Murder 101: College Can Be Murder (Hallmark Channel, 9 p.m. ET)
Premiere. Dick Van Dyke reprises his role as criminology professor Dr. Jonathan Maxwell in a story that finds the good doctor
determined to solve the mystery surrounding the death of a colleague. Maxwell suspects that the man was poisoned, so he hires Mike Parker (played by Van Dyke's son Barry Van Dyke) to investigate. Alex Hyde-White, Jamie Rose, Whip Hubley and Kimberly Quinn guest star. Van Dyke's grandchildren Wes and Taryn play students.
Saturday Night Live (NBC, 11:30 p.m. ET)
Why is this repeat of Saturday Night Live worth calling attention to? The fact that Alec Baldwin is the guest host (for the 13th time) is reason enough. But this outing also offers Christina Aguilera and Tony
Bennett as musical guests and (at the time of its first airing in November) surprise appearances by Paul McCartney, Steve Martin (at 14, the SNL guest host record-holder) and former SNL cast members Martin Short, Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan.
Grease: You're the One That I Want (NBC, 8 p.m. ET)
Series Premiere. If you have watched NBC for more than 30 consecutive minutes during the last few weeks you have probably seen at least one promo for this show, in which young men and women feverishly
compete to be cast as Danny and Sandy in the upcoming Broadway production of Grease, set to open in July 2007. The judges are two-time Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall, who will direct the stage production; Grease co-creator Jim Jacobs, and theater producer David Ian. Billy Bush and Denise Van Outen are the hosts.
Desperate Housewives (ABC, 9 p.m. ET)
Tom and Lynette strive to make Kayla feel like part of their family, Gabrielle accuses Carlos of sabotaging her new
relationship, Orson's missing and rumored-to-be-deceased first wife Alma turns up very much alive, and Bree and Susan have a fight that threatens their friendship. Valerie Mahaffey and Dougray Scott guest star.
The Surreal Life Fame Games (VH1, 9 p.m. ET)
Series Premiere. VH1's observational celebrity-reality franchise returns with a twist: This time cast members from all six seasons of the show assemble in Las Vegas to compete in a series of fame-focused challenges (including Paparazzi Hide-and-Seek and Hotel Room Trash-a-Thon), with an eye
on the grand prize of $100,000. In true reality-competition fashion, there will be a painful elimination every week, as the losers are banned to humiliating B-list quarters while those who remain continue to enjoy luxurious A-list housing. Robin Leach is the host. Returning cast members include Chyna Doll (season four), Brigitte Nielsen (season three), Emmanuel Lewis (season one -- back on The WB), Vanilla Ice and Ron Jeremy (season two -- also on The WB), Jordan Knight (season three) and the one and only Mini-Me, Verne Troyer, who so memorably drank himself into a stupor, ran around naked and urinated on camera in season four.
The Apprentice (NBC, 9:30 p.m. ET)
Season Premiere. Donald Trump has been highly visible lately, more in blistering response to Rosie O'Donnell's nonsensical tirade against him on The View than promotional overdrive on behalf of his fading reality competition franchise, which begins its sixth season tonight. In an effort to
freshen up this tired show, Trump and executive producer Mark Burnett filmed this season in Los Angeles, in the process losing all of the glamour and much of the excitement of New York City that infused the previous five outings. It's sad and silly watching this new batch of contestants compete not only to avoid Trump's weekly firings, but also to enjoy creature comforts. (The losing team each week is made to sleep in tents, take outdoor showers and use port-a-potties, while the winners live in a glorious McMansion and lounge at poolside.) Trump boasts
more than ever, but at times he oddly acts like a lowlife, as when he orders the three players faced with possible elimination at the end of tonight's season premiere to "get your asses" back in the boardroom and learn who's getting fired. Is this any way for a class act to act?
Brothers & Sisters (ABC, 10 p.m. ET)
The wine-soaked Walkers assemble in decidedly foreign environs when the family attends a group therapy session that is
part of Justin's rehab. Also, Kitty considers an offer from Senator McCallister (Rob Lowe).
The L Word (Showtime, 10 p.m. ET)
Season Premiere. As season four opens, divorce lawyer Joyce brokers a tentative custody agreement between Bette and Tina, who are at war over their baby Angelica; a pregnant Kit makes a dramatic decision that
puts her in conflict with ultra right-wing pro-lifers; Shane binges on drugs and alcohol, with disastrous results; Marina interrupts Jenny's book signing party at The Planet; Max and Jenny realize that they have drifted apart, and Peggy Peabody makes a change that throws Helena into financial turmoil. Jennifer Beals, Laurel Holloman, Pam Grier, Katherine Moennig, Rosanna Arquette, Mia Kirshner, Holland Taylor and Leisha Hailey star.
I'm From Rolling Stone (MTV, 10 p.m. ET)
Series Premiere. Six aspiring journalists compete for a position at Rolling Stone magazine.
Living With Ed (HGTV, 10 p.m. ET)
Series Premiere. This observational reality series reveals the day-to-day details of life as it is lived by actor Ed Begley Jr., one of Hollywood's most passionate environmentalists, and his wife Rachelle Carson in their
modest Los Angeles home. Begley, an environmental pioneer, was all about solar panels, electric cars, low-flow toilets and compost heaps before they were infused into our national consciousness. Viewers can gather tips and advice on living green from Begley on www.hgtv.com.
Shooting Sizemore (VH1, 10:30 p.m. ET)
Series Premiere. Breaking Bonaduce is over, but VH1 continues its tradition of unflinching documentary reality about troubled celebrities with Shooting Sizemore, which follows actor Tom Sizemore as he works to rebuild his life and career and reconnect with his children after
bottoming out on methamphetamine and heroin. (Sizemore lost lucrative jobs and his home and went into bankruptcy.) Shooting begins with Sizemore's release from rehab. Interspersed throughout each episode is startling black and white footage that Sizemore shot in recent years during bouts of drug-induced paranoia and rage.
MONDAY, JANUARY 8
Lincoln Heights (ABC Family, 8 p.m. ET)
Series Premiere. ABC Family's newest scripted dramatic series is centered on a police officer who decides to move his family out of their cramped apartment in the suburbs and into a large old home in the inner-city neighborhood where he grew up. It's not the best address -- their new home had
been a notorious drug den -- but officer Eddie Sutton is determined to begin bringing about much needed changes to what has become a struggling community. Some viewers may question Sutton's decision to place his children in a potentially dangerous environment, but this show works as a warm family drama that is both entertaining and inspirational. As such, it is sadly unlike anything else on television at the moment. Russell Hornsby and Nicki Micheaux (the memorable Detective Trish George on The Shield) star.
Gay, Straight or Taken? (Lifetime, 8 p.m. ET)
Series Premiere. Remember the putrid Fox mess Playing it Straight, in which a woman worked her way through a group of men on a ranch trying to determine which were straight and which were gay? Here's another reality series take on that theme. In each episode, a single woman "interacts" with
three men, one straight and unattached, one gay and one in a committed relationship, trying to figure out who is what. If she correctly identifies the single straight guy the two win an exotic trip together. If not, the man she incorrectly picks gets the trip for two.
To Be Fat Like Me (Lifetime, 9 p.m. ET)
Premiere. Kaley Cuoco stars in a drama inspired by the true story of New York teenager Ali Schmidt, who attended classes at a
different high school undercover in a fat suit and prosthetics and learned first hand how mean kids can be to people who are overweight. Caroline Rhea co-stars.
I Love New York (VH1, 9 p.m. ET)
Series Premiere. Twice jilted by Flava Flav in VH1's hit reality franchise Flavor of Love, the woman known as New
York (a.k.a. Tiffany Pollard) is given yet another chance to find love on the network, this time as the star of her own show in which twenty men compete for her affections.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 9
NOVA scienceNOW (PBS, check local listings)
This edition of NOVA's always fascinating science magazine features segments on engineers and physicists who are working to develop a 22,000-mile cable that could one day be used to transport people and
objects from Earth to an orbiting satellite and back again; the biological secrets to living 100 years or more; the NASA satellite imaging technology used to create virtual mappings of ancient ruins that have been hidden for centuries; and a biology professor known as the Bacteria Whisperer who is the leader in the study of bacterial communication. Yes, she has discovered how bacteria communicate with each other. Neil deGrasse Tyson is the host.
People's Choice Awards (CBS, 9 p.m. ET)
Live. Queen Latifah hosts the 33rd annual People's Choice Awards. The nominees for Favorite TV Drama are CSI: Crime
Scene Investigation, Grey's Anatomy and House. The nominees for Favorite TV Comedy are The King of Queens, My Name is Earl and Two and a Half Men.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC, 9 p.m. ET)
Four-time Emmy Award winner Doris Roberts plays a prominent socialite plunged into a potential scandal following the
death of her granddaughter. Vincent D'Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe and Eric Bogosian star.
Boston Legal (ABC, 10 p.m. ET)
Denny and Alan head to New Orleans to defend a doctor accused of euthanizing patients during Hurricane Katrina, Denise
contemplates dating Jeffrey and Claire's new secretary, the cross-dressing Clarence, considers filing a lawsuit after he is kicked out of an all-women's gym.
Dirt (FX, 10 p.m. ET)
Lucy sends Don to photograph the deceased Kira Klay, leading to a haunting experience for him. Meanwhile, desperate
reporter Willa tries to impress Lucy by gathering information about a press-shy pregnant pop singer who is harboring a huge secret. Courteney Cox stars.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10
Armed & Famous (CBS, 8 p.m. ET)
Series Premiere. Here's more evidence that the world is going mad. For this CBS reality series five celebrities attend reserve police officer training and are then issued guns and are sent out onto the streets of Muncie,
Illinois. Imagine being an unassuming resident of Muncie -- or just someone passing through -- and having La Toya Jackson or Jack Osbourne or another gun-toting celebrity pull you over and suggest you were speeding? Or, better yet, aging CHiPS star Erik Estrada, here blurring the line between fantasy and reality big time. Actually, press materials for this show indicate that Jackson, Osbourne, Estrada, Jason "Wee-Man" Acuna (of Jackass fame) and former
WWE wrestler Trish Stratus, the five rookie cops on this show, take on more serious and dangerous crimes in the weeks ahead, including drug-dealing, wife-beating and burglary, after each is teamed with a veteran officer.
Friday Night Lights (NBC, 8 p.m. ET)
Jason Street's family moves forward with their lawsuit against Coach Taylor in the matter of the accident that cost their son the use of his legs. Meanwhile, Matt continues dealing with his father's re-entry into
civilian life following his tour of duty in Iraq. Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Taylor Kitsch and Zach Gilford star.
The Sopranos (A&E, 9 p.m. ET)
The outsize success of HBO's The Sopranos had broadcast network executives beating their heads against the wall when the series premiered back in 1999. The show's uncommon high quality (which would
ultimately bring about much needed higher standards for all drama series development) was only part of the problem. "How can we compete with such uncensored, R-rated fare?" the executives wailed. "The Sopranos wouldn't be nearly so popular without all that violence and nudity and harsh language," others declared. Debates between critics and programmers on the subject of extreme adult content in general and how it contributed to the phenomenon of The Sopranos continued for years thereafter. Now we'll see if the broadcasters were right -- about the show losing its power without its uncensored language, etc. -- because starting tonight A&E is running episodes of The Sopranos that have been
minimally edited for basic cable consumption. Will Tony, Carmela and the boys make the same impact without benefit of the F-word and other raunchy dialogue, not to mention the naked babes at the Bada Bing? (Surely, little of the violence in The Sopranos will be cut, given the lack of concern about the constant carnage in CBS' grisly crime dramas.) A&E will begin the run with the show's pilot, in which Tony first sought psychiatric help for his panic attacks from Dr. Melfi, and his monster mother Livia (played by the unforgettable Nancy Marchand) was still around and causing trouble for everyone. Marchand died after completing the
second season of this series, which will end its long run on HBO later this spring. One can only wonder how subsequent seasons would have played out had Marchand and Livia remained with us.
Tease (Oxygen, 9 p.m. ET)
Series Premiere. Lisa Rinna hosts this six-episode reality competition series in which aspiring hairstylists compete with each other to win favor from expert judges including supermodel Roshumba, celebrity
stylist Peter Ishkhans and agent Frank Moore. The best of the batch will ultimately compete against a master stylist. Survivor: Palau competitor Coby Archa is also on hand as an in-house stylist, providing hair makeovers for audience members and offering 30-second tips in each episode.
TV Land Myths and Legends (TV Land, 10 p.m. ET)
Series Premiere. Long-time Hollywood mysteries are reviewed and researched in this six-part series. Which of Carly Simon's former lovers inspired her hit song "You're So Vain"? Did a supernatural curse claim the
lives of Poltergeist cast members? Was Barry Williams ever high during the filming of The Brady Bunch? Tonight's opener takes on the Carly Simon mystery, as well as the long-held assertion that the ghost of a nine-year-old boy can be seen in the movie Three Men and a Baby and the
uncensored truth about that long-ago moment on the Tonight show when Johnny Carson asked Zsa Zsa Gabor to remove her pet cat from her lap.
The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency (Oxygen, 10 p.m. ET)
Season Premiere. Picking up a few months after the end of season one, Janice Dickinson returns from a relaxing summer in the Hamptons to learn that her brand new modeling agency is weighed down with
problems involving her business partners and several disgruntled models. That's what she gets for not paying attention. But without all the drama, how would the producers of this show fill all the space that was created when Oxygen decided to expand each episode from 30 to 60 minutes in season two?
THURSDAY, JANUARY 11
Ugly Betty (ABC, 8 p.m. ET)
Daniel prepares to pop the question to Sofia, just as Betty learns something that prompts her to stop him. Meanwhile, Wilhelmina has become a kinder, gentler soul after being romanced by wealthy Texan Ted and
Ignacio is having difficulties with his immigration caseworker. America Ferrera stars. Salma Hayek, Brett Cullen and Judith Light guest star.
Smallville (The CW, 8 p.m. ET)
Tori Spelling guest stars as Daily Planet gossip columnist Linda Lake, who overhears a very private conversation between Lana and Chloe and runs a story that includes every detail. Enraged, Chloe investigates
Linda and discovers that she doesn't gather information by ordinary means. Meanwhile, Lois begins to suspect that Oliver is the Green Arrow and turns to Clark to help prove it. This episode was directed by series star Tom Welling.
Grey's Anatomy (ABC, 9 p.m. ET)
First of two parts. Following his successful heart operation, George's father has additional surgery for his cancer, while Thatcher
Grey visits Seattle Grace to see his new granddaughter. George Dzundza and Jeff Perry guest star. This episode concludes January 18 at 9 p.m. ET.
Nashville Star (USA Network, 10 p.m. ET)
Season premiere. The fifth season of USA Network's grandly entertaining reality competition series begins with new co-host Jewel joining Cowboy Troy on stage and country stars Blake Shelton and Randy
Owen mixing it up with music producer Anastasia Brown (the Simon Cowell of Nashville Star) on the judges panel. Ten aspiring country stars will compete, all hoping for the same success as previous Star winners Buddy Jewell, Erika Jo and current sensation Chris Young, not to mention the most successful Star veteran, Miranda Lambert, who came in third in season one.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12
Jump In! (Disney Channel, 8 p.m. ET)
Premiere. Corbin Bleu, one of the many breakout stars from High School Musical, stars in this Disney Channel Original Movie
about a teen boxing protégé named Izzy who realizes that his true passion is competition double dutch -- a combination of lightning fast dance steps, gymnastics and martial arts moves executed while leaping through two ropes twirling at blinding speeds. But his growing interest in double dutch brings with it the fear of dashing his father's cherished hopes of raising a Golden
Gloves champion. (Cue the High School Musical song "Stick to the Status Quo".) Izzy's father is played by David Reivers, Corbin's real life dad. Keke Palmer (Akeelah and the Bee) co-stars. Take it from us: If the thunderous responses to Corbin's solo performances during the High School Musical concert tour are any indication, this movie is going to be big.
Cowboy U: Colorado (CMT, 8 p.m. ET)
Season Premiere. Season six of CMT's adventure reality series begins with eight "city slickers" arriving at a ranch near the
Rocky Mountains, where they will endure the rigors of cowboy boot camp and a number of grueling challenges as they compete for the title Best All Around Cowboy and the cash that comes with it. Their first contest tonight involves catching an ornery calf and putting panties on the poor animal.
Cory in the House (Disney Channel, 9:30 p.m. ET)
Series Premiere. Kyle Massey and Rondell Sheridan continue their portrayals of Cory and Victor Baxter from the Disney Channel's top-rated series That's So Raven in this spin-off, which finds the Baxters
relocating to Washington after Victor becomes the personal chef to the newly elected President of the United States. That sets Cory up to continue his entrepreneurial scheming in two totally new environments -- the exclusive Washington prep school he now attends and his new home, the White House.
