Mid-Season Preview: What to Watch

Happy New Year! We're now at the half-way mark of the Fall 2006 season. We said goodbye to a few new shows, notably several ABC rejects - Six Degrees, The Nine and Day Break, as well as other shows that barely aired one episode before getting the ax, like Smith and 3lbs.. So with the new year, the networks are giving it the "old college try" again with some new shows to entice us, as well as some returning favorites. Here's what TVnista is looking forward to this month:


The Knights of Prosperity (debuts Wednesday, Jan. 3 @ 9pm, ABC)
Premise: A gang of social misfits (two janitors, a cab driver, a waitress, a security guard and a geeky intern) decide their path to the American Dream lies in robbing Mick Jagger's penthouse.
Why We'll Watch: Sofia Vergara. I've been a fan of hers since the cheesy 2003 romantic-comedy Chasing Papi, where she displayed a dazzling personality and great comedic acting chops. She recently starred on another ABC show from last season, Hot Properties, where she out shined her co-stars, including Gail O'Grady. I expect the same from her here.



Dirt (debuts Tuesday, Jan. 2 @ 10pm, FX)
Premise: The saga of a tabloid editor (Courteney Cox) who fancies herself a journalist, and her schizo paparazzo, who will do anything to get the photos.
Why We'll Watch : If well-executed, this show could be good, very good, in fact. I'll admit it, one of my guilty pleasures is reading those celeb tabloid magazines, so wouldn't it be cool to see what goes on behind-the-scenes. I'm particularly curious to see what level of interaction these tabloid editors have with the celebrity subjects they cover - I'm sure there's a lot of give and take. Based on the commercials I saw that aired during Nip/Tuck, it looks good, but I've heard otherwise. Courteney Cox was my favorite "Friend" so I'd like to see her do well.


Lincoln Heights (debuts Monday, Jan. 8 @ 7pm, ABC Family)
Premise: An African-American cop brings his suburban family back to live the tough inner-city neighborhood that he grew up in.
Why We'll Watch: Finally, a show about an African-American family. I'm excited. The casting looks solid: Russell Hornsby and Nikki Micheaux star as Eddie and Jenn Sutton, along with their three children, including Erica Hubbard (you may remember her from Akeelah and the Bee) as their teenage daughter Cassie, who may have a case of "Jungle Fever" on her hands. Let's be sure to support this show!


Dancelife(debuts Monday, Jan. 15 @ 10:30pm, MTV)
Premise: The 8-episode series, executive-produced by former Fly Girl Jennifer Lopez follows the lives of six dancers trying to achieve their dreams and break into the grueling and unforgiving world of professional dance.
Why We'll Watch: One word - J.Lo. 'Nuf said.


The Hills (returns Monday, Jan. 15 @ 10pm, MTV)
Why We'll Watch: Based on the preview, it looks like Lauren "L.C." Conrad is finally over her deadbeat boyfriend Jason and is moving on with Brody Jenner. But her best friend and roommate Heidi Montag still can't stay away from the drama - did I catch a glimpse of an EPT test in her hand?