It's that time of year again: snow is in the air, woolen sweaters are dug out from the bottoms of closets, and the shrink wrap is being carefully removed from shiny new textbooks. But before this slew of unexplored academic and meteorological frontiers can be conquered in the coming semester, Tufts students must devote their attention to the promising crop of television shows premiering in the coming weeks.
Yes, that's right, break out the cup-holders and get ready to program your universal remote control, because mid-season startup shows are out in full force! From the sci-fi action of NBC's "Medium" to the painful crooning of the latest "American Idol," viewers will be given a wide range of choices come February sweeps. With the strangely captivating world of reality TV will still reign supreme, the 2005 rookie lineup promises to be fraught with both nauseating melodrama and knee-slapping hilarity.
Read on to find out which series you can't miss and what shows you can do without in the home stretch of the 2005 season.
"Point Pleasant"
It's almost too campy to be true: the writers of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" meet the costume designers of "Baywatch" in a head-on crash of black magic and Sun-In. You honestly have to wonder how on earth the FOX execs could think that a show about Satan's teenage daughter running around the Jersey Shore in a bikini could really have potential. At least "The North Shore" and "Summerland" will now have company at the bottom of the beach blanket melodrama ratings. (Wednesdays. 9:00 p.m. on FOX)
"The Apprentice Season 3: Book Smarts vs. Street Smarts"
He's rich, he's cocky, and he's back. With barely enough of a respite from season two to make us miss the Trumpster, the newest season of the corporate reality competition is already rushing to fill the holes in NBC's floundering Thursday night lineup. True to Trump's penchant for excess, the new season of "The Apprentice" features a quirky twist that pits college grads against self-made tycoons in a shilling attempt to boost ratings. While this will surely add to the show's quota of catfights and boardroom betrayals, it runs the risk of making a mockery of what was once an intelligent, sophisticated contest. (Tonight, 8:30 p.m., NBC)
"American Idol"
For those who are not fans of Simon, Paula and Randy, it may have seemed that this obnoxious "Star Search" spin-off was eerily ubiquitous in past seasons. But if you thought "American Idol" has deserved more than its fair share of airtime, you ain't seen nothin' yet! The show that places a premium on snarky criticism and public humiliation now stretches over three two-hour time slots during the week, and a whole passel of primetime featurettes will probably run on off-nights throughout the season. Bottom line: after the epic Clay vs. Ruben battle of 2003, FOX should have ended this show on a high note two years ago. (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, 8:00 p.m.)
"Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica" and "The Ashlee Simpson Show"
As if you weren't jazzed enough about the return of Ashlee Simpson (yes, her inanely irritating show was picked up for a second season), her big sis' Jessica is also back for another term of nuptial bliss with hubby, Nick Lachey. The memory of their horrendous off-season gigs might still be fresh in our minds, but a heavy dose of Jessica's hilarious blunders and Ashlee's hopelessly flawed love life might be just what the doctor ordered. (January 26, 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., MTV)
"The Simple Life 3: Interns"
Okay, Paris and Nicole, now it's just getting old. As if it wasn't bad enough that we had to watch two high-class bimbos flirt and mooch their way through two seasons of trailer parks and Ozark farms, now we have to see what happens when they're flung to the bottom of the white-collar food chain. If heiresses Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie thought it was beneath them to milk a cow, I doubt they'll be much more receptive to being a CEO's coffee-runner. And if they get one more cheap laugh off of Tinkerbell's inopportune bathroom breaks, this show will not only meet but exceed its capacity for cheese. (January 26, 9 p.m., FOX)
"American Dad"
Straight from the studios of the wildly popular "Family Guy" comes another animated series with the quick wit and dry humor that made cartoons mainstream again. Once again, comedic success is found by poking fun at the exaggerated stereotypes of the typical white-collar, therapy-attending, terrorist-hating American family. But can "American Dad" really live up to the legacy of its predecessor? The usual crew of ultra-talented writers and artists are still there, but it will be interesting to see if "American Dad" can garner "Family Guy's" success without stooping to mere copycat tactics. (Feb.6, Super Bowl Sunday, FOX)
