Now that we're into the holiday break and reruns are ruling the schedule, let's take a quick look at when our favorite shows are returning from hiatus.
- Battlestar Galactica returns Jan. 16 on Sci Fi with the final ten episodes. Where we left off: The humans and Cylons found what appears to be Earth -- only it's a landscape of charred ruins. Meanwhile, the fragile alliance between the humans and the rebel Cylons is tested as four of the final five are revealed.
- Chuck had its Christmas episode on Dec. 15; currently Chuck is slated to return Feb. 2 after the Monday night run of Superstars of Dance. Where we left off: Sarah was forced to kill a Fulcrum agent in front of Chuck, which seemed to spark some disillusionment. Meanwhile, Casey has a mom. Who knew?
- Doctor Who is filming a string of specials to be aired throughout 2009. The first of these is the 2008 Christmas special, featuring David Tennant and David Morrissey in 1851 London. This will air Christmas Day on BBC One. It's not clear when this will air on Sci Fi. Where we left off: A copy of the Doctor's personality having been joined with Donna's, the Doctor was forced to erase her recent memories and leave her behind with her family in her old life. The Doctor is now traveling alone.
- Eli Stone has been canceled but returns with new episodes Dec. 30 on ABC. Where we left off: Eli decided he was ready to tell Ashley about his gift of prophecy; while Taylor and Matt continue to deal with how her pregnancy has shifted their relationship.
- Eureka is returning to Sci Fi in the Spring for the remaining episodes of season 3. Where we left off: Back in September Eva Therne finished her business and left town; meanwhile, after defying orders in order to save Eureka, Carter was fired as sheriff.
- Fringe is currently airing reruns; new episodes return Jan. 20 on Fox. Where we left off: The "Little Hill" conspirators kidnapped Olivia.
- Ghost Whisperer returns Jan. 9 on CBS. Where we left off: Melinda's dead husband Jim, whose spirit is in the body of a man named Sam, decided he needs to find who the ring in his possession was meant for.
- Heroes is slated to return to NBC on Feb. 2. Where we left off: Both Primatech and Pinehurst blew up, apparently destroying the formula that gives people abilities -- but not before Mohinder was exposed to it, reversing his mutation. Peter used the last syringe to restore his own abilities in order to save his increasingly villainous brother, Nathan.
- Knight Rider returns Dec. 31 on NBC. Where we left off: Honestly, I have no idea. Is anyone still watching this?
- Kyle XY returns to ABC Family on Jan. 12 with a new series of ten episodes. Where we left off: Kyle's girlfriend, Amanda, was kidnapped by Latnok.
- Legend of the Seeker returns with new episodes the weekend of Jan. 10 in syndication. Where we left off: Kahlin revealed to Richard why they cannot be together (intimacy will cause Richard to be enlaved to her) -- except it wasn't really Richard. Oops!
- Life on Mars returns to ABC on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Where we left off: Sam discovered his father, Vic, was a criminal, and that as a child he witnessed Vic trying to kill a woman that turned out to be Annie.
- Medium returns Feb. 2 for a fifth season on NBC. Where we left off: In the season 4 finale back in May, Meghan admitted manipulating Joe to steal his idea, but offered him a quarter-million-dollar dissolution deal.
- Pushing Daisies, though canceled, still has three more episodes. ABC has not announced when they will air, but TV writers are reporting a rumor they will be "burned off" all in one night. Where we left off: Ned thinks he and Olive were saved by Chuck's dead father, who is now in hiding; but the narrator revealed it was actually Ned's long-lost father (played by George Hamilton!).
- Reaper returns to The CW on Tuesdays starting March 17 for a 13-episode second season. Where we left off: After the rebellious demons concluded Sam must be Satan's offspring, Sam demanded a straight answer from the Devil about why the latter is so interested in him, but didn't get one.
- Sanctuary returns Jan. 2 on Sci Fi with a two-parter. Where we left off: Ashley is dealing with her father being Jack the Ripper, while Magnus discovered another of "the Five" with whom she performed augmentation experiments was trying to gain power for himself.
- Smallville returns to The CW on Jan. 15. Where we left off: Doomsday burst into Chloe and Jimmy's wedding, abducting the bride; in the closing shot, a bald head was seen from behind, watching a monitor -- presumably Lex.
- Stargate Atlantis returns for its last two episodes ever on Jan. 2 on Sci Fi. Where we left off: What's relevant for the last stories is that Shepard kept a bargain with Todd the Wraith and allowed him to leave Atlantis to seek a cure for the illness that destroyed his entire hive.
- Supernatural returns Jan. 15 on The CW. Where we left off: Anna, the "angel radio" woman, turned out to be a fallen angel herself; in a fight between angels and demons, Anna recovered her grace and destroyed the demon who had tormented Dean in hell.
- Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is slated to return Feb. 13 on Fox. Where we left off: A gory midseason finale, as Riley was revealed to have been sent from the future to keep John away from "her," only to end up in a pool of blood, and Sarah was shot in a secret warehouse linked to a blogger who talked about a cover-up of "alien" ships and nondestructable metal.
- Torchwood returns for a 5-episode miniseries sometime in the spring on BBC One and, hopefully soon thereafter, BBC America. Where we left off: Everyone was killed. Okay, not everyone, just Owen and Tosh. Meanwhile, Gwen and Ianto were seen in the Doctor Who season finale defending the hub against Daleks.
