Fox announces mid-season schedule

Fox has announced it's mid-season schedule and fans of some shows will be waiting a long time for their shows to come back.

'Glee' and 'Fringe' will be taking long breaks before they resume in the spring.

Let's look at the breakdown of the schedule:

• 'American Idol' returns on Tuesday, January 12th and 13th with a 2 night premiere.
• A new series from Fox, 'Human Target' based on the DC comic will begin on January 20th at 9 pm.
• '24' returns with a 2 night, 4 hour premiere on January 17th and 18th.
• 'Glee' will be finishing it fall portion of its season on December 9th and then will not return until April 13th following American Idol.
• 'Fringe' will also be ending on February 4th, and will not return until April 1st.
  
• 'Past Life' will assume the 'Fringe' timeslot through February and March.
  
• 'Sons of Tucson' a new sitcom will air Sundays beginning in March, after 'The Simpsons' and before 'Family Guy'
• 'Lie to Me' has no timeslot or return date after next weeks episode. Don't worry fans, the show was picked up for a full season, so it will be returning.
• 'Til Death' will be returning, but Fox has not announce where and when.
• 'Dollhouse' will burn off their remaining episodes on Friday nights in January beginning on January 8th.

So what do you 'Glee' fans think of the long layoff? Is it going to hurt the show? Or is the show good enough to sustain this type of layoff? I can say one thing, it's return to a post 'Idol' timeslot can only help 'Glee.'

Is Russell Hantz the greatest 'Survivor' player ever?

If you're a fan of 'Survivor' then you have been treated to a great season so far this year.

Russell Hantz, the oil company owner from Texas, could be the greatest 'Survivor' player to ever play the game. This is a big compliment coming from me. After the first few episodes of this season, I couldn't wait for Russell to be voted out. His behavior early in the season was reprehensible. From telling everyone that he was a victim of Hurricane Katrina, to sabotaging things around camp (emptying out canteens, throwing peoples socks in the fire) he became a real difficult person to like.

However as the season has progressed, we have seen how he is playing the game. He has found 3, count 'em 3, hidden immunity idols. 2 of them with no clues whatsoever. Unlike some contestants in the past, he hasn't let them go to waste. He has played 2 so far, one of them saving him from being voted out, and no doubt will play the 3rd.

He assumed, and assumed correctly, that producers hide the hidden idols near landmarks around camp, such as a big tree or a bridge. This is how he was able to find the idols with no clues. Because he is a student of the game. He has watched and learned and because he has done so, he has a decided advantage over his fellow players.

Russell has won me over. He may still not be a very nice person, but as a fan of the game of 'Survivor' you can't help but appreciate him and how he is playing the game. I find myself rooting for him in each episode now. He has singled-handedly turned the game around. Turning his tribe from an outnumbered underdog to a tribe in control of the game. He has turned a season that was a little boring and uneventful for the first few weeks into one of the shows best.

He has to be considered one of the best, if not the best, 'Survivor' player ever, and while we're at it, let's not over look the show itself. It's really a testament to the producers that after 19 seasons the show can deliver a season this good. It's the reason the show is still a ratings winner, still consistently winning it's timeslot after 8+ years on the air. It's why 'Survivor' should be considered the best reality competition show ever.

So 'Survivor' fans, enjoy this season. You are being treated to watching a great player compete like no player ever has before. Rumor has it that you will get to enjoy him again next season. Russell is reportedly going to be a contestant on next seasons All Star edition to celebrate the shows 20th cycle.

Now i know alot of you are saying, lets wait to see how he does before we say he's one of the best. As we all know from watching this show, the best players do not always win. From what i've seen of him so far, win or lose, Russell will go down as one of the best 'Survivor' players ever.

'Chuck' returning earlier than expected

NBC has announced that 'Chuck' will return on Sunday, Jan. 10 with two back-to-back episodes before moving into its regular Monday-8 pm time-slot on Jan. 11. The show was originally scheduled to return in March.

All of the regulars will be returning with the exception of Julia Ling who plays Anna Wu.

According to co-creator Chris Fedak, production is underway on the 10th episode of 'Chuck's' third season. He also said that the first 13 episodes of Season 3 will function as one unit, and then the set of six additional episodes that NBC ordered will sort of be like another mini-season (he called it "Season 3 2.0").

"We broke a very tight 13 episodes" after NBC ordered a third season, Fedak said. "But we had started production early, so [when NBC ordered six more episodes for a total of 19,] we had lead time to kind of sit back and think about what the next phase of the story would be. We're very excited about extending the season out and having more fun with our characters and deepening the world that is 'Chuck.'"

In addition, "Chuck" returns with guest stars galore in its third season. These include: Angie Harmon (NBC’s “Law & Order”), who will play Sydney, an enemy operative; Brandon Routh (“Superman Returns”), who is set to play CIA Agent Daniel Shaw; Robert Patrick (“Terminator 2: Judgment Day”) will play Colonel Keller, a soldier and spy from Casey’s past; Kristin Kreuk (“Smallville”), who will portray Hannah -- a potential love interest for Chuck; Armand Assante (“Judge Dredd”) as dictator Premier Goya, who is the target of an assassin; Steve Austin (“WWE Smackdown!”) will portray Hugo Panzer, who becomes entangled in Chuck’s first solo mission; and Vinnie Jones (“Snatch”) will play Carl Stromberg, an arms dealer.

You can watch a preview of Season 3 below.

ABC sets return date for Lost

ABC has announced that 'Lost' will return Tuesday, February 2nd at 9 pm.

The show's final season will launch there with a two hour episode, dubbed "LA X," preceded by a one-hour clip special at 8 p.m.

The following week, on Feb. 9, "Lost" settles into its regular time slot, Tuesdays at 9.

This is a new night for the show. 'Lost' has been bounced around the schedule, appearing on Wednesdays at 9, and Thursdays at 10.

ABC also revealed the roster of this season's regular stars: Naveen Andrews, Nestor Carbonell, Emile de Ravin, Michael Emerson, Jeff Fahey, Matthew Fox, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Daniel Dae Kim, Yunjin Kim, Ken Leung, Evangeline Lilly, Terry O'Quinn and Zuleikha Robinson.

Oprah to end her show in 2011

Oprah Winfrey is expected to announce on her show on Friday that she will be ending her syndicated talk show in 2011.

Although Oprah has been quiet about what her plans are, insiders say that Winfrey, 55, will finally start the long rumored OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). The network is expected to begin in 2011 to 75 million homes, and Oprah will most likely have a new show on the channel.

Although Winfrey could not be reached for comment, Tim Bennett, the president of Winfrey's Chicago-based production company, Harpo Inc., confirmed in an e-mail Thursday to station partners that she would end the existing program Sept. 9, 2011.

"Oprah's personal comments about this on tomorrow's live show will mark an historic television moment that we will all be talking about for years to come," Bennett wrote.

Edward Woodward, 'The Equalizer' dead at 79.

Edward Woodward, best known as the star of the 80's series 'The Equalizer' has died at the age of 79.

'The Equalizer' ran from 1985-1989 and had 88 episodes. Woodward won a Golden Globe award for his role, and was nominated for an Emmy award 5 times.

The show featured Woodward as an ex-spy who helped regular people even the odds against anyone with whom they had a problem.

His agent, Janet Glass, said he had been ill for several months and died in a hospital in Truro, England, with family members around him.

He told The Associated Press in 1987 he had appeared in "over 2,000, could be 3,000 now, television productions." He added: "I love television. To me it's the most exciting medium."

Woodward had three children with first wife Venetia. After they divorced, he wed actress Michele Dotrice, and they had a daughter. Survivors include his children and Dotrice.

Ken Ober dies at 52

Ken Ober, a brassy comedian best known as the host of the 1980s-era MTV game show 'Remote Control,' was found dead on Sunday in his home in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 52.

The cause was not immediately known.

The actor and former game show host was best known for his presenting duties on MTV show 'Remote Control' from 1987 to 1990.

The game show launched the careers of Adam Sandler and Denis Leary, and they have been quick to pay tribute to their friend.

Sandler says, "Ken Ober was one of the sharpest, quickest, sweetest guys I ever met. He was always a great friend and I will miss him very much."

And Leary echoed his pal's sentiments, adding, "Kenny Ober was and always will be the quickest wit in the room. As the star and host of Remote Control, he was a welcoming ringmaster who helped to kickstart the careers of numerous talents, including Adam Sandler, Colin Quinn and myself."

"He will be remembered always by each of his friends not only for his massive talent but for his true, deep and enduring friendship."

Ober is survived by his mother, father, stepmother and a brother.

'The Prisoner' opens strong for AMC

AMC's remake of the 60's cult classic 'The Prisoner' opened strong for the cable network.

The show drew 2.2 million viewers in it's Sunday night timeslot. This matches the ratings that 'Mad Men' normally gets in that same period.

AMC is hoping this show will be a nice off-season replacement for 'Mad Men.' The network is trying to compete with the original dramas of other cable networks such as FX, USA, and TNT.

ABC pulls plug on 'Hank'

ABC has cancelled the freshman comedy 'Hank' starring Kelsey Grammer. The show is filming episode 10 and will stop production after wrapping that episode.

The network has aired five half-hours of the show and has no immediate plans to run the remaining five segments.

'Dollhouse' cancelled

FOX has cancelled 'Dollhouse.'

The network has informed Joss Whedon that it will not be ordering additional episodes of the show. However they also said that they will air all 13 episodes that have already been ordered. They will begin airing the remaining episodes in December.

'Dollhouse' has been averaging 3 million viewers this season, down from a 4.7 million average last season.

I think everyone will agree that this show was lucky to see a second season at all. Fans shouldn't feel so bad, at least they got 13 extra episodes of the series.

What shows do you miss?

Did a favorite show of yours get cancelled before its time? Or just decide to end after a long run?
Do you miss sitting down to that show after a long day at work? The show that you looked forward to all week long?

For me that show is 'NYPD Blue.' I looked forward to this show every Tuesday night for 12 seasons. Part of what makes me miss it even more is that it is only partially available on DVD. Still waiting for seasons 5-12 to be released.

From Dennis Franz' amazing performances each and every season to the rotating cast of characters that never ceased to surprise me. I remember laughing when I heard Ricky Schroeder would be taking over for Jimmy Smits, and then laughing again when Mark Paul Gosselaar was joining that case. But each of those 2 child stars became top notch dramatic actors on this show.

So what show is it for you?

ABC cancels one show, orders more episodes of another

ABC has made some news today by cancelling one of their shows, but giving an additional episode order to another.

'Eastwick' was the show that got the axe. The show, based on the 1987 film 'The Witches of Eastwick', failed to draw an audience. That's saying something for this show since 'The Jay Leno Show' was one of it timeslot competitors.

The network is expected to air all 13 of the originally planned episodes.

On the bright side, the Christian Slater vehicle 'The Forgotten' has been given an order of 5 more episodes.

'V' debuts big for ABC

ABC's sci-fi remake 'V' debuted to big numbers for the alphabet network on Tuesday night.

The show snagged a 5 rating in the 18-49 age group, the best numbers for any comedy or drama series introduced this fall.

In total viewership, the show attracted 14 million viewers, which was below the 18.7 million that the CBS drama 'NCIS LA' attracted for its premiere. But that show, a spinoff, benefited from following its parent show, 'NCIS,' on Tuesday nights. The 'V' performance was more impressive because as an 8 p.m. show it pulled in the audience all on its own.