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Surviving the Strike: What To Watch This Winter
If it seems like the TV landscape is bleak in the face of the writer's strike, I assure you there will be plenty of things to watch for the next few months. If a resolution doesn't come soon it's the Fall of 2008 that I think will see the biggest hit.
For now, while we will miss "Heroes", "Grey's Anatomy", "Desperate Housewives" and "The Office" we can at least tune into some brand new and returning shows that should tantalize our TV senses. Here's twenty shows worth a look.
COMEDIES/DRAMAS
"Cashmere Mafia" - premieres January 6th >(then moves to Wednesdays), ABC. Four professional women (Lucy Liu, Miranda Otto, Bonnie Sommerville, Frances O'Connor) juggle their high powered careers and their messed up personal lives in this Manhattan set drama from "Sex and the City" creator Darren Star.
"The Sarah Conner Chronicles" - premieres January 13th, Fox. Buzzworthy show that picks up where the second "Terminator" movie left off, as John's mom Sarah takes matters into her own hands to protect her teenage son. I predict that the nerd herd will help make this one a hit.
"Lost" - returns January 31st, ABC - The survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 return for this super short fourth season. Just eight episodes were filmed before the strike - but based on the trailer circulating the internet rife with clues about when and if the lostees get off the island, less is certainly more. One change we know for sure is that episodes will now feature flash backs and flash forwards.
"Eli Stone" - premieres 1/31, ABC - A quirky courtroom drama where high powered San Francisco attorney, Eli Stone (Jonny Lee Miller), begins having visions of '80s British pop star George Michael and wonders if he might be a modern day prophet. Sounds strange but lots of people around here liked the pilot. With a prime spot after "Lost" its sure to attract a few eyeballs.
"The New Adventures of Old Christine" - returns February 4th, CBS. It's now "How I Met Your Mother" but I still enjoy this silly Julia Louis Dreyfus sitcom. Plus, its miles better than "Rules of Engagement" which somehow CBS replaced last Fall for this show. She won an Emmy for this show for goodness sake!
"Welcome to the Captain" - premieres February 4th, CBS. There is not much new comedy out there this winter with the exception of this Hollywood set laffer about a group of eclectic tenants who all live in the same apartment building. It's best hope for success - Jeffrey Tambor stars as Uncle Saul, a former "Three's Company" writer who is the self proclaimed expert on anything and everything.
"Lipstick Jungle" - premiere's February 7th, NBC. see "Cashmere Mafia" this time with Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsay Price. It's also got a "Sex and the City" connection as its comes from SATC author Candace Bushnell.
"Jericho" - returns February 12th, CBS. Saved from cancellation by fans, this nuclear holocaust drama will return for seven jam packed episodes. For a preview of the new season check out this link http://www.cbs.com/primetime/jericho/video.php
"Quarterlife" - premieres February 18th, NBC - A drama about the trials and tribulations of twenty-something's whose lives are trailed on a tell-all video blog. The show was originally made for the internet from veteran producers Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz. www.quarterlife.com. NBC is taking a huge gamble with this show featuring unknown actors and a raw shooting format but it will be an interesting test to see if an internet TV show can crossover to mainstream television.
"New Amsterdam" - premieres February 22nd, Fox - You won't be able to pronounce his name but Danish newcomer Nikolaj Coster-Waldau will certainly make you sit up and take notice as a 400 year old detective who was granted immortality by a Native American spell, until he finds his one true love.
REALITY ROUNDUP
"The Biggest Loser" - Tuesdays, NBC - The fifth season which pits couples against other couples kicked off New Years Day. Watching their fight to lose weight is the perfect motivation to help you keep those New Years Resolutions.
"Celebrity Apprentice" - premieres January 3rd, Fox. - This reality show was on life support after three years and too many back to back incarnations but may have gotten a breath of fresh air with this celebrity version featuring D-listers like Carol Alt, Marilu Henner and the evilest Apprentice ever, Omarosa.
"American Gladiators" - premieres January 6th, NBC - This primetime re-incarnation returns with regular folks taking on very large He-men and He-women in physical challenges. Certainly an acquired taste and not exactly appealing to women - but then again who would have thought a show where 26 hot women open briefcases would be a hit.
"Dance War: Bruno vs Carrie Ann" - premieres January 7th, ABC. Maybe its the non-stops promos they have been running on ABC but something about this dancing and singing competition show gets me excited to see it.
"American Idol" - returns January 15th, Fox. Need I say anything about the mother of all reality shows.
"Scott Baio is 46 & Pregnant" - premieres January 13th, VH-1. A follow up to the surprisingly delightful "Scott Baio is 45 and Single." By the end of the show Chachi was no longer single. He proposed to his long suffering girlfriend and learned she was expecting.
"The Moment of Truth" - premieres January 23rd, Fox. A controversial game show that straps people to lie detectors and asks them intrusive questions in front of friends, loved ones and most likely millions of viewers.
"Survivor" - returns February 7th, 2008. Eight years and sixteen season later this energizer bunny of a show keeps going and going. This time super fans of the show face off against previous players (names are being kept under wraps) in the jungles of Micronesia.
"Oprah's Big Give" - premiere's March 2nd, ABC - With Oprah's name in the title, it's pretty much a given than this eight episode reality show will be a hit. 10 contestants are given the opportunity and cash to help strangers in seven American Cities. Think "The Biggest Giver."
"Dancing with the Stars" - premieres March 17th, ABC - Can they top last years crazy cursed season? We'll have to wait two more months to find out.
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