Happy New TV Year! Pass the Remote is Back with a Heaping Helping of Fresh Scoop!

I hope you all had fabulous holidays and are looking forward to another new year packed with (hopefully) wonderful television moments. The TV gods decided to bless us early with new episodes of some of our favorite shows this week (thanks NBC!), and from what I have seen, it looks like '06 is going to rock the remote control right out of out hands! Just because this blog was on hiatus the past couple of weeks, doesn't mean that I wasn't reading and catching up on all the latest scoop on your favorite shows. Here are a few things that you might have missed during the hiatus (be warned, though, there are spoilers ahead):

Relationship Anew or Renew? TV Guide is reporting in its January 1st-8th edition that Sunday's episode of CBS's Cold Case will have a scene that leads to a new relationship for our unlucky-in-love Detective Lilly Rush. Or is that a relationship renewal? Star Kathryn Morris hints in the article that this new relationship might be with someone from Lil's past. Either way, she promises that we will learn a surprising fact about our dear detective. Maybe Lil will finally have some success in her personal life to go along with all that professional success!

Feeling a Bit Lost? You're probably not alone, which is why ABC is airing a two-season recap of its hit show Lost next Wednesday before the new episode. The hour long special will linearly trace the events of the first 48 days (seasons 1 and 2) on the island for both the fuselage survivors and the tallies. The special airs Wednesday, January 11th at 8 p.m., followed by a new episode at 9 p.m. on ABC.

I Spy a Reunion! That's right, TV's favorite spy caper, ABC's Alias, has another trick up its sleeve when it returns in March. Look for the dearly departed Weiss (Greg Grunberg) to make an appearance in an episode that finds the gang locked in the CIA headquarters according to Spoilerfix.

Desperately Seeking an Explanation! Lynette catches Tom and Gabby in a not-so-friendly pose in the January 8th episode of ABC's Desperate Housewives. But is all as it seems? You never know with this show. I hope it's all a big misunderstanding because I have been enjoying the Gabby-and-Carlos-get-along(sorta) storyline. Plus, does Lynette need another thing to stress about?

Are you looking forward to all these upcoming storylines? I'm psyched about Lil's possible new/old love! I'm dying to find out what's going on between Tom and Gabby, and it's going to be a long wait for March's Alias return!


About Last Night... ABC took the first hour of the night with its coverage of the Rose Bowl, followed by NBC's The Biggest Loser: Special Edition and CBS comedies Still Standing (r) and Yes, Dear (r). At 9, ABC continued its dominance with the second hour of its college football coverage, followed by CBS's Criminal Minds and the second hour of NBC's The Biggest Loser. The final hour of the night went to ABC and its Rose Bowl coverage, followed by CBS's CSI:NY (r) and NBC's Law & Order (r). For more on last night's ratings, visit Zap2it.

~Primetime Pass~
@8 p.m. - ABC kicks off the second season of its summer hit Dancing with the Stars. Lisa Rinna, Tia Carrere, and George Hamilton are among the stars hoofing it up this time around. Over on NBC, Will & Grace kicks off the two-hour comedy block with a new episode followed by new comedy Four Kings.

@9 p.m. - The CSI team investigates the death of a man covered in body hair with a werewolf appearance on CBS. Over on NBC, the comedy continues as My Name is Earl moves to its new night, followed by fellow new-night comedy The Office.

@10 p.m. - The FBI searches for a paramedic who goes missing after treating a gang member on CBS's Without a Trace. Over on NBC, Abby continues to ponder whether she's ready for a baby and Neela and Kovac help a religious teen weigh her pregnancy options.


QUICK CUTS

*Some early bad news for NBC's Book of Daniel. Two affiliates (one in Indiana and one in Arkansas) have dropped the series before it even aired an episode. Both cited viewer concerns for the reason behind the drop. The show stars Aiden Quinn as a minister who is addicted to prescription drugs, has a gay son, and regularly talks to Jesus. It has also received protest from the conservative group American Family Association, which believes that the show "mocks Christianity." Book of Daniel premieres this Friday on NBC.

*DirecTV subscribers will soon be able to view some FX programs before they air and Fox viewers will get second chances to view episodes from two pivotal series. The network signed an exclusive deal with the satellite provider to allow subscribers to download episodes of FX's The Shield and Rescue Me up to two days before they air for $2.99 an episode. Fox viewers will soon be able to download episodes of Prison Break and 24 for six to seven days after the original broadcast for 99 cents an episode. The services will launch later this year, and only DirecTV subscribers who own the new digital video recorders will be able to take advantage of the deal.

*And finally, ABC's Boston Legal leads the pack of television nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards. The legal show earned four comedy nominations (with acting noms going to James Spader, Candice Bergen and William Shatner), followed by fellow ABC show Grey's Anatomy, which landed three in the drama categories (including leading nods for Patrick Dempsey and Sandra Oh). Other drama contenders for best ensemble cast include The Closer, Lost, Six Feet Under and The West Wing. Joining Legal in the comedy category for best ensemble cast are Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Desperate Housewives, Everybody Loves Raymond, and My Name is Earl. The awards will be announced on the live broadcast on January 29th on TNT and TBS.

That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the return of CSI (werewolves?) and Without A Trace! Plus all the latest television news!