The holidays are a tough time to be a TV fan. Most shows go on hiatus for a few weeks before Christmas and don't return until the middle of January. But for many TV fans, the wait will be worth it this holiday season. On Jan. 17, 2013, a ton of great shows are coming back with brand new episodes. Some TV shows were just off the air for a few weeks for the holidays, but others are highly anticipated premieres of shows that have been off the air for months. In other words, this is the night when some of the most hotly anticipated premieres of 2013 will happen!
Mark your calendars and clear your DVRs: Jan. 17, 2013, is going to be a night of truly great TV. Check your local listings for more details!
"Suits"
One of USA's best-loved series is the legal drama "Suits," which will return from its midseason hiatus with the new episode "Blind-sided." The show, now in its second season, has been off the air since August and will air a total of six episodes this winter. The show has already been renewed for a third season.
When last we left Mike and Harvey, they had just used a very cunning gambit to send evil attorney Daniel Hardman packing. However, it's unlikely that Hardman is gone for good: Many fans think he will return to make another power play before the end of the season. Fans are also excited to see how the love triangle between Mike, Rachel, and Tess will resolve itself.
"Archer"
Adam Reed's hilarious spy comedy "Archer" returns on Jan. 17 with its fourth season premiere. "Archer" hasn't aired a new episode since March, so fans are chomping at the bit for this show to come back. It's not clear which episode will premiere first, though there are some amusing titles in the pipeline for this season, including "Coyote Lovely" and "The Wind Cries Mary."
Fans are also excited for an episode that will feature a crossover with H. Jon Benjamin's other hit animated series "Bob's Burgers." As Benjamin explains it: "It's like a 'Bourne Identity'-type plotline. It starts off with Archer as Bob, making hamburgers, but he doesn't know that he's Archer. Russian thugs come in, and Bob dispatches them expertly…he has to try to figure out why he's so good at killing people."
"Haven"
This SyFy channel series, based on a novel by Stephen King, will air two episodes back-to-back on Jan. 17. One episode, "Reunion" was postponed because of the tragic events at Newtown: The episode features a high school where a string of murders have occurred. The season finale, "Thanks for the Memories" will air afterward.Though many people wrote it off as just another teen drama when it first premiered, "The Vampire Diaries" is actually a very mature and engaging supernatural show. This season's relationship between Damon and Elena has been made more gripping by the plot point of the "sire bond," which forces Elena to question her feelings for Damon.
When last we saw the Mystic Falls gang, Klaus had just killed a whole pile of hybrids, along with Tyler's mom. The fallout is going to be epic. The new episode "After School Special" will be the first new episode of Season 4 since Dec. 13.
Though it may be low-rated, "Parks and Rec" is well deserving of your attention. After airing its most recent episode on Dec. 6, the show returns with "Two Parties" on Jan. 17. This could be the last year for the low-rated show, which is a shame: Leslie Knope and company have never been better. Nick Offerman is one of the funniest comedic actors on TV right now, and the lead-up to Leslie and Ben's wedding has been surprisingly enjoyable. Plus, everyone wants to see how Ron and Diane's relationship plays out.
"Parks and Rec" isn't just a pale imitation of "The Office," and more people should be watching it. If ratings go up in the second half of this season, the show may just get greenlit for a Season 5!
