J.J. Abrams' new series premieres Jan. 16th. Will you be tuning in?

The new premiere dates for the midseason shows (Jan. thru May) have finally been announced to the public. I, for one, cannot wait to see what the new series’ have to offer. I am most looking forward to Alcatraz and Smash, two shows that are produced by two of the biggest names in Hollywood — J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg. The former will be continuing Abrams’ complicated, character-driven sci-fi dramas that he is famous for. Only time will tell if Alcatraz will be the critical and audience hit that Lost was. It definitely doesn’t hurt matters knowing that Jorge Garcia, AKA Lost’s loveable Hurley, will take on a leading role in the new series.

Spielberg’s Smash, in which he serves as an executive producer, is a show that focuses on the behind-the-scenes look into producing a Broadway show. In Smash, a Broadway production crew wants to create a musical based upon the legendary life of Hollywood’s most iconic movie actress — Marilyn Monroe. Their future Monroe, a naive and unassuming Iowan girl named Karen, begins to stand out amongst the performers who audition for the role, and a new star is born. Karen is played by one of my favorite American Idol contestants ever, Katharine McPhee, who is also making this show her big acting break after a few supporting roles in movies and guest starring in several network shows. The cast is a definite acting ensemble, starring the likes of Will and Grace’s Debra Messing, Pirates of the Caribbean‘s Jack Davenport, and Academy Award Winner, Angelica Huston.

With such big names behind both new series, it is no wonder why both shows seem to have the largest buzz coming into the new television year. Here is the full list of the premiere dates for the 2012 Midseason Television Lineup:

Dec. 28
True Life (season premiere, MTV)

Dec. 29
Urban Oasis Giveaway (series premiere, HGTV)
The Best Place I Ever Sold (series premiere, HGTV)
NY Ink (season premiere, TLC)
Hook, Line & Sisters (series premiere, TLC)

Dec. 30
Infested! (season premiere, Animal Planet)
Four Weddings (season premiere, TLC)

Jan. 1
Angry Boys (series premiere, HBO)
Oprah’s Next Chapter (series premiere, OWN)
Finding Bigfoot (series premiere, Animal Planet)
Extreme Clutter (season premiere, OWN)
Hoarding: Buried Alive (season premiere, TLC)
Baseball Wives (season premiere, Vh1)

Jan. 2
Pretty Little Liars (season premiere, ABC Family)
The Lying Game (season premiere, ABC Family)
It’s A Brad, Brad World (series premiere, Bravo)
Hoarders (season premiere, A&E)
Intervention (season premiere, A&E)
PetKeeping with Marc Morrone (season premiere, Hallmark)

Jan. 3
Jane By Design (series premiere, ABC Family)
Switched At Birth (season premiere, ABC Family)
The Biggest Loser (season premiere, NBC)
Campus PD (series premiere, G4)
Work It (series premiere, ABC)
Celebrity Wife Swap (series premiere, ABC)

Jan. 4
Dog the Bounty Hunter (season premiere, A&E)
Steven Seagal: Lawman (season premiere, A&E)
Not My Mama’s Meals with Bobby Dean (series premiere, Cooking)
Mobbed (series premiere, Fox)

Jan. 5
Jersey Shore (season premiere, MTV)
Project Runway All Stars (series premiere, Lifetime)

Jan. 6
Merlin(season premiere, SyFy)
Say Yes To The Dress Atlanta (season premiere, TLC)
Portlandia (season premiere, IFC)

Can Smash finally get NBC out of its ratings rut? Let's hope so!

Jan. 7
My Cat From Hell (season premiere, Animal Planet)

Jan. 8
Gator Boys (series premiere, Animal Planet)
Oprah’s Master Class (season premiere, OWN)
The Firm (series premiere, NBC)

Jan. 9
Caged (series premiere, MTV)
First Week In (series premiere, Discovery)
House of Anubis (series premiere, Nick)

Jan. 10
Shipping Wars (series premiere, A&E)
Dance Wars (season premiere, Lifetime)
Tabatha Takes Over (season premiere, Bravo)

Jan. 11
Ghost Hunters (season premiere, SyFy)
Face Off (season premiere, SyFy)
Are You There, Chelsea? (series premiere, NBC)
One Tree Hill (season premiere, CW)

Jan. 12
Rob! (series premiere, CBS)
The Finder (series premiere, CBS)
30 Rock (season premiere, NBC)

Jan. 13
Blade (series premiere, G4)

Jan. 15
Napoleon Dynamite (series premiere, Fox)
Undercover Boss (season premiere, CBS)

Jan. 16
Lost Girl (series premiere, SyFy)
Being Human (season premiere, SyFy)
The Revolution (series premiere, ABC)
Alcatraz (series premiere, Fox)

Jan. 17
Southland (season premiere, TNT)
Justified (season premiere, FX)
Ink Master (series premiere, Spike)
Remodeled (series premiere, CW)

Jan. 19
Archer (season premiere, FX)
Unsupervised (series premiere, FX)

Jan. 20
On Freddie Roach (series premiere, HBO)

Jan. 22
American Idol (season premiere, Fox)

Jan. 23
Bad Girls Club: Las Vegas(season premiere, Oxygen)

Jan. 24
Bizarre Foods America (season premiere, Travel)
Joan & Melissa: Smotherhood (season premiere, WE)

Jan. 26
Common Law (series premiere, USA Network)

Jan. 27
Bering Sea Gold (series premiere, Discovery)
Spartacus: Vengeance (season premiere, Starz)

Jan. 29
Luck (series premiere, HBO)

Jan. 30
Best Ink (series premiere, Oxygen)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (season premiere, Logo)

Feb. 2
I Just Want My Pants Back (series premiere, MTV)

Feb. 3
Who Do You Think You Are? (series premiere, NBC)

Feb. 5
The Voice (season premiere, NBC)

Feb. 6
Smash (series premiere, NBC)

Feb. 7
Jersey Couture (season premiere, Oxygen)
Real Housewives of Orange County (season premiere, Bravo)
The River (series premiere, ABC)

Feb. 12
Secret Stash (series premiere, AMC)
The Walking Dead (season premiere, AMC)
Comic Men (series premiere, AMC)
Celebrity Apprentice (season premiere, NBC)

Feb. 19
Eastbound & Down (season premiere, HBO)

Feb. 22
Ghost Hunters International (season premiere, SyFy)

So what does everyone think? Which new series sounds most promising? Like me, are you looking forward to seeing if Smash will be the one series that sends NBC back towards the top? And are you all crossing your fingers that Alcatraz will be just as addictive as Lost? Comment below, and please share your thoughts and opinions!

About Joseph Braverman

My name is Joseph Braverman. I am 24 years old and a recent graduate from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Digital Media. I love watching and analyzing films and television shows. I have a huge obsession with "Best Of" or "Top #" lists. I am currently living in Los Angeles, CA, trying to become enmeshed in the movie industry scene in any way possible. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @JBAwardsCircuit.

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