The Spectrum

Issue date: 1/26/06 Section: A & E

Media Credit: AP Photo/ Mario Perez Actor Daniel Dae Kim appears in a scene from the ABC series "Lost."

Like most television shows during the holiday season, many of our favorite fixes take a break from airing new episodes. Now that the decorations have been taken down and the spring semester has started, it is time to look forward to a whirlwind of new must see T.V. Season and series premieres have begun to air and new episodes of the most popular shows are back in full force.

Whether "American Idol" holds top priority on your entertainment list or simply remains a guilty pleasure it has returned for a fifth season. It's been eight months since Carrie Underwood snagged the title and it appears as though America is hungry for a new one.

Hundreds of very talented, as well as very not talented, young hopefuls compete for the opportunity to become America's next singing sensation while the audience holds the responsibility of voting for the next superstar.

The show can be appreciated for what it is: a talent competition as well as the typical drama and persistent controversy that comes with each season.

Stay tuned as the competition unfolds. If you wish to follow the contenders and see what music veteran judges, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and the notoriously nasty Simon Cowell will say about the contestants "American Idol" airs on Fox, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8 p.m.

ABC's new show, "Emily's Reasons Why Not," has not had the same luck as "American Idol." After only one episode the show was cancelled due to extremely low ratings. The show aired Monday at 9 p.m. "Emily's Reasons Why Not," was a comedy that explored the world of Emily Sanders, (Heather Graham) a successful career woman who has terrific instincts in all aspects of her life but one: relationships.

With a manipulative ex-boyfriend, a passive-aggressive family member and a back stabbing former assistant who appears to be after her job, Emily has a lot to contend with and even more to figure out. Emily employs a list of self-imposed guidelines referred to as the "Reasons Why Not" to act as a warning system and ultimately aid her in making better choices in life.

"The Office" is another comedy to look for. It is a mock documentary which exploits a paper supply company in Scranton, Pa.

The boss, Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell, who many of you may have seen in "The 40 Year Old Virgin," plays an insensitive chief trying to put his own spin on company policy. Each episode takes a look at the lives of the co-workers and their awkward, but entertaining interactions with one another. Airing Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on NBC, "The Office" will be the provider of a few good laughs.

If comedy is not what you're looking for, ABC's award winning drama, "Lost" which airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m., may interest you. After a horrific plane crash has left 48 survivors on a deserted island they are forced to deal with not only their own survival, but each other, their haunting pasts and mysterious creatures and events that take place on the island. Each week we learn a little more about the castaways' unexpected pasts and more about the other human and monster inhabitants of the island. "Lost" is an intensely entertaining drama that will leave you in suspense until next week's installment.

Don't forget to keep your eye out for other returning favorites, such as "The O.C.", "Desperate Housewives" and "The Real: Key West."

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