There were a million things going on last night. On NBC, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler were skewering Taylor Swift and James Cameron, schmoozing with Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney, and giving the side-eye to Lena Dunham. On CBS, Eli ingeniously recruited the ginger-Rambo Elsbeth Tascioni to clear his name, and Lisbon finally nailed her smug tycoon with Jane's meddling techniques. On ABC, Rumplestilskin got one step closer to being with his son and a hundred steps further from being with Belle. And I can't even tell you what happened on "Revenge," "Happy Endings," "Downton Abbey," "Shameless," or "House of Lies" because there weren't enough hours in the night to consume it all. But there was one show I made time for after the Globes: the second season premiere of HBO's "Girls." I feared a sophomore slump and I've gotta be honest...
...they're a little more annoying than last season. Now that last year's sheer shock of how they portray this generation's women—as indecisive, damaged, and flawed—wore off, I realize just how annoying most of these characters are. But I put aside Jessa's insistance to stay married to a complete stranger, Shoshanna's weakness for the verbally-abusive Ray, and Marnie's random hookup with the briefly-bi Elijah, because I was too busy wondering why the opening scene was of Dunham having sex with Donald Glover ("Community").
Last year, Dunham, the creator of the series, got a lot of shit for portraying New York as this vanilla hipster wonderland where minorities barely grazed the corners of the screen. So she vowed to mix it up a bit and stop making excuses for having such an insular view of the world—or at least the city. Soon, she announced the casting of comedian slash rapper Donald Glover. Not too extreme. He's basically a bipster anyway. Not too incongruous with their environment. It's not like she hired Idris Elba—although...no one would complain if she did. But there were still whispers about who she cast him as and if he'd stick out like a sore thumb—a sore, token minority thumb. Then the episode started, and there they were, humping away happily like they'd been doing it for weeks.
Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but it kind of felt like the inclusion of that scene—specifically its placement at the beginning of the episode—was her way of saying, "Oh you want black people? This is how I feel about what you want." It sort of makes a mockery of what was asked of her. She wasn't asked to have sex with more minorities. She was asked to give them a voice too. (Personally, I don't agree. Writers write what they know and well, being white is what she knows.)
There's also an underlying unspoken controversy that most people wouldn't dare even mention: the unspoken disdain that some black women have towards any non-black female who would dare "poach" their "good men." I'm sure Dunham is oblivious that this bias even exists, but she probably doesn't realize that she inadvertently offended an entire faction of women who don't necessarily disapprove of interracial couples, but do disapprove of not getting first dibs on the dwindling population of "good black men." So jumping one of the funniest and most talented up-and-coming black entertainers in Hollywood as a response to a request for more diversity on her series is kind of like shoving their faces in an eat-shit pie.
But again, maybe I'm reading too much into it. Maybe his inclusion was thoroughly appreciated by last year's haters, and all is officially right in the world.
Plot: Two cops have a problem: each other. So their captain sends them to couples therapy. Cast: Michael Ealy (Think Like a Man), Warren Kole ("The Chicago Code" and "24"), Sonya Walger ("Lost") Why Watch: Because the USA Network has the most fun cop shows on TV. And because you love buddy comedies. Watch promo.
Thursday, MAY 24
10pm "Rookie Blue" (ABC) This Season: Sam and Andy will have a few bumps in the road after their enforced 3-month suspension for allowing her emotions to screw up the undercover assignment that almost got Sam killed. Since she complied with the board's demands and he refused to, he feels like she chose her job over him, and she feels like she doesn't have the seniority to get away with being rebellious. We'll see her ex-fiancee Luke later in the season, since he's taken refuge in the gang task force. And we'll finally meet her mom, which she will encounter in an ironic situation while they're both on the job. Meanwhile, there's a new rookie (Peter Mooney from "Camelot") at the precinct, who has Gail more abrasive and uptight than usual, since he seems to have been her ex-fiancee who left her to join the army.
10pm "Men at Work" (TBS)
Plot: In this new comedy about four friends who work together at a magazine, the recently dumped Milo (Masterson) barely has time to nurse his wounds before his friends decide to help him get back in the game. Together, the four help each other navigate work, friendship and women. Cast: Danny Masterson ("That 70s Show"), James Lesure ("Mr. Sunshine" and "Las Vegas"), Michael Cassidy ("Priveleged" and "Hidden Palms"), and Adam Busch ("Buffy, the Vampire Slayer") Why Watch: Because it's actually funny—and not TBS-funny, CBS-funny. So if you're a fan of dude-humor and/or cute guys, tune in. Watch promo.
Monday, MAY 28
9pm "Single Ladies" (VH1) This Season:Stacey Dash was cut from the cast and soap opera graduate Denise Vasi ("All My Children") sort of took her place as Raquel, a recently un-engaged single lady. She's playing a friend of Val's who kindly agreed to watch over her boutique indefinitely because she fled to Paris and refuses to return, since Jerry dumped her two-timing ass. Keisha is smack dab in the middle of Malcolm's legal issues with the government, and torn between him and her ex-husband. Meanwhile, April has decided to become a club promoter instead of a producer, and is on the prowl for one-nighters so that she can finally experience the single life, since she married so young.
Wednesday, MAY 30
8pm "Melissa & Joey" (ABC Family) This Season: We'll see whether that kiss from last season has given their relationship a boost in the right direction.
Sunday, JUNE 3
9pm "Drop Dead Diva" (Lifetime) This Season: Grayson seems to have figured out that Deb's spirit is inside of Jane, and he's desperate to get her back. Fred drops a truth bomb on Stacy and Jane gets a new guardian angel (Carter MacIntyre from "Undercovers"). Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian is joining the series for a multi-episode arc as not only Fred's new girlfriend, but Stacy's new business partner. Oh boy.
9pm "The Glades" (A&E) This Season:Taylor Cole ("The Event") joins the series as a bureau chief who is "sent to the South Florida station to evaluate its high success rate in hopes of recreating it state-wide. But when it becomes clear that said success is due to Det. Longworth’s unique approach to law, Cole’s character changes her evaluation tactics, which creates an “interesting” dynamic between the two."
10pm "Longmire" (A&E)
Plot: Sheriff Walt Longmire (Taylor) tries to get back on his feet after struggling with the death of his wife. With the help of his daughter Cady (Freeman), the new deputy Victoria (Sackhoff), and his best friend Henry (Phillips), Walt decides to run for re-election against Branch (Chase), a young deputy in the department who also wants the sheriff position of Absaroka County, a fictional county in the State of Wyoming. Cast: Robert Taylor (The Matrix), Cassidy Freeman ("Smallville"), Katee Sackhoff ("Battlestar Galactica"), Lou Diamon Phillips ("Numb3rs"), Bailey Chase ("Damages" and "Saving Grace"), Adam Bartley Why Watch: Because you like westerns and the country side. Watch promo.
11pm "Teen Wolf" (MTV) - regular time slot will be Mondays at 10pm This Season: After Scott's heroics, Allison promises to never see him again in exchange for her werewolf-hunting dad not killing him, so they have to see each other in secret. Stiles is still crushing on Lydia, staying at her bedside at the hospital. But there's no word on whether or not she was turned. All we know for sure is that she's being haunted. However, there will be a female werewolf this season. And while there is a new male addition to the pack, it might not be Jackson. Joining the cast is Bianca Lawson ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Pretty Little Liars") as a guidance counselor. Watch the first 10 minutes now.
Tuesday, JUNE 5
8pm "Pretty Little Liars" (ABC Family) This Season: There will be a six-month jump. Even though Mona was committed and Garrett was arrested, Allison's murder case isn't necessarily closed just yet. There's still no guarantee that that was Maya's body. Hanna is struggling with discovering that one of her closest friends made her life a living hell. Jenna can now secretly see. Aria's parents are butting heads on whether she can still date Ezra, and Ezra's having trouble finding a job. The juiciest tidbit of the new season is that we'll soon get to meet Allison's mentor in all things vindictive who is none other than Jason's ex-girlfriend (Vanessa Ray from "Suits").
9pm "Jane by Design" (ABC Family) This Season: After both Billy and Jeremy made a play for Jane, Billy goes to juvy, covering for his big bro, and Jane rejects Jeremy because of the age-difference and her philosophy on not mixing business with pleasure. When the series returns, Billy gets out of juvy and has trouble re-acclimating to high school life, due to the ultra judgmental student body. Being the school pariah will affect his decision in admitting that what he said was a profession of love when he last saw Jane. Nick and Lulu will be the new hot couple in school, even though they both secretly want Jane and Billy back. Nonetheless, a new designer is hired, who will be a love interest for Jane, and Billy starts crushing on a new girl at school. And while India's out, that's not the last we've seen of the meddling, scheming India, who will be forcing Jeremy to give her insider information. Nor will that be the biggest thorn in Jane's side this season, since we'll be meeting her estranged mother, played by Teri Hatcher ("Desperate Housewives").
9pm "Rizzoli & Isles" (TNT) This Season: Ever since Jane shot Maura's dad, their relationship has suffered. As for their love lives, Gabriel, Jane's FBI agent boyfriend, will return, and Maura gets a new love interest in the form of a motivational speaker (Eddie Cibrian from "The Playboy Club") who tries to help her breakout of her rigid shell.
10pm "Franklin & Bash" (TNT) This Season: Shiri Appleby will join the series as a "'smart and sassy' associate of an Infeld-Daniels senior partner, who comes to town to investigate possible misconduct on the part of the titular attorneys. However, she’ll quickly realize she’s in over her head when romantic feelings begin to develop between herself and Jared."
Wednesday, JUNE 6
9pm "Royal Pains" (USA) This Season: We finally say goodbye to Jill. The boys hire a new doc (Ben Shenkman from "Drop Dead Diva"). And Divya will be forced to make a life-altering decision.
10pm "Necessary Roughness" (USA) This Season: Gaius Charles ("Friday Night Lights") will be suiting up once more, this time as a humble jock who has T.K. worried he's being replaced with a younger, faster, tamer model. The rookie, however, will seek therapy concerning his fears of success.
9pm "True Blood" (HBO) This Season: Sookie and Lafayette deal with the aftermath of Tara's encounter with Debbie Pelt. But her parents will eventually come to town asking a ton of questions about their missing baby girl, and we'll get to see flashbacks of both her and Alcide when they were teenagers. Lucy Griffiths ("Robin Hood") will join the series as Eric's sister, Peter Mensah ("Spartacus") as a ruling member of the Authority, and Christopher Meloni ("Law & Order: SVU") as the leader of the Authority Chancellors, who will be holding Bill and Eric captive for questioning due to their treasonous acts. Because Marcus is missing, Alcide's werewolf pack hunts Sam down and offers Alicide the pack leader position. With Bill away, Jessica enjoys her new freedom by partying with local college kids. The recently turned Steve Newlin pays a visit to Jason. An old Iraq War buddy (Scott Foley from "Grey's Anatomy" and "Felicity") reignites Terry's PTSD in an attempt to finish a non-supernatural mission they had in Iraq. We'll get to learn more about Pam's pre-vamp life as a madam as she'll have a larger role this season. And Russell Edgington returns, and he's not necessarily back for revenge.
Monday, JUNE 11
9pm "Bunheads" (ABC Family)
Plot: Michelle (Foster), a Las Vegas showgirl marries a man (Ruck) on a whim and moves to his sleepy coastal town where she winds up working alongside her new mother-in-law (Bishop) at her dance school. Cast: Sutton Foster ("The Flight of the Conchords"), Alan Ruck (Ferris Bueller's Day Off), Kelly Bishop ("Gilmore Girls") Why Watch: Because you love inspirational, small town, coming-of-age stories and/or ballet.
Plot: The story focuses on the offspring of bitter rivals and brothers JR (Hagman) and Bobby Ewing (Duffy), who clash over the future of the Ewing dynasty while the fate of Southfork itself weighs in the balance. Cast: Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray, Josh Henderson ("Desperate Housewives" and "One on One"), Jesse Metcalfe ("Desperate Housewives" and John Tucker Must Die), Jordana Brewster (Fast Five), Brenda Strong ("Desperate Housewives"), Julie Gonzalo ("Eli Stone"), Callard Harris ("Glory Daze" and "Sons of Anarchy") Why Watch: Because you miss the 70s soap and/or you love family feuds.
9pm "Burn Notice" (USA) This Season:John C. McGinley ("Scrubs") will play Michael's CIA training officer. Taryn Manning guests as Fiona's prison cell mate. And Richard Burgi ("Desperate Housewives" and "One Tree Hill") joins as a loan shark looking to make a name for himself.
10pm "Suits" (USA) This Season: Trevor will threaten Mike's cover once again, while Mike and Rachel hit a speed bump in their budding relationship.
Sunday, JUNE 17
9pm "Falling Skies" (TNT) This Season: Tom will return a few months after his alien abduction and his people won't exactly welcome him with open arms, since now his convenient amnesia makes him a security risk. His son, formerly abducted Ben, joins the resistance in his absence and becomes a trigger-happy, knife-wielding badass. And Terry O'Quinn ("Lost" and "Hawaii Five-O") will have an arc playing Tom's former mentor.
Wednesday, JUNE 20
8:30pm "Baby Daddy" (ABC Family)
Plot: Ben (Bilodeau) becomes a surprise dad to a baby girl when she's left on his doorstep by an ex-girlfriend. Ben decides to raise the baby with the help of his mother (Peterman), his brother Danny (Theler), and his best buddy Penny (Kane), who is harboring a secret crush on him. Cast: Jean-Luc Bilodeau ("Kyle XY"), Melissa Peterman ("Reba"), Derek Theler ("90210"), Chelsea Kane ("Jonas"), Tahj Mowry ("Smart Guy") Why Watch: Because watching guys fumble and fail is a guilty pleasure of yours or because you're a young dad and you want to commiserate.
Plot: An R&B superstar-turned-minister Reverend Boyce "The Voice" Ballentine (Cedric) was living the high life in Las Vegas at the top of the music charts when he gets the calling to go from soul singer to soul saver. Relocating to St. Louis with his wife, Lolli (Nash), and his daughter, Lyric (Raycole), to take over the preaching duties in his father's church, his family is not exactly eager to give up the fabulous superstar life for a humble one. Cast: Cedric the Entertainer, Neicy Nash ("Reno 911!"), Jazz Raycole ("Jericho" and "My Wife and Kids"), Wesley Jonathan ("What I Like About You") Why Watch: Because you think Cedric and/or Neicy is funny. Watch promo.
10:30pm "The Exes" (TV Land)
Sunday, JUNE 24
10pm "The Newsroom" (HBO)
Plot: Behind the scenes look at the fictional Atlantis Cable News (ACN), where anchor Will (Daniels), his new executive producer Mackenzie MacHale (Mortimer), newsroom staff Maggie (Pill), Jim (Gallagher, Jr.), Sloan (Munn), Neal (Patel), Don (Sadoski), and their boss Charlie Skinner (Waterston) all work. Cast: Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, Alison Pill (Midnight in Paris and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), John Gallagher, Jr. (Jonah Hex), Olivia Munn ("Perfect Couples"), Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire), Thomas Sadoski (Loser), Sam Waterston ("Law & Order") Why Watch: Because shows like this don't come along very often. We've seen rebel cops, rebel doctors, rebel lawyers, and even rebel waitresses, but it's been a while since we've gotten comfy on the couch for a rebel reporter, who's going to finally stop bullshitting and ask the hard questions.
Plot: A former minor-league baseball player (Sheen) has overcome his past anger issues to become a "non-traditional" therapist. However, his life is continuously complicated by his family and friends. Cast: Charlie Sheen, Selma Blair, Shawnee Smith ("Becker"), Michael Arden (Bride Wars and Source Code), Daniella Bobadilla ("Awake"), Noureen DeWulf (Ghosts of Girlfriends Past), Derek Richardson ("Men in Trees") Why Watch: Because you want to see if Sheen still has it OR watch him self-destruct once again.
10pm "Wilfred" (FX)
10:30pm "Louie" (FX)
10:30pm "Awkward" (MTV) This Season: While Jenna is stuck in a love triangle with Matty and his bff Jake, her nemesis Sadie will actually get a bonafide love interest.
11pm "Strangely Uplifting" (FX)
Plot: The series features comedian Russell Brand's "unvarnished, unfiltered take on current events, politics and pop culture." Why Watch: Because you think Russell's funny OR because you want to see if he mentions his ex-wife Katy Perry.
10:30pm "Episodes" (SHO) This Season: Since Matt slept with Beverly, he buys Sean a car to make up for it. The writing duo, however, will have much more to worry about when their show's ratings start to drop. They might have to minimize Matt's role and play-up the younger characters, and even get one of Matt's ex-Friends to guest star.
Monday, JULY 2
11pm "Web Therapy" (SHO)
Monday, JULY 9
9pm "The Closer" (TNT) This Season: We'll meet one of Provenza's ex-wives and she might recur in the spin-off "Major Crimes." And Brenda will finally go head-to-head with the one guy she couldn't close.
10pm "Perception" (TNT)
Plot: Dr. Daniel Pierce (McCormack) is an eccentric neuroscientist who uses his unique outlook to help the federal government solve complex criminal cases. Cast: Eric McCormack ("Will & Grace"), Rachael Leigh Cook (She's All That), Arjay Smith (The Day After Tomorrow), Kelly Rowan ("The O.C.") Why Watch: Because you like police procedurals with a twist.
9pm "White Collar" (USA) This Season: Neal and Mozzie are on the run in Puerto Rico, partying it up with a career fugitive (Gregg Henry from "Hung"), while an Internal Affairs agent (Mekhi Phifer from "Lie to Me"), with 100 percent capture rate, hunts them down. Although it's true that Sara will return to the series, Neal will try to woo a cafe owner (Mia Maestro from "Alias") who plays hard-to-get. And there's a chance that we'll be meeting his dad, and rumor has it that Treat Williams ("Everwood") will have the distinct honor to play him.
10pm "Covert Affairs" (USA) This Season: Sarah Chalke ("24") joins the series as Annie's new mentor. Auggie might have some trouble reconnecting with his girlfriend, and as a result he'll be seeking some professional help from a therapist (Daniella Alonso from "Friday Night Lights" and "One Tree Hill").
Wednesday, JULY 11
9pm "Damages" (DirecTV)
Sunday, JULY 15
8pm "Leverage" (TNT)
10pm "Breaking Bad" (AMC)
10pm "Political Animals" (USA) - miniseries
Plot: Newly divorced, former First Lady Elaine Barrish (Weaver) is currently serving as the Secretary of State. She finds an unlikely ally in a D.C. journalist (Gugino) who had previously dedicated herself to tearing Barrish to pieces. Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Carla Gugino, Ciarin Hinds, James Wolk ("Lone Star"), Sebastian Stan ("Once Upon a Time" and Captain America: The First Avenger), Ellen Burstyn, Adrian Pasdar ("Heroes"), Dylan Baker ("The Good Wife" and "Damages") Why Watch: Because if you thought Weaver was vicious in Alien, wait till you see her as a politician.
Plot: A corporate attorney (Byrne) from New York City visits his Irish American father Jack (Lauria) and Korean American mother Ok Cha (Long) just as they are preparing to sell their bar in a Pittsburgh working-class neighborhood and retire. To their surprise, he decides to stay and run the bar. The bar is a popular venue among the locals, and is the unofficial "town hall" to the neighborhood. Cast: Comedian Steve Byrne, Dan Lauria ("The Wonder Years"), Jodi Long ("Eli Stone"), Vivian Bang ("Better Off Ted"), comedian Roy Wood Jr., comedian Owen Benjamin, Brian Doyle-Murray, Christine Ebersole ("Royal Pains"), Valerie Azlynn Why Watch: Because you miss "Cheers" and/or like the comedians involved.
Plot: "The Closer" spin-off series which follows Capt. Raydor of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Cast: Mary McDonnell, Kearran Giovanni ("One Life to Live"), Graham Patrick Martin ("Two and a Half Men"), and these members of the original cast: G.W. Bailey, Tony Denison, Michael Paul Chan, Raymond Cruz, Phillip P. Keene, Robert Gossett, Jon Tenney Why Watch: Because you're going to miss the gang when "The Closer" ends and/or you like strong, assertive women in law enforcement.
This time around I'm only posting new shows and shows I think you should watch:
MONDAY, JANUARY 2
8pm "Pretty Little Liars" (ABC Family) Spoilers:Shane Coffey ("Secret Life of the American Teenager") will join the series to complicate Aria's romantic life. He "was traveling abroad and he kind of comes back in Aria’s life and provides her with a very important service." Maya returns and she and Emily rekindle their relationship, but Maya isn't the same girl she used to be. Caleb returns, sparking a love triangle involving Hanna and Lucas. Oddly enough though when Lucas goes missing, Caleb is the one who's more eager to find him, while the girls are eager to use him to hack his way to the identity of A. We'll meet yet another character (played by Aussie actor Lachlan Buchanan) who might know something about Alison's death. And in March 19th's finale, titled "UnmAsked," A will be revealed. dum-Dum-DUM!!
8pm "How I Met Your Mother" (CBS) Spoilers:Becki Newton ("Ugly Betty") will be joining the series as a recurring love interest for Barney, basically playing "the female Barney." Also, Barney will learn that Robyn can't have kids, and "her secret will be key to what happens in the remaining 12 episodes of the season. It’s an important pivot point for the season." And for some unknown reason, Ted's ex Victoria will return again.
8:30pm "2 Broke Girls" (CBS) Spoilers: I don't believe Johnny will be back for a while, since Nick Zano will be on "90210" for the rest of its season.
9pm "The Lying Game" (ABC Family) Spoilers: Charisma Carpenter joins the series as Char's aunt and a thorn in Alec and Ted's side.
10pm "Hawaii Five-O" (CBS)
TUESDAY, JANUARY 3
8pm "Switched at Birth" (ABC Family)
Spoilers: There will be a love square involving Emmett, Bay, Daphne, and Wilke. Emmett and Bay's relationship will continue to be tested heavily as both his mother and her real grandmother Melody act openly against it. Emmett will be caught between his parents during their divorce, and somehow Bay gets involved. Daphne becomes friends with Bay's ex-best friend Simone. Toby and Wilke start selling fake ID's. We'll get to meet Daphne's real grandmother, who'll no longer acknowledge Bay as her granddaughter, and will even have trouble with her being Latina. Meanwhile, Daphne will come to terms with the fact that she's not Latina. (Although how the fair-skinned redhead ever thought she was is beyond me.) Kathryn is approached to write a book about their situation. And the family discovers that their lawyer has put their lawsuit in jeopardy.
9pm"Jane By Design" (ABC Family) Plot: Jane Quimby is a 16-year-old high school outsider (Dasher) who lives a double life as a 20-something design assistant in the corporate world, so she can help her big brother (Rogers) pay the bills and live out her dream to become a fashion designer. Cast: Erica Dasher, Nick Roux (Lemonade Mouth), Andie MacDowell, David Clayton Rogers (Revenge of the Bridesmaids), India de Beaufort ("One Tree Hill"), Rowly Dennis, Meagan Tandy, Matthew Atkinson, Smith Cho ("100 Questions") Verdict: Jane is like a clutzy fashion geek that's easy to relate to. Her bff Billy and big brother Ben are hot, but I'm a little iffy on her cookie-cutter crush Nick and her too-old, not-hot-enough-to-skate-on-his-accent co-worker Jeremy. I guess because I already see sparks of her bff being in love with her, so I'm way more interested in that. Her enemies, Lulu and India, are sufficiently bitchy enough to pose an entertaining threat. And I'm liking the potential of Ben falling for her guidance counselor Rita, who's obviously had a crush on him since they were in high school together. Bottom line: If you like fashion and awkward high school experiences, you're going to love this.
10pm "Parenthood" (ABC) Spoilers: Crosby falls for "a bright, accomplished, wry-witted cello player (Courtney Ford from "Dexter" and "True Blood") who just so happens to be renting space at the recording studio." Max finally makes a friend. Amber struggles in a new job. Sarah becomes overwhelmed with thoughts of having a baby. Julia and Joel try to resist interfering in Zoe's personal life, and Julia starts to worry about the chance of Zoe wanting to keep her baby. Zeek hears some striking news from his doctor. And Adam and Kristina realize that the cost of college will be an extra struggle for the family's budget.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4
8:30pm "Suburgatory" (ABC)
Spoilers:Robin Givens will guest star as Dallas's longtime rival. Alicia Silverstone will reunite with her Clueless castmate Jeremy Sisto when she joins the series as a potential love interest, whose unusual line of work causes a rift between George and his BFF Noah. Meanwhile, Tessa and Dalia go after the same guy (Thomas McDonell from Prom).
9pm "Modern Family" (ABC) Spoilers: Ellen Barkin guest stars as Vera, a very tough, legendary real estate broker who becomes Phil's main nemesis; Greg Kinnear joins as Phil's new business partner; and Bobby Cannavale guest stars as Louis, the former clown partner of Cam's alter ego Fizbo.
9:30pm "Happy Endings" (ABC) Spoilers: Not only will Penny and Dave start to consider each other romantically, but so will their parents when we meet Dave's dad for the first time and his new girlfriend, who turns out to be Penny's mom (Megan Mullally). Brad rebels against Jane's controlling ways. And Max might finally get a boyfriend this Valentine's Day.
10pm "Revenge" (ABC) Spoilers: Daniel proposes before the month is up. Jack finally lets his guard down with Amanda only to be put-off when she kisses a female patron, and a stunning revelation is unveiled and becomes a game changer for Emily and the Graysons. Something terrible will happen that'll force Emily and Victoria to become allies, and some very surprising things about Victoria’s origins will be revealed.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 5
8pm "Vampire Diaries" (The CW)
Spoilers: Caroline will celebrate her 18th birthday and come to terms with her breakup with Tyler, and what Klaus's siring him means for their relationship.
9pm "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC) Spoilers: Teddy questions Cristina about what exactly happened to Henry in the surgery, and their argument somehow snowballs into the dormant resentment he has for her for aborting their child. Ben asks Bailey to move in with him. In February, "Meredith imagines what life would’ve been like had her late mother Ellis never had Alzheimer’s, a traumatic situation that shaped Mer into the dark-and-twisty wife and MD she is today." Richard would've married Ellis, and Meredith never would've met Derek or become bestfriends with Christina. Kate Walsh will reprise her role as Derek's ex-wife, because in this reality, they never got divorced. And a victim of the massacre will return too. Everyone's life will be different. (Although I highly doubt that George, Izzie, or Burke will pop up.)
9pm "The Secret Circle" (The CW) Spoilers: Faye will get caught up with a self-proclaimed voodoo priest (Grey Damon from "Friday Night Lights" and "The Nine Lives of Chloe King") who promises to enhance her power by leeching the power from the circle. Lauren Stamile ("Burn Notice" and "Grey's Anatomy") will have a recurring role as a psychic with ties to Cassie's parents. It turns out Cassie isn't the only Blackwell offspring imbued with black magic, but it'll be a while before the other circle member who is is revealed. (My money's on Diana.) Fans of witch-hunter Jake will be happy to know that he's been upgraded to series regular, so we'll be seeing more of him, but don't think that means he'll have Cassie all to himself. Adam will stop fighting his "destiny" and finally make a play for her. And Adam's dad is finally going to put down the bottle and start protecting his son, becoming a formidable opponent for Charles and Dawn.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8
8pm "Once Upon a Time" (ABC) Spoilers: We'll learn that Rumplestiltskin was actually on a quest to find power in order to prevent a war and save his son. We'll see a flashback of when Snow White had to endure the possibility of her Prince Charming marrying another, and we'll meet the seven dwarves. And we'll finally get to see the story of Red Riding Hood.
9pm "The Good Wife" (CBS)
9pm "Shameless" (SHOWTIME) Spoilers: Fiona will take permanent residence in rebound city as she tries to get over Steve. Some of the contenders include an investment executive (James Wolk from "Lone Star") who's supposedly a Steve doppleganger, and an old and now-married crush (Taylor Kinney from "Vampire Diaries" aka Lady Gaga's alleged boyfriend) of hers from high school with whom she reconnects with. Zach McGowan joins the series as Karen's new "friend" Jody, who poses as competition for Lip. And Ian will get a new boyfriend in the form of a 50something married man.
10pm"House of Lies" (SHOWTIME) Plot: A subversive, scathing look at a self-loathing management consultant (Cheadle) from a top-tier firm. Marty, a highly successful, cutthroat consultant is never above using any means (or anyone) necessary to get his clients the information they want. Cast: Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell, Ben Schwartz ("Undercovers" and "Parks and Recreation"), Josh Lawson, Dawn Olivieri ("The Vampire Diaries" and "Heroes"), Donis Leonard Jr., Glynn Turman, Greg Germann ("Ally McBeal"), Anna Camp ("The Good Wife" and "True Blood"), John Aylward, Richard Schiff Verdict: It has the self-important bravado of "Suits" and the instructional breaking-of-the-fourth-wall that "Burn Notice" employs, with the douchiness, profanity, and lewdness of "Entourage." Basically, it's a dude's show. The moments where everything freezes except him, so he can explain a business term, were a little annoying at first, but once you soak in his genius it gets a lot more bearable. I thought the "smart" stripper (Megalyn Echikunwoke)would be the dealbreaker, but I think I'm a little more concerned by his openly gay son who wears pink and purple, and demands the lead female roles in school musicals. I love gay people, but why does that have to be in this particular show? His tolerance and encouragement is in no way endearing him to us as a father. At the very least, it just makes us hate his ex-wife more for being the selfish, openly-negligent skank bag that she is. Honestly though, I'll probably just watch for the return of Bell to TV, Schwartz's third shot at being a series regular, and for however long Echikunwoke remains interesting on the show.
MONDAY, JANUARY 9
10pm "Castle" (ABC) Spoilers: Not only will Hilarie Burton ("One Tree Hill"), Justin Hartley ("Smallville"), Jennifer Beals ("The Chicago Code" and "The L Word"), and Josh Stamberg ("Drop Dead Diva") guest star this season, but there will also be a 1940s-set noir episode.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11
8pm "Whitney" (NBC) Spoilers:Kathy Griffin will guest star as Roxanne's co-worker, and John Cleese will play a couples therapist.
8:30pm"Are You There, Chelsea?" (NBC) Plot: A comedy about a 20-something woman (Prepon) based loosely on the outrageous number one best-selling book by Chelsea Handler. Cast: Laura Prepon ("That 70s Show" and "October Road"), Chelsea Handler, Jake McDorman ("Greek"), Lauren Lapkus, Lenny Clarke, Ali Wong, Mark Povinelli Verdict:It all depends on how much you love Handler and how much you're willing to see her humor be diluted for network television, a la "Whitney."
THURSDAY, JANUARY 12
8pm "Big Bang Theory" (CBS) Spoilers: Sheldon finds himself in hot water when he doesn't appreciate Amy's recent accomplishment. And Howard tries to get Bernadette to change her opinion about having children.
8pm "30 Rock" (NBC) Spoilers: Liz gets a new boyfriend and seeks Jack's approval. Jenna has new fame as a judge on "America's Kidz Got Singing." Tracy is caught on a cellphone video saying offensive things. And Kenneth prepares for the Rapture. Naturally.
8pm "Bones" (FOX) Spoilers: Rumor has it that Brennan might go into labor in a prison.
8:30pm"Rob" (CBS)
Plot: A solitary guy, Rob, marries into a huge Mexican-American family.
Cast: Rob Schneider, Claudia Bassols, Cheech Marin, Diana Maria Riva (Our Family Wedding), Eugenio Derbez, Lupe Ontiveros ("Desperate Housewives"), Ricky Rico
Verdict:There's a fine line between pointing out cultural differences and being racist, so if you want to see if Schneider crosses it, you should tune in.
8:30pm "Parks and Recreation" (NBC) Spoilers:Paul Rudd will play Leslie Nope's opposing candidate! Kathryn Hahn ("Free Agent") will join the series for a multi-episode arc as his campaign manager. Because Leslie will be out campaigning, she'll hire someone to pick up the slack at her office, and we'll get to see some funny interviews led by Chris and Ron. Louis C.K. will return to reprise his role as Leslie's ex Dave and pose some competition for Adam. And Leslie will be Ann's Cupid this Valentine's Day.
9pm "Person of Interest" (CBS) Spoilers: Carter will start to become more involved in their investigations.
9pm "The Office" (NBC) Spoilers: Dwight will try to find a new job within the company, and Erin will start to flirt with him to make Andy jealous.
9pm"The Finder" (FOX)
Plot: A quirky, one-hour procedural centering on a remarkable man (Stults) with an eccentric personality and a unique gift to help others recover what they've lost.
Cast: Geoff Stults ("October Road" and "Happy Town"), Michael Clarke Duncan, Mercedes Masohn, Maddie Hasson
Verdict: The sneak peek episode that aired last year wasn't that impressive, but they've changed up the cast, cut one chick and added two more. One's a Deputy US Marshall (Masohn) who's his friend-with-benefits and the other is a thieving runaway (Hasson), so hopefully they'll spice things up more. But the novelty of him always finding things and people will probably start to get stale after a few episodes, so unless they introduce an ongoing case or a real love story, I doubt it'll last long. Shows like these belong in the summer, on the USA Network.
9:30pm "Up All Night" (NBC) Spoilers:Dean Winters ("30 Rock") will guest star as Chris's super competitive brother, and Alanis Morissette will play a hip-hop legend from Ava's '90s band, Sound LLC.
10pm "The Mentalist" (CBS)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 13 9pm "Grimm" (NBC) Spoilers: The creatures will start to question Eddie's loyalty given his allegiance to a grimm. And we'll be learning a lot more about Nick's parents and some new details about Aunt Marie's past.
9pm "Fringe" (FOX) Spoilers: While Olivia and Lincoln try to help Peter return to his world, they try to cope with the looming threat of the transparent shapeshifters. And the Fringe Division from the Other Side must deal with both a visit from Peter and a new enemy.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 14 9pm "Terra Nova" (FOX)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15
8:30pm & 9:30pm"Napoleon Dynamite" (FOX)
Plot: Follows the misadventures of an awkward high school teenager and his quirky friends as they struggle to navigate life in rural Idaho.
Cast: The Cast of the movie Napoleon Dynamite: Jon Heder, Aaron Ruell, Efren Ramirez, Tina Majorino, Sandy Martin, Jon Gries, Diedrich Bader, Haylie Duff
Verdict: Um, if you liked the movie...
MONDAY, JANUARY 16 8pm"Alcatraz" (FOX)
Plot: A unique trio investigates the mystifying reappearance of 302 of Alcatraz's most notorious prisoners and guards, 50 years after they vanished.
Cast: Sarah Jones ("Sons of Anarchy" and "Big Love"), Jeffrey Pierce ("The Nine"), Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), Robert Forster ("Heroes"), Jorge Garcia ("Lost"), Parminder Nagra (Bend It Like Beckham and "ER"), Jonny Coyne, Jason Butler Harner, David Hoflin, Joe Egender
Verdict: It could be an intriguing police procedural given the sci-fi twist. I look forward to seeing where the conspiracy leads.
8pm "Gossip Girl" (The CW)
Spoilers: Rumor has it that Blair goes through with the wedding, because there have been scenes shot at a reception. Chuck appears to make a full recovery, since he attends the wedding. And Louis, being the sadistic fool that he is, asks Dan to ghost-write his vows for him, and of course Dan takes that opportunity to profess his undying love to Blair without her realizing it.
9pm "Being Human" (Syfy)
10pm"Lost Girl" (Syfy)
Plot: It's about a Succubus who feeds on the sexual energy of humans. Growing up with human parents, Bo (Silk) had no reason to believe she was anything other than the girl next door, until she drained her boyfriend to death in their first sexual encounter. Now, she has hit the road alone and afraid. She discovers she is one of the Fae, creatures of legend and folklore, who pass as humans while feeding off them secretly and in different ways, as they have for millennia. Relieved to find out that she is not alone, yet horrified, Bo decides to take the middle path between the humans and the Fae while embarking on a personal mission to unlock the secrets of her origin.
Cast: Anna Silk, Ksenia Solo ("Life Unexpected"), Kris Holden-Ried ("The Tudors"), Zoie Palmer, Rick Howland, K.C. Collins, Emmanuelle Vaugier ("Two and a Half Men" and "Covert Affairs"), Cle Bennett ("Flashpoint"), Vincent Walsh, Athena Karkanis
Verdict: It looks pretty corny, but if you're a supernatural fiend, then you might want to give it a try.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17 8pm "Glee" (FOX) Spoilers: Will proposes to Emma. Sam gets Greased to woo Mercedes. Gloria Estefan will play Santana's mom and rapper Pitbull will play her brother. And Ricky Martin guest stars as a Spanish teacher. We'll finally meet Rachel's gay dads. And there will be a Michael Jackson-themed episode.
8pm "90210" (The CW) Spoilers: Annie will meet yet another rich playboy in the form of Nick Zano ("2 Broke Girls" and "Melrose Place"). Jen will return with her baby. Adrianna will be back to her old ways when she kidnaps someone. (Probably her daughter.) Rumor has it that they'll be referencing storylines from Season 1 and resolving them. Perhaps that explains why rumors are also saying that the girl who hit Liam on his bike has a juicy identity.
9pm "New Girl" (FOX) Spoilers: Jess will get a few new love interests in the form of Ryan Kwanten ("True Blood"), who'll play a potential Valentine's Day one-night stand who is super dull and still lives with his ex, and Dermot Mulroney (Wedding Date), who'll play the parent of one of her students that she clashes with. Lizzy Caplan ("Party Down") will guest star as a highly educated woman with a degree in art history that Nick meets at an art gallery and is instantly smitten-yet-intimidated by. When Nick invites her to Schmidt’s birthday party, he worries that she'll be put off by his roomies, "yet it may be someone else who's in for the bigger awakening." Clark Duke ("Greek")guest stars as Caplan's intern who ends up becoming buddies with Nick who inspires him to give up on his dreams of becoming a lawyer. Winston will also get some loving when Kali Hawk (Couples Retreat) joins the series for a multi-episode arc as his old flame Shelby. June Diane Raphael (Bride Wars) will play Jess’ smart and "slightly intimidating lesbian doctor friend who offers an ailing (and health insurance-less) Nick an unofficial diagnosis." And Rachael Harris (The Hangover and "Notes from the Underbelly") will play the principal of Jess's school.
9:30pm "Raising Hope" (FOX) Spoilers: After realizing that Hope might be the smartest one in the family, they decide to get their GEDs.
10pm "White Collar" (USA) Spoilers: Because of Elizabeth's kidnapping, Neal is forced to confess his betrayal to Peter. And Neal will get some news that could mean big changes for his working relationship with Peter.
10pm "Justified" (FX) Spoilers:Jere Burns ("Burn Notice") and Neal McDonough ("Desperate Housewives") will team up to play oxycontin peddlers. Desmond Harrington ("Dexter" and "Gossip Girl") guest stars on the premiere as someone with ties to their new drug cartel. And at the beginning of the season, there will be an episode where "Boyd is desperately trying to stay in prison and Raylan is desperately trying to get him out."
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18 10pm "Royal Pains" (USA) Spoilers:JoAnna Garcia ("Better With You") joins the series as a young doc with a secret child star past. And Molly Sims ("Las Vegas") guest stars in the finale.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22 9pm "Prime Suspect" - back-to-back episodes
MONDAY, JANUARY 23 9pm "Hart of Dixie" (The CW) Spoilers: Lavon's parents visit, and George reveals his plan to elope, which is waylaid by a snowstorm. Wade will suffer a misstep with Zoe when she discovers he started a betting pool on her love life. And we'll meet Zoe's step dad, played by Gary Cole ("The Good Wife"), who she'll see for the first time in three years. She won't have a chance to lay into him about concealing her paternity though because he's come to ask her to join him in a surgery taking place nearby.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25
9pm"Touch" (FOX)
Plot: A father discovers his autistic, mute son can actually predict events before they happen.
Cast: Kiefer Sutherland ("24"), David Mazouz, Danny Glover, Gugu Mbatha-Raw ("Undercovers" and Larry Crowne), Roxanna Bruso, Karen David
Verdict: It's like "Numbers" meets "FlashForward"—very prophetic, nerdy, and Lifetime-channel heartwarming.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27 8pm "Chuck" (NBC) - Series Finale
SUNDAY, JANUARY 29
9pm"Luck" (HBO)
Plot: The plot follows a number of characters who frequent the same horse-racing track, and the organized crime that runs the sport.
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Farina (Snatch), John Ortiz (Fast & Furious), Richard Kind ("Spin City"), Weronika Rosati, Kevin Dunn (Transformers), Micahel Gambon (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), Ian Hart, Ritchie Coster, Jason Gedrick ("Desperate Housewives"), Kerry Condon ("Rome"), Gary Stevens, Tom Payne, Jill Hennessy ("Crossing Jordan") Nick Nolte
Verdict: It's a Michael Mann production, but at the end of the day, it's about horse racing, which is almost as boring as golf.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 31 9pm "Ringer" (The CW) Spoilers: Andrew will re-propose to faux Siobhan. "We will find out what exactly caused the rift between Siobhan and Bridget and get the 411 on the precise catalyst for Henry and Siobhan’s love affair." Juliet's claim that her teacher raped her will have an unexpected twist. We'll get to know Agent Machado more. Matthew Del Negro ("Rizzoli & Isles") joins the series as a cocky new FBI agent. And more people will die.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6
10pm "Smash" (NBC)
Plot: There is more drama behind the scenes than on stage, as a team prepares an ambitious Broadway musical on the life of Marilyn Monroe.
Cast:Debra Messing, Brian D'Arcy James, Christian Borle, Katherine McPhee (The House Bunny), Jack Davenport ("FlashForward"), Megan Hilty, Anjelia Huston, Raza Jaffrey (Sex and the City 2), Jaime Cepero
Verdict: If you love musicals and Broadway and musical competitions, then you're going to love this.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7
9pm"The River" (ABC)
Plot: It's about the crew of a state-of-the-art research vessel on a quest to find a missing TV explorer in the haunted Amazon.
Cast:Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek), Leslie Hope ("24"), Joe Anderson (Across the Universe), Paul Blackthorne ("Lipstick Jungle"), Paulina Gaitan (Sin Nombre), Eloise Mumford ("Lone Star"), Shaun Parkes, Thomas Kretschmann (Wanted), Daniel Zacapa, Scott Michael Foster ("Greek"), Katie Featherston (Paranormal Activity), Jeff Galfer ("All My Children")
Verdict: This is for the avid horror lover who likes the mystical and inexplicable.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12 9pm "The Walking Dead" (AMC)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 8:30pm "Cougar Town" (ABC)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29 10pm "Psych" (USA)
THURSDAY, MARCH 1 10pm"Awake" (NBC)
Plot: After a car accident takes the life of a family member, a police detective lives two alternating parallel lives, one with his wife and one with his son. With the help of two therapists, he struggles to figure out which is a dream, while still hoping to hold onto both realities.
Cast:Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter), Wilmer Valderrama ("That '70s Show"), Steve Harris ("The Practice"), B.D. Wong ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"), Cherry Jones ("24"), Laura Allen ("The 4400"), Dylan Minnette ("Lost"), Michaela McManus ("One Tree Hill")
Verdict: I've seen the pilot and it's definitely a refreshing new take on loss. CBS's "A Gifted Man" and Showtime's "Dexter" has its lead characters talking to ghosts/hallucinations, incapable of fully letting go of people who affected their lives tremendously. And here we have a somewhat science fiction-y version of that same unwillingness that's manifested into split realities, splitting not only his family life but his work environment, giving him two different partners. While I'm still a little hazy on how the clues in each reality help him solve the case in either reality, it's interesting to see the similarities and how much the differences affect his life. It's like a bunch of puzzles wrapped into one. Not sure how they'll manage to keep up the intrigue over several seasons, but I am at least looking forward to watching the first.
SUNDAY, MARCH 4
10pm"Good Christian Belles" aka "G.C.B." (ABC)
Plot: In order for Amanda Vaughn, a recently divorced mother of two, to get a fresh start, she moves back to the affluent Dallas neighborhood where she grew up to find herself in the whirling midst of salacious gossip, Botox, and fraud.
Cast:Leslie Bibb (Zookeeper and "Popular"), Kristen Chenoweth ("Glee"), Annie Potts ("Designing Women"), Jennifer Aspen ("Party of Five"), Miriam Shor ("Swingtown"), Marisol Nichols ("The Gates", Brad Beyer ("Jericho"), Mark Deklin ("Lone Star"), David James Elliott ("JAG")
Verdict: If you need a replacement for "Desperate Housewives"...
10pm "Breakout Kings" (A&E)
TUESDAY, MARCH 6 8:30pm "Breaking In" (FOX) Spoilers:Megan Mullally ("Parks and Recreation" and "Will & Grace") joins the cast as a new boss, and Erin Richards will play her executive assistant. While the rest of the cast will return, Odette Annable will only have a recurring role now that she's joined "House" and Michael Rosenbaum isn't likely to return since he's directing a movie he wrote.
THURSDAY, MARCH 8 8pm "Community" (NBC)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21
9pm "Bent" (NBC) - hour long premiere Plot: Recently divorced, no-nonsense lawyer Alex (Peet) hires contractor Pete (Walton) to renovate her kitchen. An irresponsible womanizer, Pete is trying to rebuild his contracting career after ruining it with his promiscuous ways and addiction to gambling. The highly strung Alex, whose husband was sent to prison for insider trading, is trying to maintain a busy work schedule while raising her 10-year-old daughter Charlie (King). Aware of his reputation with women, Alex insists she will fire Pete if he presents any problems.
Cast:Amanda Peet, David Walton ("Perfect Couples" and "100 Questions"), Joey King (Crazy, Stupid, Love. and Ramon and Beezus), Margo Harshman ("Run of the House"), Jeffrey Tambor ("Arrested Development"), Susan Park, Bert Belasco ("Let's Stay Together"), Rick Gonzalez ("Reaper"), Pasha D. Lychnikoff, Jesse Plemons ("Friday Night Lights")
Verdict: It's really a shame that Walton has yet to find a steady gig, given his charisma and deadpan comic timing, but hopefully the third time's a charm.
SUNDAY, MARCH 25
"Mad Men" (AMC) Spoilers: The creator Matthew Weiner has said that he intends on ending the series in present day.
MONDAY, MARCH 26 8pm "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" (ABC Family)
9pm "Make It or Break It" (ABC Family)
THURSDAY, APRIL 5
10pm "Scandal" (ABC)
Plot: Olivia Pope (Washington) dedicates her life to protecting the public images of the nation's elite and making sure their secrets never get out. She's a former White House communications director for the President (Goldwyn), but has left to start her own crisis management firm. She's hoping to begin a new chapter of her life, but is finding out that she cannot leave parts of her past behind. Her staff includes a womanizer (Cusick) considering settling down, a smooth and efficient litigator (Short), an investigator (Stanchfield), a hacker (Diaz) with a CIA past, and a fresh faced lawyer (Lowes) quickly learning the world of crisis management.
Cast:Kerry Washington (The Last King of Scotland and Ray), Henry Ian Cusick ("Lost"), Columbus Short (Stomp the Yard and Death at a Funeral), Guillermo Diaz ("Weeds" and "Mercy"), Darby Stanchfield ("Jericho" and Waitress), Katie Lowes ("Easy Money"), Tony Goldwyn (Ghost), Jeff Perry ("Grey's Anatomy").
Verdict: I'm really excited about this series both because it's headlined by an African American woman, and because it deals with scandals which is honestly what most Americans tune in for when it comes to politics.
FRIDAY, APRIL 6 10pm "Magic City" (STARZ) Plot: Centers on Miami mobsters and other characters from Miami Beach in the late 1950s.
Cast:Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen and "Grey's Anatomy"), Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace), Danny Huston (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), Steven Strait (10,000 B.C.), Christian Cooke (Cemetery Junction), Jessica Marais, Kelly Lynch, Yul Vasquez (The A-Team), Dominik Garcia-Lorido (City Island), Elena Satine, Alex Rocco (The Wedding Planner), Matt Ross ("American Horror Story"), Michael Rispoli (The Rum Diary)
Verdict: The creators of this series are obviously trying to capitalize on the buzz of the gangster-fueled "Boardwalk Empire," as is HBO's "Luck" and as did NBC's "Playboy Club," unsuccessfully. But the only way it'll succeed is if its gangsters are as compelling, conflicted, and ruthless. From the looks of it so far though, it seems like their more interested in being attractive.
SUNDAY, APRIL 15 10:30pm "Girls" (HBO)
Plot: A comedy about the experiences of a group of girls in their early 20's.
Cast:Lena Dunham (Tiny Furniture), Jemima Kirke, Allison Williams, Adam Driver, and Zosia Mamet
Verdict: It's written by one of Hollywood's up-and-coming young screenwriters, who is said to have a refreshing take on the 20something set.
MONDAY, APRIL 16 9pm "Eureka" (Syfy)
SUNDAY, APRIL 22 10pm "Veep" (HBO) Plot: Centers on former Senator Selina Meyer who finds being Vice President of the United States is nothing like she expected and everything everyone ever warned about.
Cast:Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky (My Girl), Tony Hale ("Arrested Development"), Matt Walsh ("Outsourced"), Timothy Simons, Reid Scott ("My Boys"), Sufe Bradshaw
Verdict: It kind of seems like a higher-stakes version of "Parks and Recreation" if Leslie Knope actually achieved her dream to get to the White House, if she were as unprepared as Sarah Palin, and as awkward as Michael Scott ("The Office"). And being on a cable network it has the freedom to dive deeper into the R-rated intricacies of politics without having to be coy or goofily censored. But I think in order to really hook people it'll have to have a great supporting cast.
