Issue Date: January 6, 2008
TV'S MIDSEASON START
The writers' strike has changed what we'll see on TV in the new year. Although we may miss many favorite shows, both old and new, there's still plenty of fresh fare to check out. Here is a taste of what's coming:
Bryan Cranston knows people won't like his character in the new AMC series "Breaking Bad," premiering Jan. 20. "We're not asking our audience to agree with what I'm doing but rather to understand," he says. He plays a high school teacher who, after diagnosis with a terminal illness, sets up an illegal drug lab to provide for his family. Cranston, 51, says the irony is that "he becomes more alive than he has been in 25 years. It's the silver lining to his condition -- he's really living."
Lena Headey as Sarah Connor in Fox's "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," premiering Jan. 13, does the impossible: She rivals Linda Hamilton's portrayal of the character in the "Terminator" movie. "There's a group of people who would like to see me in a box underground," she tells us. "I don't know who they are, but they're [thinking] it's so blasphemous that I would take on the role, that I'm too skinny and not capable." Headey, 34, trained hard to get muscles, but she already had an edge. "I boxed back [home] in London."
There are still five weeks for Court TV's "Murder by the Book," in which mystery writers look at real-life crimes. Elizabeth George hosts Monday's tale about a 1999 murder of a doctor and his wife. "I saw the story from Day One, when the bodies were found," George, 58, says. Her favorite show on Court TV? "Forensic Files."
Laila Ali, a standout on "Dancing With the Stars," co-hosts "American Gladiators" on NBC, premiering Sunday. Gladiators is part of boxer Ali's "strategic plan," which began with Dancing. "People never saw me outside of the ring. I had to show the softer side of me, " she tells us. Now Ali, 30, daughter of Mohammed Ali, wants a career that involves health, fitness and kids. In fact, she would like to have children someday, but for now she'll let career opportunities come first.
"The Naked Brothers Band" is back for a second season on Nickelodeon Jan. 21, and brothers Nat and Alex Wolff hit the road for a cross-country tour. Unlike some rock stars, this duo really embraces their budding fame and scores of fans. "There have been, like, two instances where we had bodyguards, like when we went to Disney World, there was a crazy amount of kids," says Nat, 13, lead singer and a songwriter. The band's appeal also has transcended age. This season, we'll see Joel Madden, George Lopez and Tony Hawk, who gave a few tips to junior skateboarder Alex, 10.
Donald Trump returned with "The Celebrity Apprentice" this week, and he tells us, "It's a more vicious version. They have a lot at stake." The 14 contestants are vying for a chance to win money for their charities. Says Trump, 61: "Some we thought were flakes turned out to be really solid people. The show is going to be phenomenal for some and not so good for others."
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New series premiere, old favorites return and reality shows up everywhere
COOL NEW SERIES: CBS airs a three-night miniseries, "Comanche Moon," starting Jan. 13. ... HBO's In Treatment, about a new resident therapist (Gabriel Byrne) starts Jan. 28 and runs Monday through Friday for nine weeks. ... On NBC, "Lipstick Jungle," Brooke Shields' new show, starts Feb. 7. ... Fox's "The Return of Jezebel James" with Parker Posey and Lauren Ambrose starts seven episodes on March 7. ... Tracey Ullman returns to Showtime this spring. ... ABC has dramas "Eli Stone and Cashmere Mafia" and "Miss/Guided," a comedy, but no air dates at press time.
RETURNING FAVORITES: "The Wire" comes back to HBO on Sunday for its final season. ... NBC started up "Law & Order" this week and will bring "Medium" back on Monday. ... Fox's "American Idol" premieres Jan. 15 and 16 in two two-hour shows. ... CBS will bring back "The New Adventures of Old Christine" Feb. 4 for 13 episodes and "Jericho" for seven episodes beginning Feb. 12. ... ABC's "Lost" will return; there was no date at press time.
NEW REALITY: Bravo's "Make Me a Supermodel" starts Thursday for 12 weeks. ... CMT has "My Big Redneck Wedding," starting Friday, for eight episodes. ... ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" spinoff, "Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann," starts Monday.
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BIRTHDAYS
January 6: Gabrielle Reece, 38; John Singleton, 40
January 7: Nicolas Cage, 44; Katie Couric, 51
January 8: David Bowie, 61
January 9: Dave Matthews, 41;
January 10: Pat Benatar, 55; Rod Stewart, 63
January 11: Amanda Peet, 36; Mary J. Blige, 37
January 12: Kirstie Alley, 57
Contributing: Gayle Jo Carter,Jon Tollestrup
 Ask Lorrie Lynch a question about a celeb!
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