Posted on: Tuesday, January 4, 2005
New year brings with it new crop of TV series
By Mike Duffy
Knight Ridder News Service
In what has become an annual midseason TV tradition, the opening weeks of the new year bring a big wave of fresh eye candy.
Chris Haston • NBC Then again, one viewer's jive may be another's joy. There must be viewers who truly, madly, deeply adore tabloid celebutantes Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. Otherwise, Fox wouldn't be cranking up a third edition of "The Simple Life" (Jan. 26).
Meanwhile, the classy, blissfully wacked-out "Alias" revs up a new season tomorrow on ABC.
So let's go on remote patrol, checking out the channel surfin' choices headed our way this week.
Tonight
"Committed" (8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, NBC): Jennifer Finnigan ("Crossing Jordan") is the potential breakout star in a screwball romantic comedy about a neurotic oddball (Josh Cooke) who falls head over heels for Finnigan's cockeyed optimist.
Tomorrow
"Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search" (7 p.m. Wednesdays, NBC): Beach blanket reality TV bimbos and bikini cheesecake dreams. Shouldn't this be on testosterone-addled Spike TV?
"Alias" (8 p.m. Wednesdays, ABC): With a two-hour fourth season premiere, the stylish spy thriller hopes to find love and ratings happiness in a nifty new home following breakout sensation "Lost." Producer J.J. Abrams created both shows.
Thursday
"Wickedly Perfect" (7 p.m. Thursdays, CBS): With Martha Stewart still in the slammer, Joan Lunden hosts this competition of 12 creative style hotshots. The goal? Crown a new domestic diva.
Saturday
"The Will" (7 p.m. Saturdays, CBS): Let's get greedy! Ten people battle to claim the title of most deserving heir to 73-year-old Kansas moneybags and land developer Bill Long. The big prize? Long's extra large ranch.
"MI-5" (8 p.m. Saturdays, A&E): British invasion. The cult favorite English spy thriller returns for a third season of edgy action, hidden agendas and high anxiety.
With a blitz of more than 30 new or returning series debuting this month — including "24," "Alias" and 18 reality or game shows — you can bet we'll be subjected to some extreme entertainment jive along the way.
NBC launches "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search" tomorrow night at 7. It features lots of models who try hard to not overdress.
