2009 Winter TV Premieres
Delays and excuses, I'm full of them but so are the major networks. Yes, I still plan on publishing the Best Individual TV Episodes of 2008, but I got a little caught up with my newest obsession (STAR WARS THE FORCE UNLEASHED, on PS3) that's quite the time consumer.

Anyway, adieu to THE SHIELD and PUSHING DAISIES (forever, *sniff*) and we'll see you next year DEXTER (let's hope your writers get their act together by then). And now let's welcome back the winter 2009 series. As usual, * means I will try to review these titles on a regular basis, but we'll see how it goes.



(FX, Tuesday 10pm), Jan 7

Get ready for the payback (uh huh!)! The deviously complex and delicious Emmy-award winning show returns for Season 2 and you just know Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) is out for blood this year! Will Patty Hewes (Emmy winner Glenn Close) get the best of her again? Are we in for another bi-linear structure this year? And how exactly is Ray Fiske's (Emmy winner Zeljko Ivanek) back-from-the-dead flashback going to work? Court's in session soon ...



(Fox, Monday 9pm),  Jan 11 [2 hour prem]

Dammit Chloe! It's been way too long since Jack Bauer's saved the day, but let's hope after the season 6 debacle, a new location (Washington D.C.), the absence of CTU as a functional entity, a mostly new cast, and a plot that was largely pre-mapped out (unlike the cycle-to-cycle plotlines the writers usually improvise) reinvigorate this action packed show to new heights! 



* (SciFi, Friday 10pm), Jan 16

Here's my official predictions. If it's true that the Final Cylon is (a) not in the Last Supper picture, (b) was introduced as a featured, non-background character in Season 1 (per Ron Moore's disclosures), and (c) is *not* in the fleet as of present, as stated by D'Anna in 4x12 "Revelations", then he /she most likely a dead character (Ellen Tigh, Billy Kekia, or Cally Henderson-Tyrol are all strong contenders). If D'Anna (or Ron Moore) turns out to be lying again, it is either Tom Zarek, Starbuck or Baltar. Regardless, his or her identity will be revealed in the 17th episode, entitled "Someone To Watch Over Me", and the big mythology explanation / flashback episode will be the very next ep, "Island In A Stream Of Stars" -- note that title references Leoben's similar quote in 1x08 "Flesh and Bone". Just about everyone else will die in some sort of final, apocalyptic confrontation in the three part finale, "Daybreak", except Helo, Athena and their magic creepy kid.

Other than that, who the hell knows for sure...
 


(NBC, Friday 9pm), Jan 16

In case you don't have DirectTV or have some sort of aversion to obtaining these previously-aired episode by other means, please please please tune in and give this wonderful show all the Hail Mary ratings help it so desperately needs. We've already lost PUSHING DAISIES, and I'm afraid this little gem is next on the chopping block. 




(HBO, Sunday 9pm) Jan 18

Everyones' favorite polygamists return for a third season! Like DAMAGES, I caught up and quite enjoyed the previous season(s) on DVD, and will be watching it live. Off topic, i heard SONS OF ANARCHY picked up in its final episodes (I only watched the first two), and will be catching up on this and TRUE BLOOD when I can see them in their entirety on DVD/Blu.




* (ABC, Wed 10pm) Jan 21 [2 hr prem]

Best show on tv. Nuff said. Now how the HELL are they getting back to The Island and will this season seem like one long episode of "Weekend at Benthams"?




DOLLHOUSE (FOX, Friday 9pm) Feb 13

You know you're in trouble when fan sites are already running "Save Our Show" campaigns for a show that hasn't even aired yet. Given Fox's track record with Whedon, and the fact they already ordered an entire reshoot on the pilot (much to Joss' dismay), prospects look dim. We'll see.
 
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Add all these shows to THE OFFICE and 30 ROCK (NBC, Thurs 9-10pm), and that's a pretty big schedule.

Feel free to add your own predictions / anticipated series returns!