A look at which shows are coming back after the midseason hiaitus, and when. The real question for each returning show is: How many episodes did they get in the can before the writers' strike shut down production -- and how many have already been broadcast? TV Guide has an online survey of what's known in this respect, which, though it skips some of our shows, is nonetheless very useful. For the link, see the links box below.
Flash Gordon (returns Jan. 4)
Sci Fi/NBC.
New episodes of Flash Gordon return Jan. 4 at 8 pm ET on Sci Fi. No word on how many new episodes they have left to broadcast.
Stargate Atlantis (returns Jan. 4)
Sci Fi Channel
Like Flash, new episodes of Flash Gordon return Jan. 4 at 10 pm ET on Sci Fi. No word on how many new episodes they have left to broadcast. The Dec. 7 mid-season finale saw the return of Higginson as a Weir clone in a two-part cliffhanger that will be resolved on January 4. Paul McGillion is slated to return as the dead Carson Beckett for a two-episode arc set to air in late February. The upcoming half-season is also supposed to fights and alliances with the Wraith and the Replicators, plus a visit to Earth for John Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) and what the producers are promising will be a shocking finale. How much of it will we actually see? Sci Fi channel hasn't said.
Moonlight (returns Jan. 11)
Richard Cartwright/CBS
New episodes of Moonlight return Friday, Jan. 11 on CBS. UPDATE: I'm told that there are two episodes of Moonlight left, which will air Jan. 11 and Jan. 18.
Smallville (late Jan.)
Lorenzo Agius /The CW
Are Smallville's producers more efficient than everyone else? Somehow they have six episodes in the can still to broadcast on The CW, enough to compare with the 7-ep run slated for the midseason replacements. Look for the revelations from the last broadcast episode, "Gemini," to be resolved over the next several stories: the return of Bizarro Clark and the expected return of Milton Fine (played by James Marsters).
Supernatural (Jan./Feb.)
Sergei Bachlakov / The CW
Supernatural, like Smallville, is currently airing reruns on Thursdays in anticipation of a return to new episodes. TV Guide estimates they have two to four left to show, and The CW will be missing a bet if they don't pair them with new episodes of Smallville during February sweeps for a few "All New" nights not many other nets will be able to provide with scripted dramas. After the fan-warming Christmas episode, in which we finally got the backstory on Dean's neck chain, look for some grim "aren't we at war?" stuff along with more of the romance the network asked for.
Doctor Who (summer)
BBC Worldwide
Thank goodness for British TV: two series, Doctor Who and Torchwood, are going to air in the US unimpeded by the strike after they've completed their runs in the UK. Season 4 of Doctor Who is expected to air in March on the BBC; Sci Fi is likely to air the 13 episodes here relatively soon thereafter, as they did last year with season 3.
Bionic Woman (unknown)
NBC
According to TV Guide, there are no new episodes of Bionic Woman left to air. Only 13 episodes were ordered, so either the remaining five (eight regular episodes have been broadcast) will either be made after the strike and aired in the summer, or held over to the fall.
Chuck (unknown)
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Eleven episodes have aired out of 22; TV Guide thinks 13 were made before the strike, so there are two left. The show is not currently on NBC's schedule. My guess is that the two remaining episodes will be held to air as specials during sweeps, but the current status is extended hiatus.
Reaper (unknown)
Sergei Bachlakov / The CW
All that The CW has said so far is that its estimated two remaining episodes will return to the schedule "later in the season." Reruns of Reaper return Tuesday, Jan. 15; the show will switch to Thursdays at the end of February.
Heroes (probably done)
NBC
Heroes may be done for now. It completed and broadcast its 11-episode first half, running up to the destruction of the virus and the return of Sylar ("I'm back!"). Season 2.5 was due to be produced alongside the hiatus-filling Heroes: Origins and broadcast starting in February, but both of those operations were suspended by the strike. It's looking a lot like there won't be any more of season 2, and we'll have to look ahead to season 3 in the fall (assuming the strike ends there is anything to look forward to in the fall).
Pushing Daisies (probably done)
ABC/Justin Stephens
There are no episodes of Pushing Daisies left, so it's probably done for season 1. The good news is that with the rave reviews and Golden Globe nominations, we can count on seeing a season 2.
Journeyman (canceled)
Mitch Haaseth/NBC Photo
Journeyman wrapped up its half-season by coming full circle, with Dan encountering the man by whom he was bequeathed his traveling tasks and witnessing the moment of his first traveling. It looks very much like that's all she wrote for season 1. Whether there will be a season 2 is a very open question. It's no secret NBC was unhappy with Journeyman's ratings, but then its lead-in (Heroes) was unexpectedly weak, and Journeyman has developed a loyal fan base. Nonetheless, word is NBC has struck and destroyed the sets, so it's not coming back.
