Tuned In: New shows ramp up the small screen in new year

Broadcast and cable networks are sitting on a pile -- more like a mountain -- of new programming that will begin rolling out in the next few weeks. Here are some of the major premieres networks have announced -- no date for AMC's "Mad Men" yet but assume sometime in March or April -- between now and late April:

"The Taste" (8 p.m. Jan. 22): A new cooking competition series, this one pits 16 pro chefs and home cooks against one another as their culinary creations are judged via a blind taste test. Judges are Anthony Bourdain, British food star Nigella Lawson, expert chef/author Ludo Lefebvre and restaurateur Brian Malarkey.

"Zero Hour" (8 p.m. Feb. 14): Paranormal enthusiast magazine publisher Hank (Anthony Edwards, "ER") searches for his wife (Jacinda Barrett) after she is abducted from her antique clock shop in a series that combines elements of "Kidnapped" with "National Treasure."

"Red Widow" (9 p.m. March 3): Based on a Dutch series, this drugs and crime soap centers on a stay-at-home mom (Radha Mitchell, "Pitch Black") and her family, who are heavily involved in organized crime. Goran Visnjic ("ER") also stars.

"Celebrity Diving" (8 p.m. March 19): Fox will beat ABC out of the gate with a one-time special, "Stars in Danger: The High Dive" (8 p.m. Jan. 9), but that won't stop ABC from moving forward with its own diving competition series.

"How to Live With Your Parents (for the Rest of Your Life)" (9:30 p.m. April 3): Polly (Sarah Chalke, "Scrubs") moves herself and her daughter back into her parents' (Brad Garrett, Elizabeth Perkins) home in this sitcom.

"Family Tools" (8:30 p.m. May 1): Jack (Kyle Bornheimer, "Worst Week") takes over the family business after his father (J.K. Simmons, "The Closer") has a heart attack.

Returning series: "The Bachelor" (8 p.m. Jan. 7), "Body of Proof" (10 p.m. Feb. 5) and "Dancing With the Stars" (8 p.m. March 18).

"Golden Boy" (previews 10 p.m. Feb. 26 and March 5 before moving to 9 p.m. Fridays on March 8): An ambitious cop (Theo James, "Bedlam") becomes the youngest police commissioner in New York City history. Chi McBride co-stars as his veteran partner/mentor.

"The Job" (8 p.m. Feb. 8): A new reality competition that gives candidates a chance to win positions with top American companies.

Returning series: "Rules of Engagement" (8:30 p.m. Feb. 4), "Survivor" (8 p.m. Feb. 13), "The Amazing Race" (8 p.m. Feb. 17), "Undercover Boss" (8 p.m. April 19).

"The Carrie Diaries" (8 p.m. Jan. 14): A prequel to "Sex and the City," this 1984-set hour-long drama follows the teenage exploits of Carrie Bradshaw (AnneSophia Robb).

"Cult" (9 p.m. Feb. 19): An investigative journalist (Matt Davis, "The Vampire Diaries") laughs off his brother's rant about a TV show that's out to get him until his brother disappears. Then he begins looking into the darker side of fandom surrounding a TV show called "Cult."

"The Following" (9 p.m. Jan. 21): A psychological thriller created by Kevin Williamson ("The Vampire Diaries"), "The Following" stars Kevin Bacon as an ex-FBI agent who tracks down a serial killer (James Purefoy, "Rome") and his groupies who also kill.

Returning series: "The Cleveland Show" (7:30 p.m. Jan. 13), "American Idol" (8 p.m. Jan. 16), "Kitchen Nightmares" (8 p.m. Jan. 25), "Touch" (8 p.m. Feb. 8).

"Deception" (10 p.m. Jan. 7): NBC's version of "Revenge," "Deception" follows a detective (Meagan Good) who infiltrates a family after a socialite overdoses.

"1600 Penn" (9:30 p.m. Jan. 10): Idiot man-boy son (2003 Carnegie Mellon University grad Josh Gad, "Back to You") of the American president (Bill Pullman, "Independence Day") complicates life for everyone in the White House in this broad family comedy.

"Do No Harm" (10 p.m. Jan. 31): Neurosurgeon Jason Cole (Steven Pasquale, "Rescue Me") wakes up in a wrecked hotel room to discover he has an alternate personality, Ian Price, who takes over at the same time each night, wreaking havoc.

"Ready for Love" (8 p.m. March 31): Eva Longoria ("Desperate Housewives") executive produces a new reality matchmaking series.

Returning series: "The Biggest Loser" (9 p.m. Jan. 6), "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" (8 and 8:30 p.m. Jan. 8), "Smash" (9 p.m. Feb. 5), "Community" (8 p.m. Feb. 7), "Celebrity Apprentice" (9 p.m. March 3), "Fashion Star" (8 p.m. March 8), "The Voice" (8 p.m. March 25), "Revolution" (10 p.m. March 25).

"The Abolitionists" (9 p.m. Mondays Jan. 8-22): Airing as a presentation of "American Experience," this history series intertwines stories of Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, Angelina Grimke, Harriet Beecher Stowe and John Brown.

"Attenborough's Life Stories" (8 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 23-Feb. 6): A "Nature" presentation, this three-part miniseries celebrates Sir David Attenborough's 60 years in natural history television.

"Shakespeare Uncovered" (9 p.m. Fridays Jan. 25-Feb. 8): A look at the stories behind William Shakespeare's most popular plays.

"Constitution USA With Peter Sagal" (8 p.m. Tuesday May 14-21): The host of public radio's "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me" travels the country examining how the U.S. Constitution does and does not work in the modern era.

"The Central Park Five" (9 p.m. April 16): Ken Burns executive produces this new film about five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem wrongly convicted of raping Trisha Meili, a graduate of Upper St. Clair High School.

Returning series: "Downton Abbey" on "Masterpiece" (9 p.m. Jan. 6), "Antiques Roadshow" (8 p.m. Jan. 7), "Market Warriors" (9 p.m. Jan. 7), "Pioneers of Television" (8 p.m. Jan. 15), "Call the Midwife" (8 p.m. March 31).

"Teen Trouble" (10 tonight, Lifetime): Teen behavior specialist/author Josh Shipp embeds himself in the lives of self-destructive adolescents and offers advice to the teens' parents.

"United States of Bacon" (10 and 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Destination America): From hipster cult food appreciation to newfound mainstream popularity, bacon is everywhere. In this series Chef Todd Fisher road trips across America in search of new uses for the pork treat.

"Totally T-Boz" (8 p.m. Tuesday, TLC): Celeb docuseries follows Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins from the girl group TLC as she moves to Los Angeles to reinvent her career.

"The Sisterhood" (9 p.m. Tuesday, TLC): A docuseries about the wives of several Atlanta preachers.

"Buckwild" (10 p.m. Thursday, MTV): Appears to be the "Jersey Shore" of Appalachia. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., criticized the series earlier this month, asking MTV to reconsider airing it.

"As a U.S. Senator, I am repulsed at this business venture, where some Americans are making money off of the poor decisions of our youth," Mr. Manchin wrote. "I cannot imagine that anyone who loves this country would feel proud profiting off of 'Buckwild.' Instead of showcasing the beauty of our people and our state, you preyed on young people, coaxed them into displaying shameful behavior -- and now you are profiting from it. That is just wrong."

MTV had been planning to send me a review copy, but after that kerfuffle the network reneged and said no screeners would be available before the show debuts.

"Making Mr. Right" (9 p.m. Jan. 6, VH1): Three women posing as matchmakers dupe guys into testing their dating skills while molding the guys into their ideal of Mr. Right.

"Vanderpump Rules" (9 p.m. Jan. 7, Bravo): Docudrama about the staff of Lisa Vanderpump's West Hollywood restaurant SUR.

"Black Ink Crew" (9 p.m. Jan. 7, VH1): Docuseries set in a Harlem tattoo parlor.

"The Staircase" (10 p.m. Jan. 7, Sundance Channel): The eight-part Peabody-winning crime documentary re-airs with two new episodes airing at 10 p.m. March 4 and 11.

"Africa" (10 p.m. Jan. 8, Discovery): A seven-part documentary series from the team behind "Life," this latest endeavor takes viewers deep into the continent to reveal wonders of its natural world.

"60 Minutes Sports" (10 p.m. Jan. 9, Showtime): New monthly sports news show kicks off with reporter Bob Simon interviewing 25-year-old soccer star Lionel Messi.

"Washington Heights" (10 and 10:30 p.m. Jan. 9, MTV): Docuseries that follows nine friends living in a New York hipster neighborhood.

"Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual" (9 p.m. Jan. 12, WEtv): The latest celeb docuseries follows yet another pop icon.

"Continuum" (8 p.m. Jan. 14, Syfy): A cop from the future gets stranded in the present after terrorists escape their planned execution in 2077 and jump back in time to 2012, dragging the cop with them.

"Food Factory" (10 and 10:30 p.m. Jan. 14, Destination America): Former Pittsburgher Jon Hein ("Fast Food Mania") hosts a tour of factories, including the places where Dubble Bubble gum, Planters peanuts and Dannon yogurt are made.

"Pete Rose: Hits & Mrs." (10 p.m. Jan. 14, TLC): Docuseries that follows the controversial professional ballplayer and his new fiancee, former Playboy model Kiana Kim.

"The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents" (9 p.m. Jan. 15, History): A new eight-part series that debuts timed to the presidential inauguration.

"Real Husbands of Hollywood" (10 p.m. Jan. 15, BET): A semi-scripted parody of reality shows, this one follows the semi-real lives of its stars: Kevin Hart, Nick Cannon, Boris Kodjoe, Duane Martin, J.B. Smoove and Robin Thicke.

"Second Generation Wayans" (10:30 p.m. Jan. 15, BET): A scripted comedy that follows Damien Dante Wayans and Craig Wayans as they attempt to emerge from the shadows of their uncles to make their own way in Hollywood.

"Ghost Mine" (10 p.m. Jan. 16, Syfy): "Gold Rush" + "Ghost Hunters" = "Ghost Mine."

"Kroll Show" (10:30 p.m. Jan. 16, Comedy Central): Nick Kroll ("The League") stars in his own sketch comedy show.

"Legit" (10:30 p.m. Jan. 17, FX): An edgy stand-up comic from Australia (Jim Jefferies) lives in L.A. struggling to go legit with support from his best friends (Dan Bakkedahl, DJ Qualls), one of whom is confined to a wheelchair.

"Newsreaders" (12 a.m. Jan. 17, Adult Swim on Cartoon Network): From the producers of "Children's Hospital" comes this parody of TV newsmagazine shows.

"Stuff You Should Know" (10 p.m. Jan. 19, Science Channel): Based on the podcast of the same name, this series follows hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant as they seek out and share offbeat bits of knowledge.

"Ripper Street" (9 p.m. Jan. 19, BBC America): A period police drama set just after Jack the Ripper's reign of terror.

"Chasing the Saturdays" (10 p.m. Jan. 20, E!): A reality show about a British singing group as it moves to Los Angeles.

"Belle's" (10 p.m. Jan. 21, TV One): A sitcom set in a soul food restaurant operated by widower William "Big Bell" Cooper (Keith David, "Crash").

"Edge of America" (9 p.m. Jan. 22, Travel Channel): Entertainment journalist Geoff Edgers immerses himself in bizarre American subcultures, including the Calf Testicle Festival in Oklahoma.

"Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan" (10 p.m. Jan. 22, BBC America): The former "Lost" star travels the globe to find exotic snakes and bugs in their natural habitats.

"Incredible Crew" (8 p.m. Jan. 24, Cartoon Network): A live-action, half-hour sketch comedy show executive produced by Nick Cannon and starring a cast of teens.

"Built" (9 p.m. Jan. 28, Style): Docuseries about male fashion models who moonlight as handymen.

"Southie Rules" (10 p.m. Jan. 29, A&E): Docuseries that follows a South Boston family.

"Nikki & Sara LIVE" (11 p.m. Jan. 29, MTV): Comedians Nikki Glaser and Sara Schaefer host a weekly comedy show that comments on news and pop culture.

"The Americans" (10 p.m. Jan. 30, FX): A 1980s-set drama about the marriage of two KGB spies (Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys) who live outside Washington, D.C., during the height of the Cold War.

"Monday Mornings" (10 p.m. Feb. 4, TNT): David E. Kelley ("Harry's Law") and CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta executive produce this medical drama that stars Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina, Jamie Bamber and Jennifer Finnigan.

"That Sex Show" (11 p.m. Feb. 4, Logo): A new, live relationship and sex advice show.

"The Jenny McCarthy Show" (10:30 p.m. Feb. 8, VH1): Weekly pop culture rundown starring the former MTV mainstay.

"The Face" (9 p.m. Feb. 12, Oxygen): Nigel Barker hosts this reality competition as aspiring models attempt to become the face of ULTA Beauty.

"Freakshow" (9:30 p.m. Feb. 14, AMC): A docudrama about the family that operates the Venice Beach Freakshow, a Southern California tourist attraction.

"Immortalized" (10 p.m. Feb. 14, AMC): A taxidermy competition series.

"The Jeselnik Offensive" (10:30 p.m. Feb. 19, Comedy Central): Anthony Jeselnik, a 1997 graduate of Upper St. Clair High School familiar from the blistering he gives honorees on Comedy Central Roasts, comments on the week's news. Before his series premieres, Comedy Central will air his stand-up special, "Anthony Jeselnik: Caligula" (10 p.m. Jan. 13).

"Armed & Ready" (10 and 10:30 p.m. Feb. 26, Travel Channel): Legless author/photographer Kevin Michael Connolly tackles adventures.

"Robot Combat League" (10 p.m. Feb. 26, Syfy): Teams control robots that fight in an arena in this reality competition.

"Stranded" (10 p.m. Feb. 27, Syfy): Paranormal enthusiasts are deposited in a supposedly haunted location and record their experiences with hand-held cameras.

"The Ben Show" (10 p.m. Feb. 28, Comedy Central): Ben Hoffman ("infoMania") stars in a hybrid sketch/man-on-the-street show.

"Nathan for You" (10:30 p.m. Feb. 28, Comedy Central): A "docu-reality comedy" featuring Nathan Fielder ("Jon Benjamin Has a Van") as he tries to help a small business turn a profit.

"Vikings" (10 p.m. March 3, History): History jumps on the scripted programming bandwagon with this drama series from Michael Hirst ("The Tudors") about the Dark Ages raiders, traders and explorers. Travis Fimmel ("The Beast"), Gabriel Byrne ("In Treatment") and Jessalyn Gilsig ("Glee") star.

"Rectify" (10 p.m. April 22, Sundance Channel): A man is released from prison after serving 20 years and finds himself living in a world he no longer understands in this drama series.

"Inside Amy Schumer" (10:30 p.m. April 30, Comedy Central): Comedian explores sex and relationships through scripted vignettes and stand-up comedy.

Returning cable series:

Today: "Say Yes to the Dress" (9 p.m., TLC).

Tuesday: "Hardcore Pawn: Chicago" (9:30 and 10 p.m., TruTV).

Wednesday: "American Horror Story" (10 p.m., FX).

Thursday: "What Not to Wear" (10 p.m., TLC).

Thursday: "House of Anubis" (8 p.m., Nickelodeon).

Jan. 4: "True Justice" (9 p.m., Starz), "Bering Sea Gold" (10 p.m., Discovery), "Merlin" (10 p.m., Syfy), "Say Yes to the Dress: Randy Knows Best" (10 p.m., TLC).

Jan. 6: "Mob Wives" (8 p.m., VH1).

Jan. 7: "Love & Hip Hop" (8 p.m., VH1), "Switched at Birth" (8 p.m., ABC Family), "Bunheads" (9 p.m., ABC Family), "Cougar Town" (10 p.m., TBS).

Jan. 8: "America's Supernanny: Family Lockdown" (10 p.m., Lifetime), "Justified" (10 p.m., FX), "The Burn with Jeff Ross" (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central).

Jan. 9: "Find Our Missing" (9 p.m., TV One), "Barter Kings" (10 p.m., A&E).

Jan. 10: "The Millionaire Matchmaker" (9 p.m., Bravo), "Kathy" (10 p.m., Bravo), "Property Wars" (10 p.m., Discovery).

Jan. 13: "Girls" (9 p.m., HBO), "Shameless" (9 p.m., Showtime), "Enlightened" (9:30 p.m., HBO), "House of Lies" (10 p.m., Showtime), "Californication" (10:30 p.m., Showtime).

Jan. 14: "Being Human" (9 p.m., Syfy), "Lost Girl" (10 p.m., Syfy).

Jan. 15: "Face Off" (9 p.m., Syfy), "Total Blackout" (10:30 p.m., Syfy).

Jan. 16: "Ghost Hunters" (9 p.m., Syfy), "Workaholics" (10 p.m., Comedy Central).

Jan. 17: "Anger Management" (9 and 9:30 p.m., FX), "Archer" (10 p.m., FX), "Suits" (10 p.m., USA), "Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell" (11 p.m., FX).

Jan. 18: "Best Week Ever" (10 p.m., VH1).

Jan. 19: "An Idiot Abroad 3" (9 p.m., Science).

Jan. 22: "Our America with Lisa Ling" (10 p.m., OWN), "White Collar" (10 p.m., USA).

Jan. 23: "Necessary Roughness" (10 p.m., USA).

Jan. 24: "Project Runway" (9 p.m., Lifetime).

Jan. 25: "Spartacus: War of the Damned" (9 p.m., Starz).

Jan. 26: "My Big Redneck Vacation" (9 p.m., CMT).

Jan. 28: "Dallas" (9 p.m., TNT).

Jan. 30: "Savage Family Diggers," formerly titled "American Digger" (10 p.m. Jan. 30, Spike TV).

Jan. 31: "Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell" (10 p.m., Food Network).

Feb. 5: "Tosh.0" (10 p.m., Comedy Central).

Feb. 10: "Bar Rescue" (9 p.m., Spike TV), "The Walking Dead" (9 p.m., AMC), "Talking Dead" (10 p.m., AMC).

Feb. 11: "Bizarre Foods America" (9 p.m., Travel Channel), "Inside Comedy" (11 p.m., Showtime).

Feb. 14: "Comic Book Men" (9 p.m., AMC).

March 6: "Haunted Collector" (9 p.m., Syfy).

March 31: "Game of Thrones" (9 p.m., HBO).

AMC has renewed "The Walking Dead," but showrunner Glen Mazzara will depart due to creative differences with AMC executives. He's the second executive producer to leave the series. ... Deadline.com reports CBS will renew "How I Met Your Mother" for a ninth season, taking the show to May 2014. ... TNT canceled "Leverage," which aired its final episode on Christmas day. ... ABC has pulled already canceled drama "666 Park Avenue" from its Sunday night schedule and will replace it for the first three weeks of January with comedies "Happy Endings" and "Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23."

TV Q&A and Tuned In podcast have the week off.

This week's Tuned In Journal includes posts on "Freaks and Geeks," "Reading Rainbow" and "The Joe Schmo Show." Read online-only TV content at post-gazette.com/tv.