Midseason TV Premieres: When to Look for Paula Abdul, Matthew Perry, & the New Idol Judges

Now that we don’t have Outlaw, My Generation, or The Whole Truth to pick on anymore, there is a whole new batch of shows that are about to battle for your attention on the broadcast networks.

Will ABC’s new comedy starring Matthew Perry attract more viewers than Courteney Cox was luring with Cougar Town? Will David E. Kelley bring his A-game to Harry’s Law on NBC? Will the new judges — and new timeslot — boost ratings for American Idol?

Here are the start dates for new and returning shows on the Big Four. (The CW has yet to announce any changes to its midseason lineup.)

Jan. 3
The Bachelor (season premiere, ABC)

Jan. 4
V (season premiere, ABC)
Live to Dance (series premiere, CBS)
The Biggest Loser: Couples (season premiere, NBC)

Jan. 6
Wipeout (season premiere, ABC)

Jan. 9
The Cape (series premiere, NBC)
Bob’s Burgers (series premiere, Fox)

Jan. 12
Off the Map (series premiere, ABC)

Jan. 17
Harry’s Law (series premiere, NBC)

Jan. 19
American Idol (season premiere, Fox)

Jan. 20
Parks and Recreation (season premiere, NBC)
Perfect Couples (series premiere, NBC)

Feb. 7
The Chicago Code (series premiere, Fox)

Feb. 8
Mixed Signals (series premiere, Fox)

Feb. 9
Mr. Sunshine (series premiere, ABC)

Feb. 16
Survivor (season premiere, CBS)

Feb. 28
The Event (show returns from hiatus, NBC)

March 6
Celebrity Apprentice (season premiere, NBC)

March 16
The Marriage Ref (season premiere, NBC)
America’s Next Great Restaurant (series premiere, NBC)

March 29
Body of Proof (series premiere, ABC)

April 6
Breaking In (series premiere, Fox)

April 12
Happy Endings (series premiere, ABC)

Descriptions for new shows:

The Chicago Code (formerly Ride-Along) is a new police drama from creator Shawn Ryan that stars Jason Clark (Brotherhood) and Jennifer Beals (Lie to Me).

Bob’s Burgers is a new animated comedy about a man, his family, and a burger joint.

Mixed Signals is a relationship comedy that stars David Denman (The Office), Nelson Franklin (I Love You, Man), and Kris Marshall (Human Target).

Breaking In (working title) is a workplace comedy based at a high-tech security firm.

Mr. Sunshine stars Matthew Perry as a self-absorbed manager of a San Diego sports arena.

Happy Endings features Elisha Cuthbert (24) as a gal who breaks up with her fiancée (Zach Knighton of FlashForward) on their wedding day.

Body of Proof stars Dana Delany as a neurosurgeon who’s forced to make a career change after a car accident prevents her from running to the emergency room.

Harry’s Law is a new legal drama starring Kathy Bates.

America’s Next Great Restaurant is an elimination competition in which the winner will earn his or her own restaurant chain.

The Cape is about a wrongly accused cop who dons a cape and mask to fight corruption.

Perfect Couples has been described as depicting “the misadventures of three engaging couples as they struggle to find out what makes the ideal relationship — and how to maintain it through humorous trial-and-error.”

Live to Dance is Paula Abdul’s new competition show that awards $500,000 to the top hoofer.

TV Pilots Building Early Buzz

Although most pilots are yet to be completed, several projects are enjoying early buzz based on screenings, testings, dailies or the strength of their script and cast.

ABC's sci-fi drama "Flash Forward" starring Joseph Fiennes is a lock for a series order.

Also hot on the drama side at ABC are "Happy Town," "Eastwick" and "Inside the Box," with "Limelight," "V" and the Dave Hemingson project also looking good. Last year's pilot "Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas," which didn't make the cut in August, is back in contention, now for next season.

On the comedy side, "An American Family," the untitled Ricky Blitt project starring Alyssa Milano, and "Cedric" are being buzzed about, along with the Courteney Cox starrer "Cougar Town."

At Fox, the comic book-based "Human Target," directed by Simon West and starring Jackie Earle Haley, is considered a shoo-in, joining the already ordered "Glee."

Also hot is the medical drama "Maggie Hill." Comedy-wise, "Sons of Tucson" and "Cop House" are considered front-runners.

"Trauma" looks strong at NBC, with the opening action sequence of the Peter Berg-directed pilot creating a lot of buzz. "Parenthood," a recognizable property is based on the 1989 movie, boasts a well-liked script by Jason Katims and a star-studded cast that includes Peter Krause, Maura Tierney, Monica Potter, Erika Christenen and Craig T. Nelson. That project has begun preliminary staffing.

Also in serious contention at NBC are David E. Kelley's "Legally Mad" and the Katee Sackhoff starrer "Lost & Found."

On the comedy side, "Community," starring Joel McHale and Steve Martin, is hot, with the previously shot "Off Duty," starring Bradley Whitford, looking promising along with "100 Questions for Charlotte Payne," which is coming off a strong table read.

At CBS, the "NCIS" planted spinoff starring Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J looks like a sure bet.

The rest of the field is still murky, with the drama "Three Rivers," toplined by Alex O'Loughlin, considered a strong contender. Also talked about are the dramas "The Good Wife," "Washington Field" and "US Attorney" and the comedies "Happiness Isn't Everything," starring Jason Biggs, Richard Dreyfuss and Mary Steenburgen, and "Accidentally on Purpose," starring Jenna Elfman.
All six CW pilots are tracking well for now.

The new "Melrose Place" is considered a go, and network brass is said to be happy with the "Gossip Girl" planted spinoff, also considered a front-runner.

The competition will be fierce for the remaining couple of slots, with "Light Years," "A Beautiful Life," "Body Politic" and "Vampire Diaries" all said to be in contention.

The new 2009/2010 season will be announced by the networks during their annual release parties taking place in mid-May.