Guide to Midseason Television Premieres

TV fans have lots to look forward to in the coming months, with oodles of TV shows returning and/or premiering this spring. Here's a look at some of the notable ones!

The Bachelor, season 16 (ABC, Monday, Jan. 2, 8 p.m. ET) Bachelorette Ashley Hebert may have rejected him, but as you can see in this promo, 29-year-old winemaker Ben Flajnik is ready to charm some new women with that goofy grin of his.

Jersey Shore, season 5 (MTV, Thursday, Jan. 5, 10 p.m. ET) With their Italian adventure behind them, the gang returns to Seaside Heights for some Shakespeare readings and trips to the symphony. Oh, wait, that’s in an alternate universe. Expect beer bongs, hook-ups and lots of fighting.

Project Runway: All-Star Challenge, season 1 (Lifetime, Thursday, Jan. 5, 9 p.m. ET) Producers have brought back some of the most talented (and incendiary) contestants from the first nine seasons, including Elisa Jimenez and Mondo Guerra. Naturally, there will be tears and some serious bitchiness -- but not from Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, who didn’t participate in this season. Marie Claire editor-in-chief Joanna Coles, as well as designers Isaac Mizrahi and Georgina Chapman will be running the show this time.

Portlandia, season 2 (IFC, Friday, Jan. 6, 10 p.m. ET) Your favorite extreme hipsters (Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein) have attracted quite a slate of cool guest stars this season, including  Penny Marshall, 30 Rock’s Jack McBrayer, Tim Robbins, Andy Samberg, Amber Tamblyn and Kristen Wiig.

The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, season 2 (IFC, Friday, Jan. 6, 10:30 p.m. ET) How can you not be watching this show, with its stellar cast that includes David Cross, Will Arnett and Jon Hamm (guest starring in a five episode arc in the upcoming season)? No more excuses -- your second chance begins January 6th.

30 Rock, season 6 (NBC , Thursday, Jan. 12, 8 p.m. ET) Finally! After a looong wait, Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) and company are back. And Liz will have a new boyfriend (hunky heartthrob James Marsden)! Among the trendy guest stars they’ll wrangle this season are Kelsey Grammer and Denise Richards.

Justified, season 3 (FX, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 10 p.m. ET) If you’re not already watching this acclaimed show, why not tune in and find out why four of its actors got Emmy nods last September? (Margo Martindale ended up winning  for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series.)

American Idol, season 11 (Fox, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 8 p.m. ET) Can Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson keep Idol relevant in the crowded field of TV singing competitions? Well, they managed it last season after Simon Cowell’s departure. If they can find another talent as genuine as Scotty McCreery’s (last season’s winner), they’ll have no problem.

One Tree Hill, season 9 (The CW, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 8 p.m. ET) Faces from the past will pop up during this teen drama’s final season. And yes, that includes Lucas (Chad Michael Murray)!

The Voice, season 2 (NBC, Sunday, Feb. 5, 10 p.m. ET; moves to its regular time Monday, Feb. 6, 8 p.m. ET) After last season’s successful run, the show with the big, red chairs will have a lengthened season and premiere in the year’s most coveted TV time slot -- after the Super Bowl.

The Celebrity Apprentice, season 5 (NBC, Sunday, Feb. 12, 9 p.m., ET) Donald Trump has wrangled yet another bizarrely intriguing group of B-listers, including Debbie Gibson, Clay Aiken, Teresa Giudice and Arsenio Hall. Who is conniving enough to come out alive? The smart money’s on the Real Housewife.

Khloe & Lamar, season 2 (E!, Sunday, Feb. 19, 10 p.m. ET) Let’s face it, the Kardashian women don’t have a great track record in the romance department. But so far, so good for Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom. Now let’s just hope they can survive his trade to the Dallas Mavericks, and their subsequent move to that Texan metropolis.

GCB (ABC, Sunday, March 4, 10 p.m. ET) In this new dramedy from Sex & the City producer Darren Star, Leslie Bibb (remember her from Popular?) plays a just-divorced, single mom of two who returns to her hometown of Dallas, the place where she used to be the "Queen Bitch" of her high school. The welcome mat is not rolled out.

Mad Men, season 5 (AMC, March 2012) Patient fans have waited a year and a half for the next season of this masterful drama, and it’s anyone’s guess what that season will look like when it finally arrives. The last time we saw Don Draper (Jon Hamm), he had lost his mind and proposed to his toothy secretary. Will the marriage last? We’ll find out eventually. Just three more months to wait.

Dancing with the Stars, season 14 (ABC, Monday, Mar. 19, 8 p.m. ET) No word yet on who’ll be cha-cha-cha-ing this spring, but Stevie Wonder hinted that he might be in during a recent interview with Ellen DeGeneres. And apparently the producers just can’t get enough of the Kardashians. According to Hollywood Life, Kendall Jenner, 16, and Kylie Jenner, 14, are on their "dream list."

With all of the fresh shows to watch, it'll be difficult to leave the house in the new year! 

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/guide-midseason-television-premieres/1-a-414443

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