A makeshift television news studio is seen along the Housatonic River in the Sandy Hook village of Newtown, Conn. 

Credit: AP Photo/Julio Cortez

This Saturday, PBS will be airing "What Next After Newtown: What Our Country and Communities Can Do" at 3:00 p.m. (check local listings). I'm curious to see this, as I'm sure I share the same sense of powerlessness and frustration a lot of people have had following the events in Newtown last week. Even though I think the problems that lead to mass murder are many, complex and thorny, if there's something I can do, I'd like to know. 

 "Cheer Perfection"

Credit: TLC

The producers of "Toddlers & Tiaras" and "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" are bringing us another series bubbling over with tarted up little girls and mean moms, and HitFix is bringing you an exclusive clip right here, right now. "Cheer Perfection" (premiering Wed. Dec. 19 at 10:00 p.m.) follows tiny cheerleaders as they compete for a shot at a big, national competition. Or something. Since a one-off episode aired to 1.1 million viewers in July, we're betting this show will follow in the footsteps of its can't-look-away, ratings-snaring predecessors. 

 "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"

Credit: Bravo

After last week's blow-out on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," this week's episode was positively cuddly by comparison. Kyle has a dinner party, Faye Resnick (whom I don't know beyond her involvement in the O.J. Simpson murder trial and decorating Kyle's dining room, and I'm really not sure which gig most offends my sensibilities) tells Brandi she was cruel to Adrienne, and Brandi leaves. The end. Adrienne never even shows up to said party, not wanting to be face-to-face with Brandi. I guess there's only so many screaming arguments a housewife is contractually required to dive into per season, and Brandi has probably already over delivered. 

Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner H. Wayne Carver II, M.D. speaks to reporters during a news conference, Dec. 15, 2012

Credit: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

I thought twice about posting this. After all, the non-stop media coverage of the mass murders in Newtown on Friday has made it clear that, despite many people yammering away on our television screens, few are saying anything of note. It's hard to fathom what anyone can say about this, a crime beyond reason, but every network has their pundits and reporters working overtime to find angles, offer advice, snag high-profile interviews. It is what we have come to expect during times like these. 

 "The Real Housewives of Atlanta"

Credit: Bravo

Following the flat-out bizarre three-way question Kenya posed last week, I thought we might see Phaedra slap our new housewife right into next week, thus eliminating any further ridiculous drama in serene, beautiful Anguilla. Phaedra likes to portray herself as a refined Southern gentlewoman, but let's face it -- anyone comes between her and her man Apollo, and she's digging her well-manicured nails into some bitch's eyeballs. As Phaedra says in the interview room, "You can dance, you can model your shoes, you can show me your cervix. But please don't put your paws on Apollo, because I'm gonna have an issue with that." I was thinking she might also have an issue with Kenya showing her her cervix, but you get the point.

 "Zombie Apocalypse"

Credit: Discovery

Most of us think watching "Walking Dead" or any of the many zombie-themed TV shows and movies out there is just pure, escapist fun. After all, zombies as a concept don't even make much sense. What could possibly happen to turn otherwise normal people into drooling, possibly brain dead, people-eating machines? It's a question asked on Discovery Channel's "Zombie Apocalypse" (Tues. Dec. 18 at 10:00 p.m.), which features real people preparing for the worst and scientists mulling over what could actually happen. The bad news? A zombie pandemic may not be likely or even probable, but impossible? Not exactly.  

 "The Vampire Diaries"

Credit: The CW

Not everyone loves the holidays. There's a reason why suicides spike at this time of year; the lonely feel a little lonelier, fragile relationships crumble. While they may be vampires and hybrids and witches (oh my!), in many ways our Mystic Falls residents are all too human, their problems played out on a larger-than-life scale. This week, more than a few of our intrepid immortals are going to be feeling a lot more isolated and alone, and another relationship is going to hit the skids. Worst of all, we have to wait until Jan. 17 to find out what happens next. Bah, humbug.

 "Project Runway All Stars"

Credit: Lifetime

Another week, another wacky challenge, and this week is poised to be one of the wackier ones. The designers meet Carolyn at the South Street seaport "Hey, it could be a pirate challenge," thinks Josh as he observes all the ships in the dock. Oh, that would be too easy, too fun. No, it's time for the unconventional challenge, and they will be shopping at one dreadful little mall store that is not Mood. It's not even Michael's. Suffer, minions, suffer!