Starved for the next hit TV show? Viewers who waited out the writers' strike had little to celebrate last September. Networks and cable stations just weren't up to speed in a "Do-Over" fall, with shows like "90210" or "Fringe" finding some fans but failing to really catch fire.

The good news is that this month is the real start of the new season.

All that pent-up programming is finally busting loose. This month marks the return of many cable and specialty channel favourites, including season two of both "Damages" (Jan. 18, Showcase) and "Flight of the Conchords" (Jan. 18, The Movie Network/Movie Central).

Big network hits like "American Idol" (Jan. 13, Fox and CTV), "24" (Jan. 11, Fox and Global)) and "The Bachelor" (Jan. 5 on ABC and Citytv) also return this month, as do new episodes of the Canadian-American cross border hit "Flashpoint" (Jan. 9, CTV and CBS) and "Hell's Kitchen" (Jan. 29, Fox and Citytv). There's also a second helping of the CBC reality series "The Week The Women Went" (Jan. 21), this time set in small-town Nova Scotia.

Best of all, there are some brand new shows that are truly worth watching. Here are five to find: "Being Erica" (Jan. 5, 8 p.m., CBC). What would your life be like today if you could go back and fix some of the stupid things you did that have screwed up your life? That's the intriguing premise being "Being Erica," which stars Erin Karpluk ("Godiva's") in the title role. Erica is a 32-year-old whose world is crashing down around her until a mysterious stranger (Michael Riley from "This Is Wonderland") allows her to go back and fix her past faux pas. The pilot rockets her back to her high school prom. Part "Peggy Sue Got Married," part "Back To The Future," this wish fulfilment fantasy has plenty of potential.

"Raising The Bar" (Jan. 9, CTV). A late pick up of a U.S. cable series, this legal drama has a great cast, including Mark Paul Gosselaar ("NYPD Blue"), Jane Kaczmarek ("Malcolm in the Middle") and Canadian Gloria Reuben ("ER"). It hails from executive producer Steven Bochco, who crafted past legal winners such as "L.A. Law" and "Murder One." While not as showy or dazzling as big budget "CSI" fare, it offers some solid, straight ahead storytelling.

"Lie To Me" (Jan. 21, Fox and Global). Tim Roth ("The Incredible Hulk") stars as Dr. Cal Lightman, a man who can tell if somebody is fibbing just by reading their face. This makes him both invaluable and a pain in the butt to the police, FBI and other protection agencies. The misnamed Lightman is the crankiest protagonist since Dr. Gregory House and, like that good doctor, he's surrounded by a great looking cast, including Kelli Williams from "The Practice" as Lightman's more personable partner. The pilot is terrific -- honest -- and Roth should be TV's next break-out star.

"The United States of Tara" (Jan. 19, The Movie Network/Movie Central). This next great Showtime drama delivers on all the promise of its cast and creative team. Australian actress Toni Collette ("About A Boy") gets to play several roles as a suburban housewife battling dissociative identity disorder. One minute, she's making the kids lunch, the next, she's trying on her daughter's thongs as a randy teenager. John Corbett ("Sex And The City") is well cast as the patient hubby while Canadian actor Keir Gilchrist gets to stretch as the teenage son going through his own growing pains.

The main reason to watch, though, is Collette, mesmerizing as the title character, in all her multi-personality dementia. If that weren't enough, Diablo Cody ("Juno") pens several episodes, and Steven Spielberg produces.

"Trust Me" (Jan. 26, Superchannel, TNT). You can almost hear network programming executives scream, "Get me a `Mad Men!"' The success of that AMC series no doubt spawned this more comical and contemporary approach to the advertising industry. Originally titled "Truth In Advertising," it stars two likable Canadians with success in the States: Eric McCormack ("Will & Grace") and Tom Cavanagh ("Ed") as creative partners at a cutthroat Chicago ad agency. The humour in the pilot was a little forced, but there seems to be no end to the targets, especially airing in a relatively ad-free environment. From the producers of "The Closer" and "Nip/Tuck."