Let's start with new network shows. On Monday, 1/16, J.J. Abrams will debut his latest project, Alcatraz. The Fox series will be about the infamous titular prison and will star former Lost alum, Jorge Garcia (Hurley). It seems to have a sci-fi element as the plot revolves around former Alcatraz inmates who went missing decades ago and are now turning up in present day. Abrams' first post-Lost endeavor, Undercovers, was short-lived, but his second, Person of Interest has been a hit thus far. Alcatraz is definitely worth a shot.
Also on Mondays on Fox will be Touch, from Heroes creator, Tim Ring. The series will star Kiefer Sutherland, who was last seen on Fox as Jack Bauer, one of the greatest TV characters ever. Sutherland will reprise his role as Bauer...just kidding, but how sick would that be? Sutherland will actually play Martin Bohm, a man whose wife was killed in 9/11 and whose son has autism and does not speak, but is also able to see into the future. The show will co-star Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who was the female lead in the aforementioned Undercovers, and veteran actor Danny Glover. Also, definitely a must-watch. The show will have a preview episode on Wednesday, 1/25, but will begin its official run on Monday, 3/19.
On Tuesday, 3/6, the Fox sitcom, Breaking In will return. The show stars Bret Harrison, Odette Annable, and Christian Slater, and is only the second show behind Family Guy to return from cancellation twice.
On Thursday, 1/12, Rob will debut, starring Rob Schneider. Back in 1996, Schneider had a funny, but short-lived sitcom called Men Behaving Badly. Anyone remember that one? The new series, Rob, will be a semi-autobiographical endeavor, with Schneider playing a man who marries into a Mexican-American family. The show will air on CBS.
One that's a may or may not watch for me is Missing. The show stars Ashley Judd in her first starring TV role (unless you count Sisters in the early 90s), as a former CIA agent who tries to track down her missing son. Taken, with Liam Neeson was a good movie, but a lot of its appeal was that it was a very fast-paced film. Time will tell if Judd can take a similar plot, stretch it out over an entire TV run and keep it interesting. Thursdays are also pretty full with Person of Interest, Rob, the returning 30 Rock, and Up All Night on its new day, which might work against Missing. We'll see. I have a feeling Heidi might want to try the Ashley Judd show.
Over on basic cable, FX will begin the third season of its show Justified on Tuesday, 1/17. Another reason I'm glad DirecTV and Fox resolved their stupid dispute!
Now on to the money shows, i.e. the shows you have to pay for because they're on premium channels. The most anticipated new show is House of Lies on Showtime which premiers this Sunday, 1/8. The 30 minute comedy stars one of the best actors of our generation and Colorado native, Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell as cutthroat management consultants.
The much anticipated new season of Spartacus, titled Spartacus: Vengeance will premiere on Friday, 1/27. The second season of the Starz hit epic show (third if you count the prequel series, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena) has sadly been delayed due to the cancer and passing of former star Andy Whitfield. Before his death, he graciously gave his blessing for Starz to continue to show without him and Liam McIntyre inherited the title role. This has been Starz only show to make it past a first season and is keeping Starz original programming credibility alive. I did however, really like Camelot and thought it deserved to be renewed.
HBO's highly acclaimed epic fantasy series, Game of Thrones, was renewed however, and will begin its second season in April.
Mid-Season Lineup:
Sundays:
House of Lies, Showtime - 1/8
Game of Thrones, HBO - TBD, April
Mondays:
Alcatraz, Fox - 1/16
Touch, Fox - (1/25), 3/19
Tuesdays:
Justified, FX - 1/17
Breaking In, Fox - 3/6
Thursdays:
30 Rock, NBC - 1/12
Rob, CBS - 1/12
Missing, ABC - 3/15*
Fridays:
Spartacus: Vengeance, Starz - 1/27
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