*** Television Winter 2011 ***

[bicker]

This thread is for discussion of the winter television season.

At the beginning of this thread, you will find the following:

Television show-specific Threads in this forum
Fall Schedule
Premiere/Return Dates
Descriptions of New Scripted Programming
Renewals/Cancellations/Endings Scorecard

Generally, the information you'll find at the beginning of this thread will focus on scripted programs on most major networks, as well as unscripted programs on ABC, CBS, CW, Fox, and NBC, though other programming may be discussed.

 

[bicker]

Please post responses in this thread if any links needed to be added to or removed from this list:

(Where appropriate, the link goes to the page where the 2010-2011 season-related discussions will start.)

30 Rock
Amazing Race 18
American Idol 10
Being Human (UK and US versions)
Biggest Loser 10
Blue Bloods
Boardwalk Empire
Bones fans (starting from July 2010)
Brothers & Sisters (starting at beginning of discussion of Season 5)
Castle (starting with July 2010)
Chuck (starting at beginning of discussion of Season 4)
Criminal Minds and Criminal Minds Suspect Behavior (Starting from the beginning of Criminal Minds Season 6)
CSI (all three series)
Community
Dancing with the Stars (Fall 2009 thread)
Desperate Housewives Season Six (with spoilers)
The Event
Friday Night Lights
Fringe ("official") (Starting mid-thread from August 2009)Glee (spoiler-free)
Glee Season 2
The Good Wife
Grey's Anatomy ("official") (Starting mid-thread from August 2009)
Hawaii Five-0
House
Human Target
In Plain Sight
Leverage
Mad Men (spoilers) (Summer/Fall 2009 thread)
Mentalist (Starting mid-thread from August 2009)
Modern Family
NCIS ("official") (Starting mid-thread from August 2009)
Parenthood
Private Practice
Project Runway
Raising Hope
Royal Pains
Secret Life of the American Teenager
Sons of Anarchy
Smallville
Supernatural
Survivor--Redemption Island (spoilers)
Survivor--Redemption Island (no spoilers)
Top Chef All Stars
True Blood (spoilers) (Starting mid-thread from June 2009)
V
Vampire Diaries
The Walking Dead
White Collar

BBC America (all series)

 

[bicker]

This is an up-to-date view of the winter broadcast network schedule (with selected cable offerings added in), by time slot:

Sunday
7:00-8:00 pm
__________ABC: America's Funniest Home Videos [continues]
__________CBS: 60 Minutes [continues]
__________Fox: Simpsons reruns/American Dad [TBD]
__________NBC: Dateline NBC
8:00-9:00 pm
__________ABC: Extreme Makeover Home Edition [continues] {Spring: Secret Millionaire (new)}
__________CBS: The Amazing Race [2/20]
__________Fox: The Simpsons [continues]/Bob's Burgers [TBD]
__________NBC: TBA {Spring: The Marriage Ref [3/6]}
__________PBS: Nature [continues]
9:00-10:00 pm
__________ABC: Desperate Housewives [continues]
__________CBS: Undercover Boss [continues]
__________Fox: Family Guy [continues]/Cleveland Show
__________NBC: TBA {Spring: The Apprentice [3/6] (through 11pm)}
__________PBS: Masterpiece! [continues]
__________HBO: Big Love [1/16]
__________Showtime: Californication [1/9]/Episodes (new) [1/9]
10:00-11:00 pm
__________ABC: Brothers & Sisters [continues]
__________CBS: CSI: Miami [continues]
__________NBC: TBA {Spring: The Apprentice (continues from 9:00 pm) }
__________Showtime: Shameless (new) [1/9]

Monday
8:00-9:00 pm
__________ABC: The Bachelor (through 10pm) [1/3]
__________CBS: How I Met Your Mother [continues]/Rules of Engagement [continues] {Then: How I Met Your Mother [continues]/Mad Love [2/21]}
__________CW: 90210 [continues]
__________Fox: House [continues]
__________NBC: Chuck [continues]
__________PBS: Antiques Roadshow [1/3]
9:00-10:00 pm
__________ABC: The Bachelor (continues from 8:00 pm)
__________CBS: Two and a Half Men [continues]/Mike & Molly (new) [continues]
__________CW: Gossip Girl [continues]
__________Fox: Lie To Me [continues] {Then: The Chicago Code [2/7]}
__________NBC: The Cape (new) [1/17] {Spring: The Event (new) [returns 2/28]}
__________ABC Family: Greek [1/3]
__________Syfy: Being Human [1/17]
10:00-11:00 pm
__________ABC: Castle [continues]
__________CBS: Hawaii 5-0 (new) [continues]
__________NBC: Harry's Law (new) [1/17] {Spring: Parenthood [returns 3/7]}
__________TNT: Men of a Certain Age [continues]

Tuesday
8:00-9:00 pm
__________ABC: No Ordinary Family (new) [continues]
__________CBS: NCIS [continues]
__________CW: One Tree Hill [continues]
__________Fox: Glee [returns 2/8]
__________NBC: The Biggest Loser (through 10pm) [1/4]
__________PBS: Nova [continues]
9:00-10:00 pm
__________ABC: V [1/4]
__________CBS: NCIS: LA [continues]
__________CW: Life Unexpected [ends 1/18] {Then: Hellcats (new) [continues at this new time}
__________Fox: Raising Hope (new) [returns 2/8]/Traffic Light(new) [2/8]
__________NBC: The Biggest Loser (continued from 8pm)
__________PBS: Frontline [continues]
__________Cartoon: Tower Prep [continues]
10:00-11:00 pm
__________ABC: Detroit 1-8-7 (new) [continues] {Spring: Body of Proof}
__________CBS: The Good Wife [continues]
__________NBC: Parenthood [returns 1/4] {Spring: Law & Order: LA [2/8]}
__________PBS: Independent Lens [continues]
__________TBS: Glory Daze [continues]
__________TNT: Southland [1/4]
__________USA: White Collar [returns 1/18]

Wednesday
8:00-9:00 pm
__________ABC: The Middle/Better With You (new) [continues]
__________CBS: Live to Dance (new) [1/4] {Then: Survivor [TBD]}
__________CW: America's Next Top Model [2/23]
__________Fox: Human Target [continues]/American Idol [1/19]
__________NBC: Minute to Win It [returns 1/5]
9:00-10:00 pm
__________ABC: Modern Family/Mr. Sunshine [2/9] {Then: Cougar Town [returns 4/13]}
__________CBS: Criminal Minds [continues]
__________CW: Shedding for the Wedding [2/23]
__________Fox: Human Target [continues] {Then: American Idol (continued from 8pm)/Breaking In (new) [4/6]}
__________NBC: Chase [continues] {Spring: The Next Great Restaurant [3/16]
10:00-11:00 pm
__________ABC: Off the Map (new) [1/12] {Then: Happy Endings [4/13]}
__________CBS: The Defenders (new) [continues] {Then: Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior [2/16]
__________NBC: Law & Order: SVU [returns at this new time]
__________FX: Justified [2/9]
__________TBS: Are We There Yet [1/5]

Thursday
8:00-9:00 pm
__________ABC: Wipeout [1/6]
__________CBS: The Big Bang Theory [continues]/$#*! My Dad Says (new) [continues] {Then: The Big Bang Theory [continues]/Rules of Engagement [moves here 2/24]
__________CW: Vampire Diaries [continues]
__________Fox: American Idol Results [1/19]
__________NBC: Community [continues]/Perfect Couples (new) [1/20]
9:00-10:00 pm
__________ABC: Grey's Anatomy [continues]
__________CBS: CSI [continues]
__________CW: Nikita (new) [continues]
__________Fox: Bones [returns at this new time 1/20]
__________NBC: The Office [continues]/Parks and Recreation [1/20]
10:00-11:00 pm
__________ABC: Private Practice [continues]
__________CBS: The Mentalist [continues]
__________NBC: 30 Rock/Outsourced [returns at this time]
__________FX: Archer [1/27]
__________USA: Fairly Legal (new) [1/20]

Friday
8:00-9:00 pm
__________ABC: Supernanny [TBD]
__________CBS: Medium [continues] {Then: The Defenders (new) [moves here 2/4]} {Then: Chaos [4/1]}
__________CW: Smallville (final season) [continues]
__________Fox: Kitchen Nightmares [returns at this new time 1/21]
__________NBC: Who Do You Think You Are? [1/21]
9:00-10:00 pm
__________ABC: Primetime: WWYD?
__________CBS: CSI: NY [continues]
__________CW: Supernatural [continues]
__________Fox: Fringe [at this new time as of 1/28]
__________NBC: Dateline NBC [continues]
10:00-11:00 pm
__________ABC: 20/20 [continues]
__________CBS: Blood Bloods (new) [continues 2/11]
__________NBC: TBA
__________Starz: Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (new, kind-of) [1/21] {Then: Camelot [4/1]}
__________Syfy: Merlin [1/7]

Saturday
8:00-9:00 pm
__________ABC: (reruns)
__________Fox: Cops [continues]
__________CBS: (reruns)
__________NBC: (reruns)
9:00-10:00 pm
__________ABC: (reruns)
__________Fox: America's Most Wanted [continues]
__________CBS: (reruns)
__________NBC: (reruns)
__________BBC America: Primeval [1/1]
10:00-11:00 pm
__________ABC: (reruns)
__________CBS: 48 Hours Mystery [continues]
__________NBC: (reruns)


Not on the Schedule
__________CBS: Criminal Minds spinoff (new) [TBD]
__________Fox: Terra Nova (new) [next fall]
__________NBC: The Paul Reiser Show (new) [TBD]
__________NBC: Love Bites (new) [TBD]

 

[bicker]

Saturday, January 01, 2011
Premieres:
Primeval (BBC America)

Sunday, January 02, 2011
Finales:
Sunday Night Football (NBC)

Monday, January 03, 2011
Premieres:
Antiques Roadshow (PBS)
Greek (ABC Family)
Finales:
The Closer (TNT)
The Bachelor (ABC)

Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Premieres:
V (NBC)
Southland (TNT)
Live To Dance (new) (CBS)
Biggest Loser (NBC)

Thursday, January 06, 2011
Premieres:
Wipeout (ABC)

Friday, January 07, 2011
Premieres:
Merlin (Syfy)

Sunday, January 09, 2011
Premieres:
The Cape (new) (NBC)
Bob's Burgers (new) (Fox)

Monday, January 10, 2011
Finales:
Men of a Certain Age (TNT)

Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Premieres:
Off The Map (ABC)

Sunday, January 16, 2011
Premieres:
Big Love (HBO)

Monday, January 17, 2011
Premieres:
Being Human (Syfy)
Harry's Law (new) (NBC)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Premieres:
White Collar (USA)
Finales:
Glory Daze (TBS)
Life Unexpected (CW)

Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Premieres:
American Idol (Fox)

Thursday, January 20, 2011
Premieres:
Royal Pains (USA)
Fairly Legal (USA)
Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Perfect Couples (NBC)

Thursday, January 27, 2011
Premieres:
Archer (FX)

Monday, January 31, 2011
Finales:
Lie To Me (Fox)

Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Finales:
Cougar Town (ABC) {returns in Spring}

Monday, February 07, 2011
Premieres:
The Chicago Code (new) (Fox)

Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Premieres:
Traffic Light (new) (Fox)

Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Premieres:
Mr. Sunshine (ABC)
Justified (FX)

Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Premieres:
Survivor (CBS)
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (CBS)

Sunday, February 20, 2011
Premieres:
The Amazing Race (CBS)

Monday, February 21, 2011
Premieres:
Mad Love (CBS)
Finale:
The Cape (new) (NBC)
Harry's Law (new) (NBC)

Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Premieres:
America's Next Top Model (CW)
Shedding for the Wedding (CW)

Monday, February 28, 2011
Returns:
The Event (NBC)

Sunday, March 06, 2011
Premieres:
The Apprentice (NBC)

Monday, March 07, 2011
Returns:
Parenthood (NBC)

Monday, March 14, 2011
Finales:
The Bachelor (ABC)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Finales:
Detroit 1-8-7 (new) (ABC)

Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Premieres:
The Marriage Ref (NBC)
America's Next Great Restaurant (new) (NBC)

Friday, March 25, 2011
Finales:
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (Starz)

Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Premieres:
Body of Proof (new) (ABC)

Friday, April 01, 2011
Premieres:
Camelot (Starz)
Chaos (CBS)

Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Premieres:
Breaking In (new) (Fox)
Finales:
Mr. Sunshine (new) (ABC)
Off The Map (ABC)

Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Premieres:
Happy Endings (new) (ABC)
Returns:
Cougar Town (ABC)

 

[bicker]

ABC

Body of Proof

When a brilliant and driven neurosurgeon's career is cut short, she turns her unrivaled medical skills toward solving murders. Every body has a story to tell and Dr. Megan Hunt will find out what it is. Dr. Megan Hunt (Dana Delany, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES) was a top neurosurgeon until a car accident ended her career as a surgeon. Now that she can no longer help the living, Dr. Hunt is Philadelphia's most notorious medical examiner. Although she's amazing at her job, Dr. Hunt's reputation of being difficult precedes her wherever she goes. She's never encountered a boundary that she wouldn't cross. Her powerful boss tries to protect her as long as she doesn't step too hard on the wrong toes. Although he grudgingly acknowledges her skill, seasoned police detective Bud Morris (John Carroll Lynch, K-VILLE) is not as enthralled with her methods. Luckily, Dr. Hunt does have a few fans. Her junior medical examiners rely on her expert advice and her investigative partner, Medical Investigator Peter Dunlap (Nicholas Bishop, PAST LIFE), accepts her unorthodox behavior. Maybe that's because he's the only one who knows that Dr. Hunt's challenging personality is partly rooted in guilt. Before she gave up neurosurgery, Dr. Hunt accidentally killed her last patient. Add in a touch of bitterness from a hostile divorce that awarded her ex sole custody of their teenage daughter and you have one sad social life. You see, when it comes to understanding the dead, Dr. Hunt is amazing. But when it comes to her relationships with the living, she has a lot of work to do. From executive producers Matt Gross and Christopher Murphey comes a fascinating new procedural built on a strong and compelling female lead. Each week, as Dr. Hunt and her colleagues close a new case, she will come a tiny step closer to letting other people into her life.

Happy Endings

Forget who gets to keep the ring when a couple splits the real question is, who gets to keep the friends? In this modern comedy, a couple's break up will complicate all of their friends' lives and make everyone question their choices. When life throws you for a loop... hold on tight to the people you love. Every circle of friends has someone who's the gravitational center. For years, perfect couple Dave and Alex drew their friends in and held them together. Now that they've split, does this group have the stuff to stay together? Or do Max, Brad, Jane, and Penny have to choose sides? Suddenly every event is a negotiation. Like, who gets to go on the annual ski trip? There are a lot of big questions to be answered, but this group has been together so long, somehow, little by little, they'll figure out how to hold on, even though their center is split up. It helps that Dave and Alex have agreed to stay friends. But there will definitely be other complications down the road like Penny's long-suppressed feelings for Dave. What is the waiting period for dating a friend's ex? This show isn't afraid to ask the embarrassing personal questions that inevitably arise in every long-term, close-knit group of friends. This relatable comedy from executive producer Jamie Tarses (My Boys) and hot new writer David Caspe examines the complex network of long-term friendships. Just because one couple breaks up, does that mean their whole urban family has to fall apart? Nope. It just means life is going to get a lot more complicated.

Mr. Sunshine

Everyone's life feels like a three-ring circus. For Ben, the middle-aged manager of a mid-level sports arena, some days that's exactly what it is. In this outrageous workplace comedy, Ben has to juggle a wide variety of sports and entertainment acts, while handling his erratic boss and apathetic staff. The Sunshine Center has seen better days, but then again, so has Ben. Ben's unpredictable boss Crystal is the head of this little dysfunctional workplace family. Ben's not-quite girlfriend Alice is the heart and mouth of the place. She handles PR. His nemesis at The Sunshine Center is Alonzo, who competes with him for Alice's affection. Alonzo is smooth, attentive, and committed basically everything that Ben isn't at least not yet. Luckily, Ben also has an unlikely confidant and ally in Crystal's unmotivated son Roman. Roman's not much good at work, but he's a heck of a listener. Each week, despite the unusual demands of the ever-changing touring events, Ben tries to keep it all together. Crystal's flightiness may drive him crazy and his slacker crew might make him nuts, but Ben is determined to make the Sunshine Center the very best second rate, two-bit stadium in the world. Mr. Sunshine is co-written by Matthew Perry along with Alex Barnow and Marc Firek and executive produced by Jamie Tarses (My Boys) and Thomas Schlamme (The West Wing), who also directs this wild new workplace comedy. Mr. Sunshine proves even when you're out of your element, you can still be in the right arena.

Off the Map

Why would a gifted surgeon with a brilliant career, beautiful family and bright future give it all up to go to a barely staffed, under-stocked clinic in a small South American town? Escape, of course. In this ensemble drama, five doctors who have lost their way will go to the ends of the earth to try to remember the reasons why they wanted to become doctors in the first place. Because sometimes in order to find yourself... you have to get lost. Welcome to "la ciudad de las estrellas" (the city of stars), a tiny town in the South American jungle. That's exactly where idealistic young Dr. Lily Brenner (Caroline Dhavernas, WONDERFALLS) just landed, along with her fellow-doctors Mina Minard (Mamie Gummer, THE GOOD WIFE) and Manny Diaz (Enrique Murciano, WITHOUT A TRACE). All of these young ex-pats are running away from personal demons, but they aren't the only ones with emotional baggage. Take the legendary and enigmatic Ben Keeton (Martin Henderson, HOUSE), who was the youngest Chief of Surgery at UCLA. He walked away from it all to found the clinic. Together with his right-hand doctor and sometimes thorn in his side Otis Cole (Jason George, ELI STONE), he'll teach these newcomers how to save lives in the most challenging environment they've ever worked in. With more patients than they can handle and very little traditional medicine available, these doctors have to perform medical miracles using any means necessary. And as their lives become intimately intertwined, secrets will be revealed and relationships born. With the pressure always mounting, these doctors will need to let off some steam. Luckily, there's a spectacular hidden beach nearby. Leave it to Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers (Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice) to bring you an uplifting medical procedural like nothing you've ever seen before. Featuring a hot, young ensemble cast, Off the Map from creator Jenna Bans (Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice) explores how far you have to go to truly heal.

CBS

Criminal Minds spinoff

CRIMINAL MINDS SPINOFF stars Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker in a drama about an elite team of agents within the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit who use unconventional methods of investigation and aggressive tactics to capture the nation’s most nefarious criminals. Unit chief Special Agent Sam Cooper (Whitaker) is a mentally and physically fierce natural leader who is not afraid to put his career on the line in order to stand by his convictions. Cooper strives to avoid political bureaucracy and has handpicked an eclectic group of profilers to work outside the confines of Quantico: Former British Special Forces soldier Mick Rawson (Matt Ryan), confident and handsome, works as a highly-skilled marksman with an undiluted eye for rooting out evil; John “Prophet” Sims (Michael Kelly), a former convict with a street-smart edge and a calm, Zen-like presence, who is determined to make amends for past sins; and Gina LaSalle (Beau Garrett), an attractive, tough agent armed with a cunning sense of perception. This exceptional group of FBI operatives is strong in their beliefs and steadfast in their mission to bring the country’s most dangerous criminals to justice. Chris Mundy, Edward Allen Bernero, Mark Gordon and Deborah Spera are executive producers for ABC Studios in association with CBS Television Studios

CW

(none)


Fox

Bob's Burgers

BOB'S BURGERS is a new animated series about a man, his family and a burger joint. A third-generation restaurateur, BOB BELCHER (H. Jon Benjamin, FAMILY GUY, "Archer") runs Bob's Burgers with the help of his wife and their three kids. Bob has big ideas about burgers, condiments and sides, but only a few thoughts on customer service and business management. Despite his greasy counters, lousy location and occasionally spotty service, Bob is convinced his burgers speak for themselves. Even though business is slow, Bob gets to work with his family. His wife, LINDA BELCHER (John Roberts, "The Christmas Tree," "Jackie & Debra"), supports Bob's dream through thick and thin (but truth be told, she's getting a little sick of the thin). Their eldest daughter, TINA (Dan Mintz, "Important Things with Demetri Martin," "The Andy Milonakis Show"), is a 13-year-old hopeless romantic with minimal social skills. Middle child GENE (Eugene Mirman, "Flight of the Conchords," "Aqua Teen Hunger Force") is an aspiring musician and a prankster who serves up more jokes than burgers. Their youngest, LOUISE (Kristen Schaal, "Flight of the Conchords," "Modern Family"), is the most enthusiastic about her dad's business, but an off-balance sense of humor and her elevated energy level make her somewhat of a liability in the kitchen. Beyond the restaurant is a city rich with character. Next door to Bob's is It's Your Funeral Home and Crematorium; down the street is Wonder Wharf, the oceanside amusement pier; and a few blocks away is Wagstaff Middle School, where Bob and Linda's kids go to school. And across the street is Jimmy Pesto's Pizzeria, Bob's Burgers' main competition and the thorn in Bob's side.

Mixed Signals

MIXED SIGNALS is a new comedy series about three longtime friends and their attempts to reconcile the irreconcilable: to balance their relationships with their need for freedom. The series reveals how friendships and romances enhance - and further complicate - the lives of men and the women who love them. ETHAN (Kris Marshall, HUMAN TARGET, "My Family") is the perpetual bachelor. He loves women, and when he's in, he's all in - at least for three weeks. Charming, genuine and hopelessly independent, Ethan is finding out that as he gets older, the pool of women who are willing to take things day by day is rapidly evaporating. ADAM (Nelson Franklin, "The Office," "I Love You Man") recently moved in with his girlfriend, CALLIE (Alexandra Breckenridge, FAMILY GUY), and is learning how vastly different "she comes over a lot" and "she lives with me" really are. Adam is discovering there isn't much "me" time any more, there's only "us" time. MIKE (David Denman, "The Office") is a married lawyer still trying to figure out the male-female dynamic. He wants nothing more than to be a good family man to his wife, LISA (Liza Lapira, "Dexter," "Dollhouse"), and his infant son, but he's also trying to carve out a little space for himself. Currently that space is in his car, where he watches action movies in 15-minute chunks while telling his wife he's stuck in traffic.

The Chicago Code

The city of Chicago is a paradox that serves as the setting for RIDE-ALONG, a new drama from Shawn Ryan ("The Shield," "The Unit"). During a ride-along, a civilian spends a shift in the passenger seat of a squad car, observing the work day of a police officer. But in this series, the audience is the passenger, taking an unpredictable ride through the streets of Chicago and navigating crime and corruption with the most respected - and notorious - cops in the city. JAREK WYSOCKI (Jason Clarke, "Public Enemies," "Brotherhood") is a local legend and larger-than-life veteran of the Chicago Police Department. Like the city of Chicago, Jarek is razor blades and brass knuckles wrapped in politeness and egoless charm - a man who throws away partners the way others throw away tissues. TERESA COLVIN (Jennifer Beals, LIE TO ME, "The L Word") arrived at the pinnacle of the Chicago Police Department in a short period of time. She's determined to implement changes before the mud that is Chicago politics clogs her office. As a result of Teresa's difficult choices, she has made some powerful enemies along the way, including two street gangs, the police officers' union and a city alderman who proves to be a dangerous adversary. Jarek's new partner, CALEB EVERS (Matt Lauria, "Friday Night Lights"), is a smart and observant young detective who desperately wants to prove himself. He is savvier and more observant than most people give him credit for, and just might make the perfect yin to Jarek's yang. Also in Jarek's charge is his niece, VONDA WYSOCKI (Devin Kelley, "Tease"), a rookie beat cop whose father, Jarek's brother, was killed in the line of duty when she was young. Jarek keeps close tabs on her and is less than thrilled to discover she's falling for her partner, ISAAC JOINER (Todd Williams, "In Plain Sight," "CSI"), a charismatic cop who takes unnecessary risks on the job that land him and Vonda in some dangerous situations. ALDERMAN RONIN GIBBONS (Delroy Lindo, "Kidnapped") is a building-magnate-turned-politician who has ruled his ward with a velvet glove for three decades. Jarek and Teresa are convinced Gibbons and his cohorts, including LIAM HENNESSEY (Billy Lush, "The Black Donnellys"), an Irish tough guy in Gibbons' construction empire, are dirty to the core, but they've never had the evidence to prove it. When a murder investigation leads them to Gibbons, they are determined to bring him to justice and clean up Chicago - if that's even possible.

Terra Nova

From executive producers Steven Spielberg, Peter Chernin, Brannon Braga (24, "Star Trek: Enterprise") and David Fury ("Lost," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") comes an epic family adventure 85 million years in the making. TERRA NOVA follows an ordinary family embarking on an incredible journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of a massive experiment to save the human race. In the year 2149 the world is dying. The planet is overdeveloped, overcrowded and overpolluted. With the majority of plant and animal life extinct, devotion to science has brought mankind to the brink of destruction, but has also provided its only hope for salvation. Knowing there is no way to reverse the damage to the planet, a coalition of scientists has managed to open up a fracture in the space-time continuum, creating a portal to prehistoric Earth. This doorway leads to an amazing world, one that allows for a last-ditch effort to save the human race...possibly changing the future by correcting the mistakes of the past. The series centers on the Shannon family as they join the tenth pilgrimage of settlers to TERRA NOVA, the first colony of humans in this second chance for civilization. JIM SHANNON, a devoted father with a checkered past, guides his family through this new land of limitless beauty, mystery and terror. Jim's wife, ELISABETH SHANNON, is a trauma surgeon chosen through a global lottery as a new addition to Terra Nova's medical team. JOSH SHANNON is their son, mourning the girl he left behind, as he's torn between two role models - his father and the charismatic COMMANDER FRANK TAYLOR, the leader of the settlement, and the heroic first pioneer through the time portal. MADDY SHANNON, Jim and Elizabeth's teen daughter, is as independent and adventurous as her parents, but her distrust of authority soon leads her on a dangerous path. In addition to blue skies, rolling rivers and lush vegetation, TERRA NOVA offers new opportunities and fresh beginnings to its recent arrivals, but the Shannons have brought with them a familial secret that may threaten their citizenship in this utopia. Additionally these adventurers soon discover that this healthy, cptfc vibrant world is not as idyllic as it initially appears. The areas surrounding Terra Nova are filled with dangerous dinosaurs, and other prehistoric threats, as well as external forces that may be intent on destroying this new world before it begins. But perhaps even more threatening than what lies outside the protective walls is the Shannons' realization that something sinister may be happening inside TERRA NOVA as not everyone on this mission has the same intentions of how best to save mankind.

NBC

The Cape

"The Cape" is a one-hour drama series starring David Lyons ("ER") as Vince Faraday, an honest cop on a corrupt police force, who finds himself framed for a series of murders and presumed dead. He is forced into hiding, leaving behind his wife, Dana (Jennifer Ferrin, "Life on Mars") and son, Trip (Ryan Wynott, "Flash Forward"). Fueled by a desire to reunite with his family and to battle the criminal forces that have overtaken Palm City, Faraday becomes "The Cape" his son's favorite comic book superhero -- and takes the law into his own hands. Rounding out the cast are James Frain ("The Tudors") as billionaire Peter Fleming - The Cape's nemesis - who moonlights as the twisted killer: Chess; Keith David ("Death at a Funeral") as Max Malini, the ringleader of a circus gang of bank robbers who mentors Vince Faraday and trains him to be The Cape; Summer Glau ("Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles") as Orwell, an investigative blogger who wages war on crime and corruption in Palm City; and Dorian Missick ("Six Degrees") as Marty Voyt, a former police detective and friend to Faraday.

Friends with Benefits

From Oscar and Emmy winner Brian Grazer (“A Beautiful Mind,” “Arrested Development”), “Friends With Benefits” is a half-hour comedy revolving around a group of twenty-something singles as they navigate the difficult, and often confusing, world of dating. Ben Weymouth (Ryan Hansen, “Party Down”) is on the hunt for the perfect woman who meets his unique set of standards, while his best friend, Sara Maxwell (Danneel Harris, “One Tree Hill”), is just looking for a man to settle down with and raise a family. Ben and Sara have fallen into the habit of turning to each other for moral and physical support as they wait for Mr. and Ms. Right to arrive. Their friend Aaron (Fran Kranz, “Dollhouse”), a romantic at heart, doesn’t approve of Ben and Sara’s complicated friendship, but he, along with womanizer Hoon (Ian Reed Kesler) and straight shooter Riley (Jessica Lucas, “Cloverfield”), are all distracted with their own dating trials and tribulations. David Nevins (“Lie to Me,” “Arrested Development”) joins Grazer as executive producer for Imagine Television. Also serving as executive producers are David Dobkin (“Wedding Crashers”), who directs the pilot, writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (“(500) Days of Summer”), and Jeff Kleeman. “Friends With Benefits” is a production of 20th Century Fox Television, Imagine Television and Big Kid Pictures.

Harry's Law

Emmy Award-winning creator David E. Kelley (“The Practice,” “Boston Legal”) brings his unique storytelling to “Harry’s Law,” a series about fate and the people it brings together, starring Academy Award winner Kathy Bates (“Misery,” “About Schmidt”). Harriet (Bates), Matthew (Ben Chaplin, “Me and Orson Wells”) and Malcolm (Aml Ameen, “Kidulthood”) couldn’t be any more different. Harriet is a curmudgeonly ex-patent lawyer who, having just been fired from her cushy job, is completely disillusioned with her success and looking for a fresh start. Her world unexpectedly collides with Malcolm’s — a young man trying to figure out life. When he finds out Harriet is a lawyer, he begs her to represent him in an upcoming criminal case. Matthew, a dreamer at heart and also recently fired from his job as a high school teacher, is introduced to Harriet through Malcolm, a previous student of his. When these three cross paths, they realize they’re all looking for a fresh start. Now, the most unlikely of people are starting a law practice in the most unlikely of places–a rundown shoe store. “Harry’s Law” also stars Brittany Snow (“Hairspray”) as Harriet’s assistant, Jenna Backstrom and Beatrice Rosen (“Dark Knight”) as Eve, a high school French teacher. “Harry’s Law” is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with David E. Kelley Productions and Warner Bros. Television. David E. Kelley (“Boston Legal,” “The Practice”) and Bill D’Elia (“Boston Legal,” “The Practice”) serve as executive producers. D’Elia also is the director.

Love Bites

From Emmy Award-winning writer-producer Cindy Chupack (“Sex and the City”), “Love Bites” is an hour-long romantic comedy anthology series featuring three loosely connected, modern stories of love, sex, marriage and dating. Each episode contains multiple vignettes, all illuminating the theme of love with an edgy, irreverent spin. Becki Newton (“Ugly Betty”) stars as Annie and Jordana Spiro (“My Boys”) stars as Frannie, the last two single girls standing after all of their friends get married. Annie is an infectiously bubbly optimist and Frannie is an always-a-bridesmaid realist. Their story will anchor the series, while other romantically-challenged characters will come and go each week. The pilot’s guest cast includes Jennifer Love Hewitt (“Ghost Whisperer”), Greg Grunberg (“Heroes”), Craig Robinson (“The Office”), Jason Lewis (“Sex and the City”), Lindsay Price (“Lipstick Jungle”), Larry Wilmore (“The Daily Show”), Charlyne Yi (“Knocked Up”), Pamela Adlon (“Californication”), Stacy Galina (“Hidden Hills”), Brian Hallisay (“Privileged”), Kyle Howard (“My Boys”) and Steve Howey (“Bride Wars”). “Love Bites” is a production of Universal Media Studios and Working Title Television, which is a new division of Working Title Films (the U.K. production company behind box office hits including “Love Actually,” “Bridget Jones’s Diary” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral”). Chupack is creator, executive producer and writer. Emmy Award-winning producer-director Marc Buckland (“My Name Is Earl”) also is executive producer and directs the pilot. Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan and Shelley McCrory from Working Title Television are executive producers. “Love Bites” is Working Title Television’s first U.S. commission

Perfect Couples

“Perfect Couples” depicts the misadventures of three engaging couples as they struggle to find out what makes the ideal relationship — and how to maintain it through humorous trial-and-error. The series explores their heroic journey in search of the perfect relationship without destroying each other in the process. Dave (Kyle Howard, “My Boys”) and Julia (Christine Woods, “Flash Forward”) are the relatable, normal couple, but Julia’s hope of remaining the cool, low-maintenance chick is tested by Dave’s attempts to keep both his wife and his needy best friend Vance (David Walton, “Heist”) equally happy. Vance, along with the neurotic Amy (Mary Elizabeth Ellis, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), are the high-passion, high-drama couple who bring out the best and worst in each other. The third duo features Rex (Hayes MacArthur, “She’s Out of My League”), a reformed party guy, and, and his wife, Leigh (Olivia Munn, “Attack of the Show”), who considers herself as the group’s mother hen. Believing that they are relationship experts, Rex and Leigh have attended every class and seminar on relationships — and regard themselves as the “perfect couple.” Jon Pollack (“30 Rock”) and Scott Silveri (“Friends”) are the executive producers while Andy Ackerman (“Seinfeld,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine”) is the director. The series is produced by Universal Media Studios.

TBS

Glory Daze

GLORY DAZE centers on a group of friends who are trying to navigate college life in 1980s Wisconsin. From being out on their own for the first time to pledging a fraternity, they discover how challenging the next few years are going to be.

TNT

Franklin & Bash

Two young, fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants street lawyers cause a seismic culture clash when they join a legendary, button-down law firm.

 

[bicker]

Renewals

HBO
Boardwalk Empire

Fox
Simpsons

Cancellations

ABC
My Generation
The Whole Truth

AMC
Rubicon

CBS
Medium

CW
Life Unexpected

Fox
Lone Star
Lie To Me (presumptive)
Running Wilde (presumptive)
The Good Guys (presumptive)

FX
Terriers

NBC
Outlaw
Undercovers

Syfy
Stargate Universe

TNT
Dark Blue

 

[lynxstch]

I always look forward to your tv posts..you make it so easy for us to keep up on what is coming and going on tv..thanks so much! Happy Holidays!
Lynn

 

[bicker]

I aim to please.

 

[bicker]

I've updated messages #3 and #4 to reflect the last few weeks of schedule change announcements, for the winter. I also carried the info for message #6 forward from the fall thread.

Something interesting that I've noted: CBS seems to be moving things around a little, leaving the middle three weeks of January as reruns. Reruns in January aren't that unusual, but it seems that CBS is putting an extra week of reruns in for January this coming year (perhaps because January has five weeks, television-wise, this coming year).

 

[mickeymedic]

Thanks for taking the time to put this together for us, Bicker! Do you know when In Plain Sight starts up again? For some reason I thought it was returning this winter, but it's not on the line up. I suppose I'm waiting until spring?

 

[bicker]

In Plain Sight's third season was cut-short due to key crewmember falling ill. That's why it seems like its return is running "late".

In Plain Sight's second and third seasons premiered in early Spring. That's when I believe we can expect to see the fourth seaosn premiere.

 

[Hootiss]

In Plain Sight's third season was cut-short due to key crewmember falling ill. That's why it seems like its return is running "late".

In Plain Sight's second and third seasons premiered in early Spring. That's when I believe we can expect to see the fourth seaosn premiere.

Thanks Bicker for that info. I did not know that. In Plain Sight is one of my favorite shows.

 

[bicker]

I've updated messages #3 and #4 at the start of this thread to reflect the announcement of CBS' midseason schedule, including the premiere of Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, which I know at least some folks are looking forward to quite a lot.

Some strangeness I've noted with regard to the scheduling of original dramas in January. Several CBS programs, including Hawaii Five-0, are apparently planning on showing a new episode, then a rerun, then a new episode, then two reruns, leading into February sweeps. In the past, they'd probably have done a rerun, followed by two new episodes, followed by two reruns.

 

[gometros]

You may want to update the thread specific show list. Shows like Flash Forward, Survivor: Nicaragua and The Amazing Race 17 are over. There are also new thread for the new Survivor and The Amazing Race shows starting this winter:

Survivor--Redemption Island**Spoiler Thread**
Survivor 22-Redemption Island-Feb 16**No Spoilers**
OFFICIAL - NON SPOILER Amazing Race: Unfinished Business Premieres 2/20/11

 

[bicker]

Done. Thanks!

 

[bicker]

Saturday, January 01, 2011
Premieres:
Primeval (BBC America)

Sunday, January 02, 2011
Finales:
Sunday Night Football (NBC)

Monday, January 03, 2011
Premieres:
Antiques Roadshow (PBS)
Greek (ABC Family)
Finales:
The Closer (TNT)
The Bachelor (ABC)

Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Premieres:
V (NBC)
Southland (TNT)
Live To Dance (new) (CBS)
Biggest Loser (NBC)

Thursday, January 06, 2011
Premieres:
Wipeout (ABC)

Friday, January 07, 2011
Premieres:
Merlin (Syfy)

 

[minniebeth]

Yay!Thank you Bicker! I always love your seasonal tv line-up! It's always so helpful! I so appreciate the work you put into it!

 

[bicker]

My pleasure!

 

[gometros]

bicker - what's the scuttle butt on Being Human? SyFy has been coming out with some good shows of late, so I'm wondering if this is another one worth looking into.

Btw - thanks for the recommendation for Tower Prep. You were absolutely spot on.

 

[bicker]

bicker - what's the scuttle butt on Being Human? SyFy has been coming out with some good shows of late, so I'm wondering if this is another one worth looking into.

I saw the UK series and it was okay. The "scuttle butt" on the US series varies based on the biases of the source. For example: One group predictably condemns it solely because it comes from Syfy. Of course, Syfy itself projects that it is the best thing since sliced bread.

The comments I've seen that seem the most balanced project that the series is good, but not perfect, as you would expect anything to be. The most significant concern, that sounds valid, is a concern about production values, but in a way that's a pretty weak concern as well: Caprica had excellent production values, resulting in a cost base for the series that was simply indefensible given the limited audience for SF-type programming. So the biggest failing of the series might actually be its saving grace, though I doubt some reviewers will be willing to admit that.

I only recognize one person on the cast, Sam Witwer. He's a pretty good actor. The other male lead, Sam Huntington, is also pretty decently experienced. I'm a bit concerned that the woman playing the ghost character, Meaghan Rath, is not only relatively unknown, but also that she is so inexperienced.

Btw - thanks for the recommendation for Tower Prep. You were absolutely spot on.

Super! We've actually stopped watching the show, mainly because we're frustrated with how cloudy the show looks on our televisions. This show is a poster child for how bad SD can look on an HDTV. I'm hoping that eventually they release the series on disc, and that it becomes available though Netflix, because the show was worth watching to us, but only if the visual component could be improved.