Angela Henderson-Bentley: New year means new TV shows are set to premiere

A new year means a fresh start. And no television network needs that more than NBC.

After a terrible fall that saw two of its most high profile new shows fail, NBC is hoping its midseason entries will get things back on track. One of the most anticipated is the new sitcom, "Are You There, Chelsea?" based on the bestselling books by comedian Chelsea Handler.

Laura Prepon ("That 70s Show") is Chelsea, a brash young waitress who makes no apologies for her hard-partying lifestyle. She works at a sports bar with her best friend, Olivia (Ali Wong) and Rick (Jake McDorman), the bartender. Handler plays Sloane, Chelsea's judgmental older sister. Handler is billed as a special guest star, but she appears as much as any of the other supporting cast in the first two episodes.

After one of the worst beginnings to a comedy pilot I've ever seen, "Chelsea" does eventually find its way enough to have some funny moments. The real gem here is Lauren Lapkus as Dee Dee, Chelsea and Olivia's shy and awkward roommate. Her character could end up fairly one note, but Lapkus finds a way to make Dee Dee really funny. And her character is a nice change of pace from the constant string of sex jokes.

Handler is also great, but her presence is actually one of the show's biggest problems because it just reminds us that Prepon is not Handler. I have always been a big fan of Prepon, but she just doesn't handle the sarcastic quips as well as she should, which becomes very obvious every time she shares a scene with Handler.

But in all honesty, the biggest downfall of "Chelsea" is that we've already seen it this season with "2 Broke Girls" and "Whitney." And although "Chelsea" is much funnier than "Whitney," just how many sarcastic young women cracking jokes about the female anatomy do we need on TV?

"Are You There, Chelsea?" premieres Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 8:30 p.m. on NBC.

NBC is also premiering another high profile new show this weekend, "The Firm," a drama based on the John Grisham bes! tseller. The screener was not available for me to review before deadline, so be sure to check out my review on my blog.

While these shows are just starting out, another show will be wrapping things up this weekend. After 106 episodes of keeping us wondering, "Wizards of Waverly Place" will finally answer the question of who will be the Russo family wizard. I have never watched an episode of "Wizards," but I did watch this one and I have to say it was solid with lots of twists and turns. But I too am still wondering who the family wizard will be since the screener ended just before the answer was revealed. I hate it when networks show no trust.

The one-hour series finale of "Wizards of Waverly Place" will air Friday, Jan. 6, at 8 p.m. on Disney Channel.

Angela Henderson-Bentley writes about television in her "Stay Tuned" blog at www.herald-dispatch.com. Contact her at ahendersonbentley@hotmail.com.