Midseason can’t come soon enough.

After a dreary fall of remakes and retro clones — stewardesses, bunnies and Angels — when the broadcast TV networks failed to produce a single new standout and the best new drama was on cable (“Homeland” on Showtime), it’s heartening to see so many promising hours on the horizon.

Coming soon to the broadcast networks, the surreal “Awake” (Jan. 8), the spooky “Alcatraz” (Jan. 16) and Keifer Sutherland in the spirituality-tinged “Touch” (Jan. 25).

There’s more hope in the paranormal thriller “The River” (Feb. 7). the Broadway answer to “Glee” called “Smash” (Feb. 6), and the delicately titled “Good Christian Belles” (March 4).

On cable, too, several new hours are due in coming weeks that, judging by clips, look engaging: HBO will launch “Luck,” a drama set in the world of horse racing by David Milch and starring Dustin Hoffman, on Jan. 29. Showtime will offer Don Cheadle’s comedy “House of Lies” on Jan. 8.

Additionally, returning favorites “Mad Men,” “30 Rock” and “American Idol” brighten the winter schedule.

Tina Fey and her “30 Rock” peers return Jan. 12. “Idol” revs up for its 11th season Jan. 18. Don Draper and his Madison Avenue cohorts reconvene on AMC March 16 for Season 5.

Our favorite U.S. marshal returns in “Justified,” based on the Elmore Leonard stories, Jan. 17 on FX. “Downton Abbey” continues Jan. 8 on PBS. “Project Runway All-Stars,” including local design hero Mondo Guerra, launches Jan. 5 on Lifetime. “Spartacus: Vengeance” begins a second season on Starz Jan. 27, with Liam McIntyre succeeding the late Andy Whitfield.

A rundown of the 10 most intriguing newcomers:

1. “Awake”NBC After a car accident takes the life of a family member, a police detective (Jason Isaacs) lives parallel lives, sometimes with his son, sometimes with his wife. Which is the false reality?

2. “Alcatraz”Fox The latest time-traveling mystery from J.J. Abrams, involving inmates and guards at Alcatraz prison who turn up 50 years after its closing.

3. “Smash” NBC The making of a Broadway show, starring “American Idol” runner-up Katharine McPhee, Debra Messing and Anjelica Huston.

4. “Touch” Fox Keifer Sutherland plays a widower whose autistic son is trying to communicate mathematical patterns and connections, perhaps a warning?

5. “The River” ABC A TV explorer/naturalist goes missing in the Amazon, and his family aims to find him. Paranormal peculiarities ensue.

6. “Good Christian Belles”ABC A soap adapted from the similarly titled book about mean, rich women in Dallas.

7. “Luck”HBO Dustin Hoffman in his first TV series, set in the world of horse racing. From a script by David Milch (preview at 8 tonight).

8. “House of Lies”Showtime Don Cheadle finally stars in a cable series, as a swaggering, self-indulgent corporate management consultant. With Kristen Bell. A revenge dramedy about “sticking it to the 1 percent.”

9. “Angry Boys”HBO The oddest performances and rudest, most outrageous vaguely comedic stories you’ll see this winter: Aussie writer-performer-director Chris Lilley (“Summer Heights High”) plays six characters.

10. A tossup, either NBC’s “Are You There, Chelsea,” adapted from Chelsea Handler’s book, or CBS’s “Rob,” starring Rob Schneider, two as-yet-unseen comedies that may or may not make the grade.

Cancellations

Meanwhile, the casualties of fall mounted quickly, including “Charlie’s Angels,” “Pan Am,” “Man Up,” “How to Be a Gentleman,” “Allen Gregory,” “Free Agents,” “The Playboy Club” and “Prime Suspect” — all canceled. (Of these, only “Prime Suspect” demonstrated enough integrity and depth to deserve a second chance.)

Not quite canceled but heading that way: “Body of Proof,” “Fringe.”

And shows on the bubble include “Private Practice,” all three “CSIs,” “The Mentalist,” “Person of Interest,” “Rules of Engagement,” “Unforgettable,” “Bones,” “House,” “Raising Hope,” “Terra Nova,” “Gossip Girl,” “Hart of Dixie,” “Nikita” and “Ringer.” Also, “Community,” although NBC almost swears it’s coming back in the spring.

“Chuck” and “Desperate Housewives” will sign off after this, their final season.

Joanne Ostrow: 303-954-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com

