@ d EBoz {1.. > f .. o *..; UI Midseason highlights will be hit-or-miss By Mrcrranl, crr.rz hanks to the writers strike, TV has been thrown into chaos.</p><p> But after weeks of repeats and confusion, the midseason will kick off with new episodes of most late-night talk shows and the un- killable "American Idol." In addition to their peturning shows, the networks are preparing new programs, reality stunts, mini- series and specials to flood the airwaves and recapture our at- tention.</p><p> Here's a selection to watch for in the coming months.</p><p> Eo 3 ac N o3U2 -ao ro N o o E oo G l qI 'CASHMERE MAFIff (ABC, Jan. 6) This Darren Star series wants to be the next "Sex and the City,"just like "Lipstick Jun- gle " lfs smart and sery career women in- clude Lucy Liu, Frances O'Connor and Miranda Otto.</p><p> After debuting on Sun- day, Jan 6, it moves to its regular slot on Wednesdays r .GHOST HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL" (SciFi, Jan. 9) A reality series about worldwide apparitions Because the U S isn't the only country with ghosts In fact, Europe's been making them for years I .,TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES' (Tox, Jan. 13) Lena Head- ey stars as Sarah Comof,, the mom who decides to take the fight to the machines rather than keep ruming (in the "Ter- minator" movies, she was played by Lin- da Hamilton) John Comor is played by Thomas Dekker ("Heroes").</p><p> Arnold Schwarzenegger will probably not be making a cameo in this sci-fi drama I "lN TREATMENT" (HBO, Jan.28) This nine-week, half-hour drama stars Gabri- el Blme as a therapist, with the nifty gim- mick of Byme having a session with a dif- ferent patient every night of the week (and dealing with the same person each night throughout the show's run).</p><p> The show is on every night of the week So on Mondays, he talks with "Laura," who is having trouble with her bolriend and transferring her affection to Bvrne; Tues- days are "A.lex," an lraq war veteran suf- fering post-traumatic stress, and so on I "LIPSTICKJUNGLE" (NBc, Feb 7) wl] this be the new "Sex and the City," just a tad older, more powefful and more ob- sessed with careers than guys? Based on the book by "SAIC" author Candace Bushnell, it stars Kim Raver ("24"), Lind- say Price ("Beverly Hills, 90210") and Brooke Shields ITHE BABY BORROWERS" (NBC, Feb 18) Rememberwhen you were given m egg to 'baby-sit" in school. carrying it around all week and making sue it didn't break, all to illustrate what a responsibility caring for a baby cm be? This reality show ups the ante by giving teenage couples real babies to care fon A good lesson for them not so good, perhaps, lor the baby. f "UNHITGHED" (Tox, March 2) The Far- relly brothers tackle prime-time TV - and a major network, not cable - fortheir show about four buddies (ed by Craig Bierko) who actual- ly want to get maried Will the re- straints of censors force the gros- sout kings to be more creative and clever, orjust make them dull? r "THE RETURI{ OF JEZEBET JAMES" (Fox, March 7) The cre- ators of "Gilmore Girls" tackle m out-and-out comedy in this show where Parker Posey is a successful but uptight children's book author who convinces her hippie-ish younger sister (Lauren Arnbrose) to bear a child for her. r 'CANTERBURY'S IAW" (Fox, April I l) Julianna Margulies('ER") retums to TV drama as a defense attomey who'd rather bend the law than see a client she believes is innocent go to jail.</p><p> Habeus, shmabeus! I 'COMAI{GHE MOON' (CBS, Jan. 13) Miniseries based on the best-selling nov- el by l,arry McMurtry This prequel to "Lonesome Dove" - one of the most ac- claimed and successful miniseries in TV history - finds Steve Zahn and Krl Ur- ban stepping into the roles of Texas Rang- ers McCrae and Call (originally played by Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones).</p><p> Airs over three nights.</p><p> I "THE 65th ANNUAT GOTDEN GTOBE AWARDS" (NBC, Jm. 13) No waiver from the Writers Guild means stare would have to tross a picket line to attend; some have already politely declined The suspense,for once, is behind the scenes, not on which celeb will enjoy the drinks the most rKIDS PICK THE PRESIDENT' (Nickel- odeon, Jan 13) In'The Kids' Primary" Linda Ellerbee hosts the first of three spe- cials in which kids air their choices for most powerful person on the plmet r "HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSIC lN YOU" @isney, Jan. 20) Filmmaker Bar- bara Kopple trains her camera on kids in Fort Worth, Tex., who are staging their om theatrical version of the TV phenom. r "MAt{SFlEtD PARK" (PBS, Jan 27) The ongoing "Let's film every Jane Aus- ten bookl" mania comntinues with this miniseries, with Bi.llie Piper staring as Austen's resourceful heroine (ah, one of those again) Famy Price.I "THE GUII'II{ESS BOOK OF WORTD REGORDS - HVE!" (NBC, Jan 2fl why didn't anyone think of this before? A TV special where people attempt to break the world record in various events live on camerar r'SUPER BOWL XLll"(Fox, Feb 3) We don't know the teams yet, of course, but the commercials will be desperately fumy and Tom Pet- ty is sure to score a touchdown as the halftime performer r .THE soth ANNUAI GMMMY AWARDS' (CBS, Feb l0) Kanye West finally expects to get his due with his Grammy-nominated opus "Graduation." That's our bet. too r "THE SOth ANI{UAL ACADEMY AWARDS" (ABC, Feb 24) It could be a show without writers - but will any strs show up? Heck, will host Jon Stewart show up? Will everyone ad-lib? This could be the most suspenseful Oscar in mem- ory whether or not "No Country for OId Men," "Atonement" and "Sweeney Todd" are duking it outfor Best Picture. r A RAISIN lN THE SUN" (ABC, Feb 25) The muchlauded Broadway cast reunited for this TV movie of the hrraine Hans- berry classic, with Phylicia Rashad, Au- dra McDonald and Sean Combs in the Sidney Poitier role ofWalter Lee Younger, a chauffeur who dreams big ffJOHI{ ADAMS' (HBO, March) David Mccullough's absorbing best seller gets delue HBO minseries treatment, with casting even the Founding Fathers couldn'timprove on: Paul Giamatti as Ad- ams, Laura Linney as his wife, Abigail, David Morse as George Washington, Ru- fus Sewell as Alexander Hamilton ilnd Tom Wilkinson as Beniamin Franldin O
