It's a pretty good chance to try out new things.

One of the best tv shows is returning with new episodes on January 7 on the Travel Channel. It's called Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.

It's a hybrid foodie-travel show with attitude -
http://travel.discovery.com/tv/bourdain/about/about.html

Watch show clips here to get a taste -
http://travel.discovery.com/video/video....upId=1119174400

Food Network is reairing Bourdain's old show A Cook's Tour. It's also a foodie-travel show, but the food is more the emphasis, in my opinion. Find out what's beating cobra heart.

Jamie Oliver (Naked Chef) has a new show premiering on Food Network on Sunday January 6.

I still enjoy Dirty Jobs on Discovery Channel.

Those interior design shows like Design On a Dime are pretty cool. So are the house flippers.

LA Ink (tattoo parlor, its workers and customers) on TLC is interesting.

The greatest tv series The Wire is returning for its fifth and final season on HBO on January 6. I would recommend watching watching all the previous four seasons on DVD first in that order then catching up on Season 5 on HBO On-Demand. This show alone ought to keep one busy.

Rewatch The Sopranos? Six Feet Under? Deadwood?

Give brilliant, but cancelled shows Arrested Development or Freaks and Geeks a chance on DVD.

PBS has interesting documentaries still.