TVSquad

The winter of 2008 will be an interesting one for television. With so many current shows at or near the end of their seasonal run, due to the staring contest known as the writers' strike, the schedule is going to look a bit different. Not only will it be filled with more reality shows, but it will also contain some untested scripted programs that have been waiting for the mid-season to air.

Nevertheless, not all is doom and gloom come the new year. There will be many favorites returning to the airwaves, although they may have shortened seasons. For instance, shows like Medium, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Lost, Monk, Psych, and, yes, even According to Jim, will be returning to the schedule. Then there is the anticipated return of Jericho and, of course, another season of show-killer American Idol, which may not have any competition at all this year.

Gallery: Winter 2008 premieres

In this day and age of dwindling original programming (thanks to the impenetrable deadlock of the Writers' Strike), the networks are fiddling around with their schedules to get the maximum out of what they have left to air. That means that shows you thought would be airing later will be premiering sooner, and vice versa.

For instance, NBC's Celebrity Apprentice, which was going to premiere on January 10th, has been moved up one week and will now premiere on Thursday, January 3rd, at 9:00 pm, between original episodes of Deal or No Deal and ER. The decision was made when it was learned that ABC was going to air its last original episode of Grey's Anatomy on the 10th. The schedule change may not matter in the ratings anyway since Apprentice will be up against FOX's broadcast of the Orange Bowl as well as coverage of the Iowa caucuses.

Over on ABC, the new comedy-drama Lipstick Jungle Sex and the City Cashmere Mafia is moving from January 3rd to Sunday, January 6th, where it will follow the last pre-strike episode of Desperate Housewives. Damn, I hope this strike gets resolved soon!

NBC unveiled its schedule for the new year and, with scripted episodes becoming scarce, it is predictably heavier on the reality side. Joining existing shows Deal or No Deal and The Singing Bee are the returning 1 vs. 100, The Biggest Loser and The Apprentice. Returning after almost fifteen years, wrestling legend Hulk Hogan hosts American Gladiators. In it, eight "gladiators" face competition from everyday joes like you and me in a variety of physical challenges. Of course, when I say "like you and me" I mean you. Me they'd snap in half but I got a good feeling about you. I think you can take 'em. Now get in there, tiger!