I was just thinking about how obnoxiously slowly this week has been passing by, what with Finals week looming ahead and the promise of Christmas Break hanging just in the distance. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that this may be one of the longest weeks of my life so far, and I'm pretty sure last night's Fringe absence didn't make matters better.

And other shows are beginning to follow suit as the Fall season winds down. Brothers & Sisters announced it wouldn't be returning til January, and in a week's time Heroes and Survivor will be on sabbatical until February. I haven't had the heart to look at the plan for The Office, but I'm sure it's headed that way. It's just a fact of life - late December and early January are slow times in the TV world, populated instead with cheesy Christmas movies and good ol' reruns.

What gets me through, however, is the knowledge that a brand spanking NEW season of TV is about to unfold, this one every bit as exciting as its predecessor! In my free time (which likely should not exist - can anyone say FINALS?), I've gotten around to prowling the internet a bit ruthlessly for some sweet information on what's to come. Hence, the title of this blog. Get ready, masses. Cause here's the scoop on what you can look forward to in the future!

SHOWS TO WATCH NEXT SEASON

HEROES

I know, I know. Heroes has sort of been the star of this blog for quite some time, but that's not without good reason. Stellar in its first season, the show experienced one hell of a "Sophomore slump" with its punctuated second season, which lagged horribly. This Fall was supposed to mark the show's comeback, but Villains quickly became murky and sporadic. Characters began acting out of character, and the whole show began to be one massive acid trip. So why, oh why, do I still have faith for Heroes in the Spring?

Well, like I said last time, a true fan doesn't just cheer when the team's winning, and that certainly rings true. But what's got me really motivated is the return of screenwriter Bryan Fuller to the mix. Credited with giving Season 1 its depth, Fuller left for Pushing Daises before Season 2 began, and its cancellation led to his return. While this may seem a bit like empty speculation, an interview on EW.com with Fuller himself hit all the right notes with me.

Fuller claimed the problem with Villains is that, somewhere along the line, the characters lost their depth. He said one problem was some pretty striking overpopulation, and he promised we'd see some of `em get axed before long. He claims our characters will be brought back to the realm of reality with a superhero twist, as Peter will be a paramedic and Claire will be looking at universities. Excellent.

BROTHERS & SISTERS

Unlike Heroes, Brothers & Sisters has met just about all expectations this season, and the family drama continues to serve up an intriguing analysis of what it means to be a family in our modern times. The final episode of the Fall season was intense and gripping, as the Walkers spent their Thanksgiving in the hospital, Tommy's daughter Elizabeth in need of a transplant - from her biological dad. The revelation was just as big as it would be, and it wreaked a little havoc, but the family pulled it together in the end. So what's next?

Well, the preview for the next episode was incredibly bizarre. Seeing Kevin making out with his sister-in-law was a shock, and I imagine such will take place in a dream sequence of Tommy's, but there will certainly be more tension about Kevin's relation to Elizabeth as the episodes go on. To worsen matters, reports indicate a regular character will have a medical emergency, and some reports have indicated that Rob Lowe might be headed out. That'd be HUGE.

SURVIVOR

Survivor: Gabon airs this Thursday, then its finale will air this Sunday. Like seasons 13, 14, and 15, Survivor: Gabon will feature a final three facing the jury of 7. If I had to call it - and this one's based on personal preference alone - I'd say Bob is going to win the mil. If not him, Matty. That's all I'm gonna say about that. :]

Not much to report on the eighteenth season of the show, as Gabon hasn't even reached a conclusion yet. Rumor has it the show will take place in Brazil for its eighteenth season, but that's about all we can know...for now. :]

FRINGE

Ending on an incredibly suspenseful note, the first half of Fringe's premiere season was tense, psychedelic, and gripping. When we left off, protagonist Dunham had fallen into enemy clutches, and the mysterious Mr. Jones managed to transport himself from a prison in Germany to "Little Hill." Intense.

Fringe writers are keeping their cards close to their chests, likely a good move for the fledgling show, but reports indicate FBI Agent Dunham is going to make it out of her predicament alive. Also, her sister is going to play some role in upcoming episodes, and apparently we can expect to see some even trippier storylines in the upcoming future. Very cool.

LOST

So I sort of saved the best for last. YES - Lost will finally be returning this January - the 21st, to be precise - and there's been quite a bit of speculation on exactly where the fifth season will take us.

When season four ended, we saw "The Oceanic Six" get discovered, we witnessed the evaporation of the island into thin air, and we discovered that the mysterious Jeremy Bentham was none other than...well, one of our favorite Islanders. Now half our beloved cast is on an island in God-knows-where, while the rest are struggling back at home. What exactly can we expect?

Well, apparently we're FINALLY going to find out why Libby's ass was in the mental institution with Hurley, and we're going to even see a little bit of Ana Lucia. Apparently the flashbacks and flash-forwards of the past aren't going to be as prevalent within the show, and instead we'll be flashing between the two worlds. A preview clip shows us that, while at "home," Kate is going to have to submit to a maternity test for Claire's child, and she's none-too-pleased about that prospect. Packing up her things, she tells Aaron they're "going on vacation," and Kate poises to go "on the run" again. :] WOOOHOOO!

I mean, it's going to be epic. You should all know that. :]

For now, that's all I'm going to say about what's to come. Of course, I'm interested in exactly what will be in store for The Office, as well as The Big Bang Theory and a handful of other shows. Perhaps I'll tune into some House, Sara F. :] Can't make any promises about Gossip Girl. You understand. For now, I'm out. Keep watching, kids