Season 3 of Vince Gilligan's gritty drama Breaking Bad returns with an episode directed by Emmy Award-winner Bryan Cranston. The latest season of the acclaimed AMC drama finds chemistry teacher and crystal meth manufacturer Walter White (Cranston) attempting to put his life back together after telling his wife Skyler (Anna Gunn) about his, uh, side business. Meanwhile, Walt's former partner, Jesse Pinkman (Emmy nominee Aaron Paul), exits rehab and tries to deal with the loss of his girlfriend Jane, who died as a result of a drug overdose witnessed by Walt… and which indirectly led to a fatal plane collision over the neighborhood. The walls are closing in for both Walt and Jesse as a new threat makes its way up from Mexico, leaving death and destruction in its trail. And while Walt might want to be out of the drug game, there are players who want to see him continue to cook. (Returns March 21 at 10 p.m.)
Ben Luener / AMC
British chef, television personality, and author Jamie Oliver tackles America's propensity for obesity through this eye-opening and life-altering new series, an outgrowth of his Ministry of Food campaign and his public school lunch overhaul in the United Kingdom. Here, Oliver travels to Huntington, West Virginia, dubbed the unhealthiest city in America, and attempts to make-over this town's culinary habits and change residents' behavior, apathy, and laziness when it comes to what they are putting into their bodies. Will Oliver be able to stem the tide of heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues, teach them how to prepare healthy and simple meals, and give the town and its children a fighting chance at a fat-free future? Find out later this month. (Sneak preview airs on March 21 at 10 p.m.)
Holly Farrell / ABC
Showtime brings back two of its most unique heroines for second seasons, as dark comedies Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara return to the airwaves. On Nurse Jackie, major complications arise after Jackie (Edie Falco) breaks up with Eddie, leading Eddie to make a life-altering decision, while Cooper (Peter Facinelli) files a complaint against Jackie and begins tweeting about life at the hospital. A half-hour later on United States of Tara, Toni Collette's Tara struggles to make some new friends with the help of her husband Max (John Corbett), despite the reappearance of her “alters” (including some new ones) who may just disrupt her marriage and her family forever. Prepare to laugh even as your jaw hit the floor. (The two shows return March 22 from 10-11 p.m.)
Showtime
They're back. ABC's update of the cult sci-fi series got off to a rocky start last fall, which wasn't helped by behind-the-scenes creative issues, showrunner musical chairs, and the network's decision to air just four installments before going on a three month long hiatus. But V is set to return at the end of the month with a new executive producer ( Chuck's Scott Rosenbaum), a new timeslot (right after Lost), and a new direction that places the emphasis on answers, characterization, and action. Look for—SPOILER ALERT!—multiple pregnancies, Visitor soldiers, new resistance members, and the first appearance of the enigmatic John May, played by Battlestar Galactica's Michael Trucco, when the show returns for eight episodes. (Returns March 30 at 10 p.m.)
Bob D'Amico / ABC
Fox's deliciously out there sci-fi drama Fringe returns with the second half of its sophomore season after a far-too-long hiatus during the winter months. With Olivia (Anna Torv) now aware of the real identity of Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson), it's up to Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble) to fill in the blanks and tell her just why he kidnapped Peter from an alternate dimension to replace his own dead son. Look for a flashback episode that answers that question and many others and makes me scratch my head as to why Noble hasn't yet earned an Emmy or Golden Globe nomination for his brilliant, evocative, and compelling performance as Walter. At least in this reality, anyway. (Returns April 1 at 9 p.m.)
Liane Hetscher / FOX
Two of the UK's most painfully funny comedies—both of which star David Mitchell and Robert Webb—finally return to BBC America next month. Single-camera comedy Peep Show stars Mitchell and Webb as hapless roommates Mark and Jez who attempt to navigate the painful, awkward, and emotionally disturbing social situations that each of us encounter on a daily basis. On That Mitchell and Webb Look, the two talented comedians write and star in a third season of sketch-based misadventures that satirizes game shows, snooker commentators,1970s sitcoms, and themselves, and which features a delusional Quixote-like homeless man named Sir Digby Chicken Caesar. Seriously. (Both shows return April 7 from 9-10 p.m.)
BBC
The addictive Top Chef spinoff returns for a second season of critical judges, uptight master chefs, and culinary challenges that feature some familiar faces for longtime Top Chef viewers and foodies, including chefs Govind Armstrong, Wylie Dufresne, Susan Feniger, Jimmy Bradley, Ludo Lefebvre, Rick Moonen, Mark Peel, Jonathan Waxman, and many others. Host Kelly Choi and critics Gael Greene, James Oseland, and Jay Rayner return—and Top Chef's Gail Simmons also joins the critics table this season. As the master chefs compete for charity, they'll be put through their paces to see if they can top the cheftestants on Top Chef with Quickfire Challenges and elaborate Elimination Challenges that will test their creativity, coordination, and time-management skills. Warning: don't watch on an empty stomach. (Premieres April 7 at 11 p.m.)
Jamie Trueblood / Bravo
Henry VIII's reign over England is set to come to a close this spring as Showtime launches the fourth and final season of period drama The Tudors—Henry (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is set to marry his sixth and final wife in Catherine Parr (Joely Richardson). Just what will happen to Catherine Howard (Tamzin Merchant), Henry's fifth wife described as his “rose without a thorn”? Look for Season 4 to depict Catherine Howard's untimely death after committing a treasonous act (namely adultery against the king), bloodthirsty Henry's war against France to ignite, and Henry's life—and the series—to come to an end amid darkness and madness. (Launches April 11 at 9 p.m.)
Showtime
HBO transports the audience to New Orleans three months after Hurricane Katrina with Treme (pronounced “tre-may”), a new drama from David Simon ( The Wire) and Eric Overmyer ( Homicide) that depicts the survivors of the storm as they strive to return to normalcy by way of food, music, and culture. Simon and Overmyer have assembled an all-star ensemble that includes Wendell Pierce, Clarke Peters, Melissa Leo, Steve Zahn, and a magnetic John Goodman. Together, they bring the passionately determined people of this New Orleans district to life with a vivid clamor, as their lives intersect in a city desperately clinging to its roots. (Launches April 11 at 10 p.m.)
HBO
Despite the fact that the Glee kids have been virtually everywhere lately, the show itself has been off the air since December. Fox aims to make you never stop believin' by bringing Glee back to for the second half of its freshman season. New romances are promised, and new musical numbers will be staged—including songs from Lady Gaga, Madonna, Aerosmith, and Billy Joel. There will be guest turns by Neil Patrick Harris (in a Joss Whedon-directed episode, no less!), Molly Shannon, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Kristin Chenoweth when Glee is paired with American Idol on Tuesday evenings beginning next month. See you at Regionals. (Returns Tuesday, April 13 at 9 p.m.)
Carin Baer / FOX
The British sci-fi drama returns for a fifth season that's all about new beginnings. Matt Smith takes over for David Tennant as the Doctor, a 900-year-old time-traveler from a destroyed civilization who travels through time and space in a little blue box that resembles a 1950s British police call-box. (Which, as the joke goes, is bigger on the inside.) Joining him on the adventure of many lifetimes is Karen Gillan as Amy Pond, the Doctor's latest companion. Doctor Who gets a new head writer/executive producer as well in the prolific Steven Moffat, who had previously written some of the Doctor's most dazzling episodes. (Launches April 17 at 9 p.m.)
BBC
Cable network Bravo has made a cottage industry out of lifestyle-oriented reality series and hopes to continue the trend with this home-oriented docusoap focusing on New York-based husband and wife design team Bob and Cortney Novograt, their six children, and the latest addition to their ever-expanding brood, number seven. If the duo didn't have enough to deal with, their career finds them purchasing rundown or neglected buildings, designing them in their trademark modern/whimsical style, living in the new space, and then selling it when a buyer comes calling. Think it's overwhelming to pack up your own stuff? Imagine doing it repeatedly for a family of nine. The show will follow them as they juggle home and family life. (Launches April 20 at 11 p.m.)
Virginia Sherwood / Bravo
The cater-waiters and wannabe actors/writers/comedians of Party Down Catering return for a second season of hysterical misadventures in the Starz comedy Party Down. This season, Will & Grace's Megan Mullally puts on a pink bowtie to join the cast, following the departure of Jane Lynch, now on Fox's Glee. Season 2 finds Henry (Adam Scott) and Casey (Lizzy Caplan) tiptoeing around their relationship after Casey left Henry to take a job and Henry started dating rival caterer Uta (Kristen Bell). Meanwhile, Ron (Ken Marino) is attempting to find himself now that his Soup'r Crackers franchise bit the dust. Throw in some celebrity cameos—most notably a self-skewering guest appearance from Steve Guttenberg—wacky happenings, seriously foul language, and you have a show that's shamefully underappreciated. (Returns April 23 at 10 p.m.)
Starz
One of the most infamous and controversial figures in American medicine, Dr. Jack Kevorkian, also known as Dr. Death, will be brought to life in this HBO biopic, directed by Barry Levinson. Al Pacino stars as Kevorkian, best known for his so-called “mercy machine” and belief in assisted-suicide. He's joined by a cast that includes Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, Danny Huston, and Brenda Vaccaro as they explore the life of this complex and controversial figure. The film charts Kevorkian's creation of his machine and the media storm that follows in the wake of lengthy legal proceedings as Kevorkian defends a patient's right to die. Based on footage, this looks to be a thought-provoking and divisive film that examines our right to live and die with dignity. (Airs April 24 at 9 p.m.)
Abbot Genser / HBO
After six seasons, two realities, and numerous Dharma food drops, ABC's labyrinthine drama series will come to a close at the end of May and likely send millions of obsessive fans over the edge of despair. Will Jack (Matthew Fox), Kate (Evangeline Lilly), Sawyer (Josh Holloway), and the others find a way home? Will they protect the island from the enigmatic Man in Black, who has stolen the form of the dead John Locke (Terry O'Quinn)? Are we meant to be rooting for Charles Widmore (Alan Dale) or Benjamin Linus (Michael Emerson) in the battle ahead? Will Jin (Daniel Dae Kim) and Sun (Yunjin Kim) ever be reunited? And just what does the sideways universe mean? We hope all of these questions—and many more—will be answered in the next handful of episodes before the climactic two-hour series finale. One thing is sure: Life—and television—will never be the same. (Series finale airs Sunday, May 23 from 9-11 p.m.)
Mario Perez / ABC
