Here's a quick run-down of what new on TV tonight:

On CBS, beginning at 9 p.m., it's the 35th annual Peoples Choice Awards. Hosted by Queen Latifah, the first show of Hollywood's Awards Season professes that winners are be determined by the general public's votes. Perhaps, but it's also one of those awards shows where just about every celebrity in the audience is either presenting or winning, because that's the only way they get them to show up.



If you missed the return of Scrubs last night, ABC is graciously showing it again tonight from 8-9 p.m. Stay tuned, because after an all-new 20/20 at 9 p.m., featuring a search for a missing daughter, Barbara Walters presents another of her "specials," during which she interviews Patrick Swayze.



If you didn't know, Swayze (he of the beloved '90s-mullet) has been heroically battling pancreatic cancer for about a year. I'm still a huge fan of his, and expect to watch with the tissue box nearby. BTW, FX took time out during Nip/Tuck last night to promo Swayze's new show, The Beast, which debuts Jan. 15 -- I'll be watching!



And speaking of FX, Damages returns for its second season tonight at 10. Although I have season one on DVD still in shrnk-wrap on my shelf, I know that this show is to the legal profession what Nip/Tuck is to plastic surgeons! Starring Glenn Close in her Emmy-winning role as litigator from Hell, Patty Hewes, I think I'll be taping this to watch later, because ...



You all know what returns tonight at 10 on Bravo -- another fun-filled episode of Top Chef, that's what! Tonight's show will introduce a snarky new judge in the form of Britian's Toby Young, and the cheftestants don't look too thrilled! And, of course, my fave hottie-bear chef Tom Colicchio and Elfman's fave hottie hostess Padma Lakshmi will be on hand as well. Be there and check back tomorrow for a full rehash!

Trying to make up for lackluster ratings from TV's traditional "new season" back in September/October ... the networks are offering lots of new programming this January. I'll try to highlight as much as possible here, but the next two weeks are going to be murder!


McNamara/Troy returns tonight!

Starting tonight, we've got the premiere of Scrubs on a new network. Yes, the medical-based sitcom is jumping ship from NBC to ABC beginning at 9 tonight with 2 back-to-back episodes.

The Biggest Loser: Couples debuts a new season over on NBC with a two-hour premiere beginning at 8 p.m. Just in time to make us all feel guilty about all those holiday treats!

The Mentalist returns with an all new episode at 9 p.m. on CBS. Jane quite the CBI to follow lead on Red John. I'll be tuning in ...

90210 returns to the CW (does anyone care? Even I'm giving up on this one) at 8 p.m., when Annie overhearsa phone call that raises suspicions.

As mentioned in the prior post -- VH1 offers up the debut episodes of Confessions of a Teen Idol at 9, followed by Brett Michael's Rock of Love Bus at 10.

I'll be taping the Real Housewives of Orange County on Bravo at 10 p.m. Tonight the wives get catty at the race track!

Because the crux of my evening will be the season premiere on FX of one of my Top 5 TV Shows of 2008 -- Nip/Tuck! Tonight picks up where we left off last season with Dr. Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) getting stabbed in the back, literally, by his stalking, murderous agent played by Sharon Gless! Apparently, the dashing and promiscuous Dr. Christian Troy (Julian McMahon, come to Mama!) will arrive in time to save his life ... thus keeping him around for the next 7 episodes!!


The Dudes from Pineapple Express

But if you can't find anything worth watching, hit your local DVD store and rent a copy of Pineapple Express, out new today! It's the latest from Judd Apatow (40 Year Old Virgin, Superbad) and stars Seth Rogan and James Franco as a couple of stoners getting into various mishaps. I haven't seen it, but I plan to. It looks funny.