What Winter Shows Have the Buzz?
January 8, 2009 by Kath Skerry
It wasn’t that long ago that September was the big month. It was when all the new shows premiered and your favorites returned. You could figure out just what you’d be watching every night from then until May. On the rare occasion maybe a new show would premiere in the winter as desperate replacement in a failing time slot. Oh how the times have changed.
Gone is the 22 episode, September – May program schedule. Now we have shows premiering throughout the year. Many show now offer 13 episode seasons, meaning less repeats for us but a longer wait between seasons. And the winter premieres? Nowadays networks save some of their best for the winter in an effort to turn the tables on their slumping ratings. And let’s not even talk about the standalone TV season that has become the summer.
Personally I see this as a good thing. Networks are showing less reruns, and we are offered up more original content. Yes, some of these new midseason shows are reality filler, but more and more often the time slots are being filled with quality story telling…mostly by the cable networks.
By now you’ve probably heard the buzz on a bunch of the new winter shows. The screeners are starting to be delivered so I’ll be sharing my thoughts on some of the new shows soon. But based on the buzz you’ve heard, which new winter shows are you most looking forward to checking out?
- True Beauty (ABC)
- 13 Fear is Real (CW)
- Howie Do It (ABC)
- The United States of Tara (Showtime)
- Lie to Me (Fox)
- Dollhouse (Fox)
- Castle (ABC)
- Kings (NBC)
- The Unusuals (ABC)
- Cupid (ABC)
- Better Off Ted (ABC)
- Harper’s Island 4/9 10pm/ET (ABC)
- The Goode Family (ABC)
- Trust Me (TNT)
Winter is also the time when many of our long standing favorite come back to our TVs. Which returning shows are most excited to have back?
- Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABC Family)
- Nip/Tuck (FX)
- Damages (FX)
- Flashpoint (CBS)
- 24 (Fox)
- Friday Night Lights (NBC)
- Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi)
- Big Love (HBO)
- The L Word (Showtime)
- Flight of the Conchords (HBO)
- Lost (ABC)
- Medium (NBC)
- Greek (ABC Family)
- Rescue Me April (FX)
- The Closer (TNT)
Lost of shows to be excited about. Tell us about which ones have caught your attention.
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As far as new shows go, I’m definitely gonna check out Dollhouse….you have to be faith to Whedon. I’m also going to give Castle, Kings, and the Unusuals a look and see how I like them. Castle because I’m faithful to Nathan Fillion, The Unusuals because I like Amber Tamblyn and Harold Perrineau, and Kings because I’ve heard good things.
Returning shows have just as good offerings. I haven’t watched Damages Season 1 yet, but I’m picking it up today to watch so I can get caught up this weekend and get into Season 2. Also, so happy that FNL is back on network TV…go, Dillon, Texas. Fridays will be packed between this, Dollhouse, and Battlestar Galactica, which I also have to tune into. Lastly, Lost is probably my favorite drama right now, so I’m excited for Wednesday nights.
Dollhouse for sure. Damages and 24 for sure.
Can you please explain how Howie Mandel has another new show? Really? He is one of the most annoying people ever!
I can’t wait for Greek to come back. And this one isn’t on the list, but I’m looking forward to the return of Psych! I’ve missed those guys. I’ve already watched Friday Night Lights, but I’ll probaby watch again, it was that good. And I’m still catching up on Lost, so we’ll see how that goes.
As for new shows, I’ll probably watch Kings and Trust Me, the new TNT drama.
I’m all about Better Off Ted right now. First two episodes are HILARIOUS! I am also excited about Lie to Me, Lost, 24, Friday Night Lights, and Rescue Me. I don’t even remember what happened on that show in the last season? But really, you know me, I’ll probably just keep adding to the list since I can’t make a decision HA!
Can I just say how excited I am about Cupid? I’m not sure how I feel about Sarah Paulson as Claire, but Bobby Cannavale can do no wrong and I’m sure will make Trevor his own. I love Piven’s Trevor as much as the next and have gone back and watched the original Cupid but I know Rob Thomas won’t let us down! He can’t! And he must MUST MUST
Kathleen – Set your expectations low. I’m a big Bobby Cannavale fan too but his ‘Cupid’ missed the mark for me. And of course after VERONICA MARS Rob Thomas is a god among my TV men, but there’s not a hint of Rob Thomas in the pilot.
As far as new shows go, the only one I think I am going to watch is Trust Me on TNT with Tom Cavanaugh and Eric McCormack. I love both of them and I hope that it is going to be good. Returning shows…well there are a few. I can’t wait for 24 and Lost, and I always seem to be able to find time to watch Psych. I love the winter!!
I noticed I Love Money 2 was conspiciously absent from your list. Really the only thing I am looking forward to more is Friday Night Lights because I was too stupid to switch over DirecTV even though my feud with Time Warner is reaching Biggie/2Pac porportions. Oh, yeah, and The Goode Family if only because it is Mike Judge and I still routinely quote Beavis and Butt-head.
I’m really looking forward to Dollhouse, seeing as though it’s a Joss Whedon production and almost everything that man touches turns to gold. I’m with Patty, and I don’t get how Howie gets another show. Great and original things like Pushing Daisies and Eli Stone get canceled, and we get more reality-based garbage. I just don’t get it.
I was looking forward to Dollhouse, but have changed my mind because I’ve been reading not so good things about how the pilot turned out.
That said, I’m all about 24 (Thank God it’s back!) and Lost.
As for the new shows, The Unusuals is a definite yes. I’m going to try out Castle to if I like it.
I’m with Casey and am anxiously awaiting the TV return of two of my favorite guys – Trust Me didn’t make your list GMMR? “Ed” was a big favorite of mine and I love Tom C.
For returning shows at the top of the list for me is 24 – I need a little Jack Bauer in my life right now. Behind 24 is Damages, FNL, and Psych!
It was a complete oversight to not include ‘Trust Me’.
Definitely the Dollhouse. I absolutely cannot wait for something from Joss Whedon. has he gone wrong on television cause, if so, I missed it.
When is Burn Notice coming back?
Looking forward to DollHouse too, though expectations are lowered due to advance reviews being disappointed.
Can’t wait for Chuck to resume!!!!!!!!!!
And of course, then there is Lost and BSG. Woot!