As the holiday season approaches, many of your favorite shows go on hiatus so you can spend time with your loved ones. Most will return to the airwaves in early January and with them comes some new programming–some of which are worth checking out. In this year’s midseason TV preview posts, I will recommend which new shows are worth watching as well as offer schedules provided by the networks themselves. Midseason is on the horizon; out your calendars and let’s do this thing!
This midseason NBC is adding thirteen series to its schedule, three of which include two new dramas, a comedy, and a reality series. Though the four of them combined do not carry the same amount of buzz that FOX’s The Following is getting, you still might want to tune into them as their premises are tantalizing enough. Do No Harm, from executive producer David Schulner (The Event) stars Steven Pasquale as a respected neurosurgeon with a deep, dark secret–every night at the same hour, something inside [Pasquale’s] changes, leaving him almost unrecognizable – seductive, devious, borderline sociopathic. Some are calling it a modern day tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. To me it sounds sort of like the premise of NBC’s promising but cancelled series Awake. Do No Harm premieres Thursday, January 31 at 10PM, the same night 30 Rock airs its series finale. Watch a trailer after the break.
The other new drama coming to the Peacock is Deception (formally called Infamous). It hails from Liz Heldens (Prime Suspect, Friday Night Lights) and stars Meagan Good, Victor Garber, Tate Donovan, Katherine LaNasa, and Laz Alonso. It’s a soap wrapped in a family murder mystery and it premieres Monday, January 7 at 8PM. Trailer after the break.
NBC’s latest sitcom 1600 Penn follows a typical American family who just happen to live in the White House. Actor Josh Gad stars, and he also co-created the show with Jon Lovett. Jason Weiner (Modern Family) directed the pilot. It also stars Bill Pullman and Jenna Elfman. It premieres Thursday, January 10 at 9:30PM. Trailer after the break.
The new reality series Ready for Love is a “relationship show about making real connections” from executive producer Eva Longoria. It premieres Sunday, March 31 at 8PM.
My recommendation: Skip Deception (unless you want another soap on your schedule–but Revenge already fills that void magnificently) and try out Do No Harm and 1600 Penn. Take note, however, that Do No Harm is in the Thursday at 10PM timeslot and that’s a very tough place on the sked to achieve success.
Shows that are returning to NBC’s schedule include The Biggest Loser (premiering Sunday, January 6 at 9PM), Betty White’s Off Their Rockers (Tuesday, January 8 at 8PM), Smash (Tuesday, February 5 at 9PM), Community (Thursday, February 7 at 8PM), The Celebrity Apprentice (Sunday, March 3 at 9PM), Fashion Star (Friday, March 8 at 8PM), Grimm (Friday, March 8 at 9PM), The Voice (Monday, March 25 at 8PM), and Revolution (Monday, March 25 at 10PM).
Jump after the break to view the full schedule. (NBC isn’t providing a tidy midseason schedule so we’ll have to do with what we got.)
Look in the gallery below for key art (aka TV promotional posters).
2013 Midseason TV Schedule: NBC (shows in bold are NEW)
Mondays
The new drama “Deception” – starring Meagan Good (“Think Like a Man”), Victor Garber (“Alias”), Tate Donovan (“Damages”) and Katherine LaNasa (“Alfie”) in a dark family murder mystery — debuts on January 7 (10-11 p.m. ET). Preceding “Deception” is the new season of “The Biggest Loser” which returns with a two-night premiere on Sunday, January 6 (9-11 p.m. ET) and Monday, January 7 (8-10 p.m. ET), and will continue on Mondays (8-10 p.m. ET) until the return of “The Voice.”
“The Voice” maintains its momentum as it returns March 25 for a fourth season (8-10 p.m. ET) and Tuesday, March 26 (8-9 p.m. ET). It continues its two-night Monday/Tuesday schedule as it did this fall. “Revolution” — the season’s only bona fide new hit series — will return and follow “The Voice” on March 25 (10-11 p.m. ET) when it concludes its current fall broadcast dates in November.
Tuesdays
Last year’s acclaimed musical drama “Smash” makes its much-anticipated return with a two-hour episode on February 5 (9-11 p.m. ET) — with Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson — and will resume on Tuesday, February 12 (10-11 p.m. ET) in its regular day and time. “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers” premieres on January 8 with back-to-back episodes (8-8:30 p.m. ET and 8:30-9 p.m. ET) and will continue in that hour each Tuesday.
“The Voice” also will return on Tuesdays on March 26 (8-9 p.m. ET).
Thursdays
The new comedy “1600 Penn” — starring Bill Pullman (“Independence Day”), Jenna Elfman (“Dharma and Greg”) and Josh Gad (Broadway’s “The Book of Mormon”) as a typical American family who just happen to live in the White House — debuts on January 10 (9:30-10 p.m. ET). Jason Winer, Emmy-winning director of “Modern Family” is co-creator and director. The critically hailed comedy “Community” returns on February 7 (8-8:30 p.m. ET). “Parks and Recreation” moves up one hour on the Thursday schedule to 8:30-9 p.m. (ET) on January 17.
“Do No Harm” premieres Thursday, January 31 at 10PM.
Fridays
“Fashion Star” premieres Friday, March 8 at 8PM.
Sundays
The new alternative series “Ready for Love” — an innovative and dramatic new relationship show about making real connections with executive producer Eva Longoria – premieres Sunday, March 31 (8-10 p.m. ET). Donald Trump’s “The Celebrity Apprentice” resumes with an “All-Star” edition of former celebrity contestants on March 3 (9-11 p.m. ET) for four weeks before continuing in one-hour episodes on Sunday, March 31 (10-11 p.m. ET).