Winter Television Preview Part 1

Although the 2009-2010 television season is well underway, we still have much to talk and write about this winter.  Fan favorites such as Chuck and 24 are finally returning after painfully long hiatuses and the suspenseful final season of Lost begins. Plus, there are lots of promising new shows premiering soon, including Human Target and Life Unexpected. We know, we know; between the holidays and airport security updates, you’ve been too busy to figure out your new DVR schedule yourself, so our dedicated writers have scoured the television schedule and come up with a short list of shows that are worth watching and others that…aren’t.  Check back tomorrow to see what we think will and should be canceled in Part 2 of our Winter Preview!

Most anticipated returning show

LOST: I don’t know what I am going to do with myself when this series ends. Probably keep rewatching all the seasons like I have been for the past 5 years. Can’t wait to see how it’s going to end. – Liz Cooper

Rescue Me: Because it ended last season with an explosive finale and features arguably the greatest cast on television. – Cameron Cubbison

Lost: It’s the final season and even those who haven’t been following the show religiously are eager to find out how it’s all going to end. – Nicole Cukingnan

24 or Lost – Trisha Huntsman

American Idol: No matter how much I want to hate this show, I just can’t. Curiosity keeps pulling me back in! – Stephanie Jaar

Lost: If there were ever a show that deserved to be watched live and repeatedly via DVR, it’d be Lost‘s final season. I have some backup TiVos in case of burnout. – Inisia Lewis

GLEE!!!: Emma and Will! Emma and Will! Emma and Will! – Keshaunta Moton

LOST!!!: Five years of getting to know the castaways of Oceanic 815, following them across time and space, and analyzing every last bizarro puzzle piece and breadcrumb trail leading to some sort of ultimate truth about The Island, The Others, The Monster, and it all comes down to the 6th and final season. If they ace it, Lost will go down as the most complete and fully realized saga in TV series history. – Paul Secrest

Psych!: I love the characters! Plus, the show constantly makes me laugh and who doesn’t need a good laugh! – Allison Toner

Most anticipated new show

Jersey Shore: It is the most real reality TV show I have ever seen, in the best and worst ways possible, which just makes it all the more bitchin. Aaaaaaand Glee. ohemgee I cannot express how much I love this show. – Liz Cooper

Human Target: Because I loved Mark Valley on Keen Eddie and it looks action-packed. – Cameron Cubbison

Caprica: The new SyFy Channel show starts midseason and I’m excited to see how this all fits in the BSG universe. – Nicole Cukingnan

Men of a Certain Age or Romantically Challenged – Trisha Huntsman

Spartacus: This show is supposedly so amazing, Starz has already renewed it for a second season before it even premiered! (premiere Jan 22) – Stephanie Jaar

Life Unexpected: Since Gilmore Girls bowed out, I’ve been missing some good old-fashioned, flawed family charm, heart and wit. Life Unexpected will hopefully fill that void. – Inisia Lewis

Life Unexpected: I am really pulling for this new CW show. Hopefully it will be a return to heartfelt dramas like Everwood and Gilmore Girls, which would go a long way into repairing a network that has fallen to another Melrose Place and The Beautiful Life: TBL. – Keshaunta Moton

Human Target: Mark Valley is, much like The Mentalist‘s Simon Baker recently was, one of those actors who seem to show up on one show after the other, almost brushing with genuine stardom. Fox’s new comic based action drama about an undercover bodyguard for hire could finally be Valley’s breakout role and with a supporting cast like the always awesome Chi McBride and Watchmen‘s Jackie Earle Haley, it should be worth a look. – Paul Secrest

This is a no brainer! Definitely White Collar! Did you see the cliffhanger at the end of the fall finale? I cannot wait to find out what Peter is up to and to see Matt Bomer’s gorgeous face every week. – Allison Toner

Most likely to stage a comeback

Community: With Joel McHale headlining, I think a lot of die hard Soup fans were a little disappointed in the first few episodes, but it started to pick up steam in the end. I think it will finally hit its stride and become a comedy fave…or at least I hope. – Liz Cooper

Medium: Because it has been faring well on CBS and Patricia Arquette remains a strong lead playing a strong female role. – Cameron Cubbison

Chuck: With massive fan following that prompted NBC to renew the series, I’m hoping that the network saw a great season and we’ll all get to enjoy it too. – Nicole Cukingnan

Chuck – Trisha Huntsman

V: The first few episodes were met with both good and bad criticism. But there’s still time to pull in an audience and strengthen the story! – Stephanie Jaar

Chuck: The fans have spoken, and we want more Chuck. After being saved from cancellation, Chuck has another opportunity to prove how funny, action-packed, sweet and just plain awesome that it is. Seriously, it really is. – Inisia Lewis

30 Rock: Come on 30 Rock! – Keshaunta Moton

Freddie Prinze Jr.: He was a heartthrob rising star 10 years ago, but never managed to cross over to popularity beyond the She’s All That set. But a new role on 24 as a heavy at CTU:NYC could be his 2nd shot at a big break. Also exciting: the presence of Battlestar‘s effortlessly rad Katee Sackhoff as a techie poised to butt heads with Chloe. – Paul Secrest

Grey’s Anatomy: Sometimes I love the episodes, sometimes they’re just ok. Hoping Katherine Heigl and Ellen Pompeo are back from maternity leave and the show will have a strong second half. – Allison Toner

Most likely to be a disappointment

V: I’m not holding out much hope, especially when the sci-fi juggernaut LOST is back, no one is going to care about a second string series in the genre. – Liz Cooper

The Deep End: Because it sounds like any other lawyer show ever produced. – Cameron Cubbison

24: Back for season 8 and set in NYC. Still it’s Jack Bauer saving the world. I’m not sure how many more new ways he can save it. – Nicole Cukingnan

American Idol – Trisha Huntsman

Human Target: Maybe it’s because I never read the comic book, but this doesn’t scream “NEXT BIG THING” to me. If the writing’s really good, though, it could have a chance. – Stephanie Jaar

Brothers & Sisters: I’m still hanging in there with the Walker family, but with Kitty’s cancer, Nora’s man troubles and Justin and Rebecca’s “will they, won’t they” issues, things just aren’t as fun around the Sunday dinner table as they used to be. – Inisia Lewis

American Idol: Although lately that’s become a canon for the show. Disappointing. – Keshaunta Moton

Glee: I hope I’m dead wrong about this, since I’ve been a gleek from day one. I’m just a tad nervous for the writers to come up with new story lines that don’t strain credibility or compromise the characters. – Paul Secrest

Grey’s Anatomy – Allison Toner

Most likely to hit a sophomore slump

The Office, Parks and Recreation and Modern Family had me laughing a lot more in the mockumentary category this fall. – Liz Cooper

The Bachelor: On The Wings of Love: I don’t really believe that because people like to watch mind-numbingly idiotic television, but I have my fingers crossed that the show will decline and take every other reality show with it. – Cameron Cubbison

Fringe: Writers will need to come up with a great twist because secret organization conspiracies have already been done. Otherwise this show could go the way of Heroes. – Nicole Cukingnan

Modern Family – Trisha Huntsman

Project Runway: It’s actually Project Runway‘s 7th season, but it’s their sophomore season with Lifetime. After the snore that was their debut (Really, Irina as THE evil villain? Santino is laughing maniacally somewhere.), I’m not sure how many people will even remember they have to switch channels to watch the show. Of course, I will though. – Inisia Lewis

NCIS: Los Angeles: There are just far too many of these shows. – Keshaunta Moton

24: Again, I hope I’m wrong, and it wouldn’t be a sophomore slump as much as a senior in college slump, but for some strange reason, 24‘s even numbered seasons have been nowhere near as good as the odd ones. Fingers crossed for season 8 to break the cycle. – Paul Secrest

Technically The Mentalist is a hit show but for me it is slumping this season. For some reason, I can’t get into the show as much as last season. – Allison Toner

Sound off with your predictions below!

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Photographs courtesy of NBC Universal, Fox, ABC and IMDbPro.