This Winter Is a TV Wonderland

These are weird, weird times to be a TV writer – or viewer, for that matter. As the industry still digs itself out of the disaster that was the Writers’ Strike, we get a ridiculous 71 shows premiering new episodes this month. TV Guide has put together a comprehensive list here.

Yes, some of these shows are new shows that are probably already as good as canceled. I’m looking at you, Game Show in My Head and Howie Do It. But there are some bigtime shows like Battlestar Galactica (Jan. 16 at 9 p.m. CT) and Lost (Jan. 21, 8 p.m. CT).

The CW jumps to the forefront as both Smallville and Supernatural give us new episodes Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. CT respectively. Overall, this is like a belated Christmas gift for sci-fi and fantasy fans. Will it ever be like this again? It’s hard to say, but I suspect it will have something to do with the ratings from this “winter season” of TV.

We know right now that we’re going to lose Galactica after this year, although Caprica looks poised to replace it. Smallville is very much up in the air as well. Most reports we’re hearing indicate Knight Rider is on life support. If NBC’s treatment of Journeyman and Bionic Woman is any indication, there won’t be an official announcement on Knight Rider from NBC. It just won’t come back to the schedule and finally some exec will begrudgingly cough up the news after it’s already been widely reported for months.

– Pictured: Mary McDonnell as Laura Roslin,Michael Hogan as Col. Saul Tigh –SCI FI Channel Photo: Carole Segal