - Survivor is back Feb. 12; Amazing Race runs again, starting Feb. 15.

* Summer law-enforcement drama Flashpoint is back Friday at 8 p.m.

FOX

* Ratings juggernaut American Idol kicks off with audition episodes at 8 p.m. Jan. 13 and 14. 24 begins another day at 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

* House moves to Monday at 7 p.m. starting Jan. 19 and Bones gets slotted at 7 p.m. Thursdays on Jan. 15. Hell's Kitchen returns at 8 p.m. Thursdays on Jan. 29.

* New drama Lie to Me premieres at 8 p.m. Jan. 21. Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs) stars as a human lie detector who can deduce through facial expressions and body language whether someone is lying.

* Hole in the Wall airs successive episodes at 6 p.m. Sunday beginning Jan. 18 and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles returns Feb. 13, moving to 7 p.m. Friday, followed by the new Joss Whedon series Dollhouse, about secret agents whose personalities and memories are wiped after each mission.

* Prison Break and 'Til Death will return later.

NBC

* There's not much reason for pride at the peacock network, with so much of its prime-time schedule given over to reality shows, including Biggest Loser: Couples, returning at 7 p.m. today.

* NBC premiered Superstars of Dance (Sunday and Monday), a competition series that purports to showcase the "world's best and most varied dancers," per NBC. Michael "Lord of the Dance" Flatley hosts.

* Another reality show, Howie Do It, debuts Fridays. The hidden-camera prank show is hosted by Howie Mandel (Deal or No Deal). The lone bright spot of quality drama, Friday Night Lights, returns to NBC at 9 p.m. Jan. 16.

* Several mainstays return next month, including Chuck (Feb. 2), Heroes (Feb. 2), Medium (Feb. 2), Life (Feb. 4) and Celebrity Apprentice (March 1).

PBS

* Masterpiece Classic (Sunday) debuted a two-part adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, which concludes Jan. 11. Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights is slated for Jan. 18 and 25.

* Great Performances captured a performance by Kevin Kline as Cyrano de Bergerac (7 p.m. Wednesday).

* Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America (7 p.m. Wednesdays through Jan. 28) documents American humor in the 20th century, and American Experience recounts The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer (8 p.m. Jan. 26), the U.S. scientist who led the development of the atomic bomb.

The CW

* Reaper fans, rejoice! Your show is back March 17.

* In the meantime, The CW rolls out a new reality competition, 13 - Fear Is Real (7 p.m. Wednesday), in which 13 people face their fears and attempt to "stay alive" while being scared and, one supposes, screaming a lot.

MNT

* My Network TV has improved its ratings this season thanks in part to the addition of WWE wrestling on Friday nights. New series include Masters of Illusion (7 p.m. Monday), a show full of magic tricks, and Vice Squad (8 p.m. Tuesday), which is essentially COPS with prostitutes.