The middle of the TV season has arrived. In years past that meant we just got a handful of new midseason shows that replaced cancelled series, but now it’s more like a whole new season, filled with returning favorites and new series. Our 2009 Midseason TV Preview runs down all the notable shows starting up in the next few months.
Please note that our list strictly covers series that have definite release dates (so any shows with “to be announced” air dates, like The Philanthropist and The Goode Family aren’t included) and doesn’t cover fall series that are just returning with new episodes, with one exception: Heroes (which is starting up a whole new volume of episodes, entitled, “Fugitives”).
This week, Monday through Wednesday, we’ll be running a Midseason Preview each day, covering the new and returning shows in the order of their premiere. Yesterday we talked about shows premiering 1/6 to 1/16. Today we’re covering shows starting up 1/18 to 2/8.
Starring: Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chlo? Sevigny, Ginnifer Goodwin, Amanda Seyfried
Network: HBO
Airs: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT
Season Premiere: 1/18/09
HBO’s risky gamble paid off. It turns out that we viewers like to feel like voyeurs sometimes, and peek in on the lives of “others” – possibly a subset of American life that we don’t get to openly experience. The Emmy and Golden Globe nominated Big Love is returning for its third season.
As if juggling three wives weren’t tricky enough, we’ll find modern polygamist Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton) tackling problems outside his three-house suburban home. Bill attempts to create some much-needed financial security by expanding from Henrickson Home Plus into Weber Gaming. And as he continues to try and extricate himself from family and business ties to the Juniper Creek compound, he discovers that the prophet Roman Grant (Harry Dean Stanton) is difficult to elude. The power struggles between first wife Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn), second wife Nicki (Chlo? Sevigny) and third wife Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) continue – especially regarding the possibility of adding a fourth.
Starring: Katherine Moennig, Jennifer Beals, Rachel Shelley, Leisha Hailey, Pam Grier
Network: Showtime
Airs: Sundays at 9pm ET/PT
Season Premiere: 1/18/09Showtime’s sexy series, focusing on a group of lesbian friends and lovers, comes to an end this year, with the sixth and final season. In an interesting turn of events, Showtime is widely publicizing the fact that one of the show’s main characters, Jenny (Mia Kirshner), will die – because her death is not a season ending cliffhanger, but rather how the season begins. However, Kirshner (whose character is rather unpopular with many viewers for many reasons, including her frequent infidelity) will still be a part of the entire season, as we slowly learn, via flashbacks, what exactly occurred that led to her demise. Showtime is mulling over a spinoff series to The L Word, which could be set up by the events of Season 6.
Starring: Billie Piper, Iddo Goldberg, Callum Blue, Cherie Lunghi, Ashley Madekwe
Network: Showtime
Airs: Sundays at 10pm ET/PT
Season Premiere: 1/18/09Returning for a second season is this British import starring former Doctor Who star Billie Piper. The eight-episode second season, which aired in the UK this past fall, will continue the in-depth look at the life of Belle, a high-class London-based call girl. The drama picks up right where last season left off, with Belle abandoning a try at being a courtesan to become an independent escort and the newly single Ben offering to be her security. This season, Belle will juggle her newly independent path in her career with her personal life, including her friendship with Ben and feelings she develops toward a “regular” (i.e., non-client) man.
To check out what else is premiering on your boob tube, be sure to click the link here!
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