On TV, Hope Springs Eternal in Spring Offerings

Feb. 15, 2009 — -- Here's the great thing about TV: Even the worst seasons get a second chance.

We had to sit through a no-fun fall, with the strike-damaged broadcast networks introducing just a handful of new shows, few of which were worth the trouble. And even cable networks have had trouble launching their new shows and relaunching old ones.

Now, we're on the cusp of TV's traditional spring second-season, and if there's one thing we could all use, it's a little spring revival. Even better, there's no need to wait: In terms of quality, at least, we're already in the midst of a small recovery.

Three of TV's best shows, ABC's "Lost," Fox's "24" and FX's "Damages" (along with the lesser but still considerable pleasures of TNT's "The Closer") are going strong, and TV's most popular show, "American Idol," continues to fuel Fox's ratings resurgence. Still to come: the relaunch of AMC's "Breaking Bad" March 8, another historical go-round with Showtime's "The Tudors" (date to be announced), and the long-delayed return of FX's "Rescue Me" April 7.

While we're looking for good news in the winter of our economic discontent, let's not overlook some of fall's brightest stars: new shows such as "Fringe" and "The Mentalist," and terrific holdovers including "House," "Bones," "CSI," "Old Christine," "Ugly Betty," "Desperate Housewives" and "30 Rock" — not to mention a show that truly has taken off in its sophomore season, "The Big Bang Theory."

Heck, with Izzie finally wising up from her sex-with-the-dead stupor, there's even hope for "Grey's Anatomy."

Still, we are a country that continually yearns for the new. A host of new shows are coming, from HBO's adaptation of the beloved "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" novels to PBS' embrace of a less familiar Swedish detective, "Wallander." ABC alone has two live-action sitcoms ("Better Off Ted," "In the Motherhood"), three dramas ("Castle," "Cupid," "The Unusuals") and a cartoon ("The Goode Family") as the network resets after using the fall in a noble but failed attempt to salvage some of last year's better efforts.