Most Anticipated TV Shows of 2009

With the new year upon us, it’s time for quality television programs to return. And though typically in the earlier months of each year we don’t have much to look forward to when it comes to new shows, 2009 is different. Last year’s writer’s strike pushed most new show development back from the fall until now.

Let’s take a look at both the veteran shows returning for another season and the brand new shows debuting for the first time.

Veteran shows finally returning

“24”– Season seven of this roller-coaster actioner began this week on FOX after an extended break. The strike kept the show off of the air last season, and the last episode aired way back in May of 2007. The wait has been a long one for “24” fans, who were disappointed with a terrible sixth season, but a change of scenery from L.A. to D.C. and the return of crowd favorite Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) makes this show a must-watch again.

“Friday Night
Lights” – Left for dead by NBC after last year’s strike-shortened run, the show was saved by DirecTV, who swooped in to salvage the high school football-centric “Lights” by splitting the production costs with the “Peacock Network” in exchange for the rights to air season three’s episodes first. Now that 13 episodes have showed there, they’re ready for primetime. This is one of the best-written and best-acted shows to come along in some time, so watch and hopefully there will be a fourth season.

“Lost” – The most anticipated premiere of the new year (Jan. 21) is, of course, this fantastically dense show that’s introduced so many game changers that it’s hard to keep them all straight. With this being the penultimate season, look for fast-paced plot development, confusing timelines and a load of additional questions.

New shows set to debut

“Dollhouse” – The man behind “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel” and “Firefly,” Joss Whedon – who also has a tremendous amount of fanboy love – is back with a new show about people who can have their memory wiped an infinite amount of times to become whoever their bosses need them to be – lovers, killers, etc. “Dollhouse” is surely the most buzzed-about new show, but countless behind-the-scenes issues between Whedon’s creative staff and FOX have many worried about the show’s quality. Not to mention it has been given the Friday night time slot of death
when it premieres in February. Expect it to be engrossing, but ultimately off-balance, and pray it doesn’t get canceled before any answers are revealed.

“Lie to Me” – FOX finds itself in a great position this winter since they have the two shows that look the most interesting: “Dollhouse” and this procedural drama about a body language expert assisting the cops in solving cases. “Lie” seems like a cross between “Bones” and the season’s only big hit, “The Mentalist.” And it will follow “American Idol,” so expect major ratings.

“Kings” – Sure, it might not premiere until March, but this modern-day twist on the biblical story of King David has the industry buzzing and NBC hoping that “Kings” can help it regain viewers. The show’s pedigree is solid – the pilot is directed by “I Am Legend” director Francis Lawrence and it stars the awesome Ian McShane – so it’s all about execution. This could end up very cool, or it could end up like “Crusoe.”