"Top Chef: Seattle"

Credit: Bravo

Waah-waah. I'm still so disappointed that Kristen nobly fell on her sword, and I think a few of the chefs who have souls and aren't Sheldon (who is, rightfully, pretty happy) are feeling a little sad about her exit. Stefan say that he would have thrown Josie under the bus like it's no tomorrow, but he thinks she'll be back via "Last Chance Kitchen." I think he's right. 

 "Cheer Perfection"

Credit: TLC

Guess what? Crazy, bickering women aren't strictly confined to "The Real Housewives" franchise! They also pop up a-plenty on "Cheer Perfection" (Wed. 10:00 p.m. ET, TLC). In this exclusive clip, the mama drama reaches new heights as Anna and Shannon get into it in the parking lot outside the gym. As they battle to defend their teenaged girls, they oddly sound a lot like five-year-olds. 

If you're not familiar with the show, head coach Alisha chooses the top five athletes from youth silver to return to Chicago so they might compete in duo and trio divisions. Furious that her daughter Torrann wasn’t selected as one of the ‘fab five,’ cheer mom Ann continues to lash out at the other moms in the gym. And since she has unresolved issues with Shannon, she continues to pick fights with her. 

Robin Strasser

Credit: ABC

If we know anything, it's that you can never count out a long-running soap. After a previous deal to revive the canceled soaps "One Life to Live" and "All My Children" fell apart, now The Online Network has announced it has closed deals with the following talent to revive both shows. More deals are expected to come through in the following weeks, and soap fans can rest assured that at least some of their favorite actors -- and characters -- will be retuning to a screen (yes, a computer screen) near them. Below is a list of some of the writers and stars who will be continuing the story.

 "The Taste"

Credit: ABC

When "The Taste" premieres with a two-hour episode tonight (Tues. 8:00 p.m. on ABC), the new cooking contest promises to put 16 competitors of varying skill levels -- from professional chefs to home cooks -- to the ultimate taste test. Each must create a perfect bite for food icons and judge/mentors Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Ludovic Lefebvre and Brian Malarkey. To make it a little tougher on the judges, the taste test is truly blind -- they don't get to see the chef or learn anything about him or her before they must decide whether or not they want that chef to be part of their team. Then, at the end of each episode, they must judge the competitors' dishes blind to determine who's getting sent home. You know, like "The Voice," but with food. 

 "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"

Credit: Bravo

You know that fight Mauricio and Brandi had last week at Kyle's little Moroccan-themed get together? Well, it was so intense, it's still going on a week later! Not really, but we're picking up right where we left off last week, which means more of Brandi screaming and swearing, more of Mauricio wondering why he didn't just pick up McDonald's and have a quiet meal at home, and Ken nibbling on Mauricio's knees in defense of his glamazon faux-girlfriend. Oh, and as usual Taylor tries to make it all about her, not that anyone cares.

 "The Bachelor"

Credit: ABC

Okay, I had massive Slingbox problems, so I missed the first ten minutes of the show. Still, I think I can get up to speed pretty quickly. I'm just guessing, but I'm sure some bachelorette said she's falling harder than she expected to fall, another said she's worried she's going home, another said she will do anything to get a rose, and Sean said he's just so happy and blessed. Am I right? Am I right? 

 "The Real Housewives of Atlanta"

Credit: Bravo

Whatever did this show do before Kenya? Really, the girl is a one woman drama factory, and now that NeNe finds reality TV a bit beneath her, Kim has shuffled off to her own show and Sheree has been unceremoniously dumped, "The Real Housewives" desperately needs an unhinged nutbag like this one. Even with Walt out of the picture, she's still able to stir up plenty of drama all on her on with nothing more than a twirl-worthy dress and a hair flip. Bring it on, Crazypants!

 "Downton Abbey"

Credit: PBS

We return to "Downton Abbey" this week and find that, despite Edith's horrifying rejection at the altar, life continues on for our beloved Brits. Though Matthew has (finally) agrees to save Downton from a fire sale, that hardly means everything is smooth sailing. This week's episode takes a while to warm up, but once it does it suggests some difficult times are ahead for some pivotal characters (no spoilers, no spoilers) and that we're going to see even more cracks in the problematic class structure and political landscape of 1920s England. As much as I've enjoyed the more insular storylines (and there's still plenty of house intrigue), I can appreciate that in season three we're moving into a broader view of what was happening in the world beyond Downton -- even if it's abundantly clear that not all of it was good. 

 "Private Practice"

Credit: ABC

The end is nearing for "Private Practice," (Tues. at 10:00 p.m.) which will be heading off into the TV sunset after six seasons on Jan. 22. I'll admit I'm sad to see the show, a frequently sudsy medical procedural with unexpected emotional kick, go. Even though I came to the party far too late, having gotten hooked on the show during a trip to Brazil (the show was subtitled instead of dubbed into Portuguese, so how could I resist?), it only took a few episodes for me to get so hooked on the travails of Oceanside Wellness Center's beleaguered staff I added it to my to-do list the minute I got home. 

So, I was excited to get a chance to talk to star Amy Brenneman (Dr. Violet Turner) about what's on the way. The actress,  unlike her grieving character, seemed upbeat and happy to talk about what's next for her (which, so far, isn't TV) and was excited about how Violet's character arc concludes -- hinting that women who might see themselves in Violet should be as well. We discussed whether or not it's possible for the recently widowed Violet to have a happy ending, why she isn't eager to be an "actor for hire" again, and why she found the mixed-up styles of the final season to be "fun, not a challenge."