It’s the beginning of a new semester and it’s time to put your eager nose back to the grindstone. Unfortunately, all of your favorite shows are returning from their winter hiatuses just in time to distract you from textbooks and technicolored flash cards. But we’re guessing you’re not too disappointed.
Here’s a look at some returning favorites, as well as new shows to look out for. Of course, a SPOILER WARNING is now in effect.
’24’
Mondays, 9 p.m., on Fox
Jack is back! Day six kicked off with a bang with attacks on multiple American cities, leaving the public reeling. In hour 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Lennox pushes the president to pass Executive Order 1066.
With this wildly popular show in its sixth season, some viewers may be wondering if an already over-the-top intense-show can get any more unbelievable. I guess we’ll have to see it to un-believe it.
A late January start means little or no repeats to interrupt the frenzied drama that is ’24.’
‘Veronica Mars’
Tuesdays, 9 p.m., on The CW
The second part of the third season picks up with Veronica and her father trying to solve the murder of Hearst College’s Dean O’Dell. Watch for sparks as on-again/off-again Veronica and Logan find out exactly what happens during a short break(up). Six new episodes in a row began airing Jan. 29, which will be followed by an eight-week break in March and then five stand-alone episodes ending the third season.
Could this be the end of Veronica’s run on television? A critically adored show with a devoted following but low ratings doesn’t ensure support from the fledgling CW network. In an effort to attract more viewers, the network has taken a creative gamble by ditching the overarching mystery for five episodes.
‘Lost’
Returning Feb. 7, Wednesdays, 10 p.m., on ABC
This February, ‘Lost’ returns with new all new episodes leading up to the season finale. The second half of the season promises to deliver more answers than fans were treated to in the fall finale. Fans can also expect to see flashbacks focusing on Desmond, Claire and Hurley in the coming months while the Feb. 7 episode focusing on Juliet may reveal why she asked Jack to kill Ben. The move to have a fall finale has become popular with many television shows that suffer rating losses during reruns.
‘The Black Donnellys’
Premiering Monday, March 5, 10 p.m., on NBC
The producers of Oscar-winning ‘Crash’ are attempting to make their mark on television with this new drama. The show follows the four Donnelly brothers as they spiral into New York’s underground world of organized crime while doing everything they can to protect each other. With no mainstream stars attached to the project, the main driving force of the show will be the creators behind the scenes.
‘The Dresden Files’
Sundays, 9 p.m., on SCI-FI.
Mix mystery with the mystical and you get SCI-FI’s new drama based on Jim Butcher’s popular novels about Harry Dresden, a supernatural detective from Chicago. If you like mysteries and wizardry, this show is right up your alley.
‘The Sarah Silverman Program’
Thursdays, 10:30 p.m., on Comedy Central.
Popular comedian Sarah Silverman stars as Sarah Silverman in a new scripted comedy about her character’s bizarre life, which of course includes breaking out into song. Co-starring her real sister, Laura, and comedians Steve Agee and Brian Posehn, this seemingly absurd comedy could find its niche right before Comedy Central staple ‘The Daily Show.’