Anticipating Mid-Season

Every year there are shows that are held back by the networks, waiting to be aired during mid-season, which is typically during January and February. This year that is still the case, but the cable networks are also getting in on the action with some new shows as well. You can find out all those details in our Winter and Mid-Season TV Schedule that was posted on November 30; but for me, I am most excited to see the following:

On January 18, the new drama Life UnExpected will debut on the CW and is expected to bring back a taste of what the WB was all about. In the network’s heyday shows like Dawson’s Creek, Everwood, Gilmore Girls and Felicity, brought quality to the forefront and garnered adoring audiences in droves. It is my firm belief this new series will be a return to that special time.

The series stars Britt Robertson (Swingtown) as 15-year-old girl Lux, who has spent her entire life bouncing from one foster family to another in Portland, Oregon. She decides to take control of her life by seeking to become an emancipated minor. During her journey through the legalities, she learns the identities of her biological father Baze (Kristoffer Polaha, North Shore) and mother Cate (Shiri Appleby, Roswell). Much to Lux’s surprise her mother is a local radio personality for whom she has been listening to for as long as she can remember. Unexpectedly a judge decides that Lux isn’t ready for emancipation, granting temporary joint custody to Baze and Cate instead. Kerr Smith (Dawson’s Creek) stars as Cate’s current boyfriend as well as her on-air partner.

All the trailers I have seen make me WANT to see this show and all the articles I have read give the show nothing but glowing, rave reviews. I really hope it can live up to the hype.

On January 22, the Syfy series Caprica, the “prequel” to Battlestar Galactica, will finally have its two-hour premiere. And, quite frankly, the date can’t get here soon enough.

The series is set 58 years before Battlestar Galactica and follows two families – the Graystones and the Adamas. They live in a society close to our own, but in the world of the peaceful 12 Colonies. Daniel Graystone (Eric Stoltz, Mask) is a pioneer in the technology of artificial intelligence and robotics, becoming the maker of the Cylons. Joseph Adama (first known as Joseph Adams) (Esai Morales, NYPD Blue) is the father of William Adama, who goes on to be the commander of the Battlestar named Galactica in the not-too-distant future. Other cast members include Paula Malcomson (Deadwood), Polly Walker (Rome), Madga Apanowicz (Kyle XY) and newcomer Alessandra Torresani.

I’ve been anxious for this show to start since getting to see the premiere this past spring during the Paley Festival and I can only hope that viewers will tune it just like they did for Battlestar.

ABC picked up the new Canadian series called Copper for a 13-episode run, but no debut date has been set. The drama is about five rookie cops at work and at play. And, while not much else is known about the show as of yet, I am excited because the cast is to include Eric Johnson (Smallville and Flash Gordon), Gregory Smith (Everwood) and Missy Peregrym (Reaper).

Lastly, the new series Justified is expected to air sometime next year on FX; and given that Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood, Hit Man and Damages) is the lead, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

The series is about 19th century-style lawman U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, who enforces his own brand of justice in a way that puts a target on his back with criminals and places him at odds with his bosses in the Marshal service. He ends up being reassigned to the district that includes his rural Kentucky hometown.

The network picked up this show for a 13-episode run and despite only seeing a couple short clips, it looks like an edgy crime drama, which seems to fit right in with most of the programming on FX. Please note the network just recently changed the name of the show from Lawman to Justified.

Those are the mid-season shows I am looking forward to most. What shows are you anticipating?

Artist’s Spotlight:  This month’s spotlight is on jewelry designer Lin Pyatt, who runs Wicked Apple Jewelry Studio out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Lin specializes in handcrafted art jewelry featuring dark, historical, pop-culture-influenced designs, including Disney, fantasy, horror and Steampunk. She also creates and sells jewelry for charity and special events. Lin began making presents for people as a child and 20 years later she makes wonderful one-of-a-kind treasures and cstom pieces out of glass, metal and even eco-friendly “found” objects. Lin majored in Anthropology and uses her research skills on ornamentation inspired by Ancient Egypt and Asia as well as personal adornments of all types. You can learn more about Lin and Wicked Apple Jewelry Studio by visiting her Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Las-Vegas-NV/Wicked-Apple-Jewelry/142392117934. You can also contact her at: wickedapple@ymail.com.

Asian Cutie by Lin Pyatt

The featured piece called Asian Cutie has a distinct retro feel and classic beauty to it and is a fused glass pendant with an Asian inspired design.