December 5th, 2008

January 1 is a New Year and time for fresh starts. Those fresh starts also apply to TV Land as well with the networks shuffling up their line-ups to make sure TV watching continues to be a routine for us in the New Year. They’ll be getting rid of struggling shows, bringing in new, promising shows and otherwise just shaking up the schedule. Don’t forget to reprogram your Tivos!

NBC: Variety recently broke the news of NBC’s new TV schedule starting in January:

On Mondays starting January 5, “Superstars of Dance,” will air at 8 to 10 p.m. until its finale on Jan. 26. (It will premiere on Sunday, Jan. 4, however, with a special two hour episode.)  

Ryan Seacrest’s reality show, “Momma’s Boys,” will also air at 10 -11 p.m.

Monday night staples “Chuck” and “Heroes” won’t be shown in January but will start back up again in February. Mitch Metcalf, NBC exec VP of programming planning and scheduling, told Variety that these shows don’t repeat too well so they will take a break before airing new episodes in continuous blocks.

“Law and Order: SVU” repeats will take “Life’s” place Wednesdays at 9 p.m starting Jan. 7, and “Life” will return with new episodes in February.

The new Friday line-up consists of Howie Mandel’s new reality show, “Howie Do It,” at 8-9 p.m. starting Jan. 9. Critical hit, “Friday Night Lights” returns Jan. 16 and will air at 9 p.m. “Dateline NBC” will wrap up the night at 10 p.m. 

Meanwhile, “Deal or No Deal” is taking a break and will only air with specials or holiday episodes. It hasn’t been determined if the show will be cancelled or return again in a regular time slot. Other shows that are likely not to be continued include “My Own Worst Enemy,” “Lipstick Jungle” and “Crusoe.”

It has not been announced when the new show, “Kings,” as well as “Medium” and “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” will air.

And don’t forget about the weekends. “Sunday Night Football” will give way in January to specials including The Golden Globes (Jan. 11), “Saturday Night Live Film Festival” (Jan. 18), “The Last Templar” (Jan. 25-26) and “Super Bowl XLII” (Feb. 1). After these specials are over, regular series will then settle into their regular times slots on Sunday nights.

ABC: It also recently announced its new line-up per Sitcoms Online:

Tuesday nights will look different starting in December. “According to Jim” will return in December airing in the 9 p.m. hour, but in January it will start airing in the 8 p.m. hour before “Scrubs.”  ABC brought new life to the hospital comedy show after NBC cancelled it. It will start airing new episodes on Jan. 6 with back-to-back episodes at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday and Thursdays are also going to look different with mysterious island survivors replacing sexy doctors. “Lost” will take “Private Practice’s” slot on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. starting Jan. 21, and the latter show will move to Thursdays where it will start airing new episodes Jan. 8. It will air at 10 p.m. after “Grey’s Anatomy” where “Life on Mars” has been.  The 70s cop show will start airing in the recently cancelled “Dirty Sexy Money’s” time slot Wednesdays at 10 p.m.

It hasn’t been determined yet what will air Wednesdays at 8 p.m. where the recently canceled “Pushing Daisies” was airing.

Meanwhile, “Pushing Daisies,” “Eli Stone” and “Dirty Sexy Money” will air the rest of its 13 episodes, but ABC hasn’t ordered more.

MTV’s The Hills stars, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, returned to Los Angeles Monday evening after eloping last Wednesday and honeymooning in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

US Weekly reports that during The Hills live post-show Pratt, 25, phoned in to answer why he took the plunge with his girlfriend Montag.

“Hello. What led to it? The fact that I have been trying this for two and a half years now. It came out of nowhere, it was my shot,” he said. “We thought, ‘let’s do it’. We were chillin’ on the beach with Patron margaritas on the rocks talking about how much we love one another, there was a chapel in the neighborhood, we thought, ‘let’s do it!’”

Montag, 22, recalled the vows over the phone. “I really started crying. The love of my life is saying the most amazing things,” she said. “It was the best moment of my life. It was so surreal. I kept thinking I love this man more than anything in the entire world.”

It’s no secret that Coldplay aspires to be the “next U2.” They are certainly on the right path. “Viva La Vida” is the kind of album any band would like on their resume. It’s brilliant rock music and the fourth straight solid album of their career.

So when you are the biggest rock band of the moment what’s your next move? In Coldplay’s case it is an eight song EP entitled “Prospekts March” which comes packaged with the “La Vida album,” a maneuver that is sure to infuriate and alienate their core fan base. This move defies logic; if you are the best selling rock band of the moment wouldn’t you want to deliver an EP for a low cost separate from the LP ten million fans have already delightfully purchased?

I don’t understand this marketing strategy from Coldplay. Nobody in their right mind would want to purchase the same album twice just to get an eight song EP, of which only half of the material is decent. The highlight of “Prospekts March” is Coldplay’s duet with Jay Z on Lost! A track that might be just enough to convert some hip hop heads into Coldplay fans.

But then, even most Jay Z fans would shy away from the notion of buying a full length Coldplay LP along with an EP which would suffice on its own. So wake up, Coldplay, before you lose your title of World’s Greatest Rock Band.

Celebrities always push fashion buttons. But, would you wear these celeb trends?

It’s getting colder, but we just can’t let go of the hot summer and warm fall. Katie Holmes, Lily Allen and Kate Moss extend the warmer season pairing jean shorts with black tights. A little daring and super cute!

If you say no way-it’s too cold! What about fur jackets? Debra Messing, Becki Newton and Vanessa Hudgens stay warm in their retro furry chubbies.

I love this look-but do you? Piped blazers have made a comeback. The look is solid, simple and clean. Selena Gomez, Rachel Bilson and Nicky Hilton have all brought preppy back pairing with skinny trousers and jeans.

Dare to bare! Shear dresses, worn by Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Sarah Paulson are sexy and soft. The long sleeves make the dresses a great fall choice!

What about thigh high socks? Heidi Montag, Vanessa Hudgens and Caridee English make a statement in their school-girl inspired frocks.