The following information has been collected from a variety of sources at TV networks and studios. But the decisions about when shows will resume production and when they may air new episodes are still being made. Keep in mind that much of this information is subject to change. I’ll update this list at chicagotribune.com/watcher as new information comes in.
BROADCAST NETWORKS
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ABC
Scripted show arriving soon: “Men in Trees” returns with 11 new episodes Feb. 27. As is the case at other networks, various ABC series have a few new episodes shot last fall in the can, and they’ll air in the next few weeks, among them are “Brothers & Sisters” (which airs new episodes Sunday and Feb. 17) and “Boston Legal” (new episodes Tuesday and Feb. 19).
Shows that will probably go back into production: “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Ugly Betty,” “Brothers and Sisters,” “Samantha Who?” and “Desperate Housewives” would likely go back into production when the strike ends. Some episodes would probably air this season. New ABC shows “Private Practice” and “Dirty Sexy Money” could resume shooting and return this season also, though there’s a good chance they will come back in the fall. “Pushing Daisies” will return in the fall. “Lost,” which started airing eight new episodes Jan. 31, will resume production as well. It’s not known when those new episodes would air.
CBS
Scripted shows arriving soon: “Jericho” returns with seven episodes Tuesday. A cleaned-up version of Showtime’s “Dexter” debuts Feb. 17.
Shows that will probably go back into production: “The Big Bang Theory,” all three “CSIs,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “NCIS,” “Criminal Minds” and “Two and a Half Men” are all likely to return with new episodes this season. “Cold Case,” “Without a Trace,” “Numbers” and “Ghost Whisperer” may also resume production. Some episodes may air this season.
CW
Scripted shows arriving soon: New episodes of “Everybody Hates Chris,” “Aliens in America” and “One Tree Hill” will air this season. “Supernatural” and “Smallville” are airing new episodes now. New “Reaper” episodes and more “Smallville” episodes will air Thursdays in March.
Shows that will probably go back into production: “Gossip Girl” should resume production and will probably air episodes this season. “Supernatural,” “Smallville” and “One Tree Hill” may also start shooting soon after the strike ends. When those new episodes would air is not certain. As is the case with other network shows that have not gotten full-season orders, the fate of “Reaper” is up in the air.
Fox
Scripted shows arriving soon: “Unhitched” debuts March 2, “New Amsterdam” debuts March 4, “The Return of Jezebel James” debuts March 14 and “Canterbury’s Law” arrives April 14. New episodes of “Back to You” begin Feb. 26, “‘Til Death” returns March 14 and new episodes of “Bones” start airing April 14.
Shows that will probably go back into production: “24,” which filmed eight episodes of its seventh season before the strike halted shooting, will resume production of the next 16 episodes of the season. But don’t look for Jack Bauer in 2008; Season 7 probably won’t air until January 2009. Nothing has been decided regarding “House” or “Prison Break.”
NBC
Scripted shows arriving soon: “quarterlife” debuts Feb. 26. Episodes of “Monk” and “Psych” that have already aired on USA debut on NBC in April. New episodes of “Las Vegas,” “Scrubs,” “Medium” and “Law & Order” will air over the next few months.
Shows that will probably go back into production: “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “ER,” “30 Rock,” “The Office” and “My Name Is Earl.” The new shows “Life” and “Chuck” will probably return in the fall. Nothing has been decided about “Heroes” and “Friday Night Lights.”
CABLE NETWORKS
ABC Family
“Greek” returns March 24.
AMC
“Breaking Bad” is airing new episodes.
“Mad Men’s” writers are at work on the second season of the show (the studio that makes the show, Lionsgate, struck a side deal with the WGA), and the series is expected to return this summer.
FX
“Nip/Tuck” is airing new episodes.
Season 2 of “Dirt” begins March 2.
Seven episodes of “The Riches” will begin airing after “Dirt” completes its seven-episode run.
The final season of “The Shield,” which has already been shot, will air at the start of the summer or after the Summer Olympics.
New seasons of “Rescue Me” and “Damages” have been commissioned, but the return dates for those shows depend on when they complete production on new episodes.
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is also expected to return.
HBO
“In Treatment” and “The Wire” are airing new episodes.
“John Adams,” a new miniseries, begins March 16.
No dates have been set for the following HBO shows: “12 Miles of Bad Road,” a new series from Linda Bloodworth-Thomason; “Big Love”; “Curb Your Enthusiasm”; “Entourage”; “Flight of the Conchords”; “Tell Me You Love Me”; and “True Blood,” a new vampire series from “Six Feet Under” creator Alan Ball.
Lifetime
“Army Wives” has been renewed for a second season. No return date has been set.
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Sci Fi
“Battlestar Galactica” returns in early April with the first 10 episodes of its 20-episode final season. Once the strike ends, Sci Fi hopes to begin shooting the last 10 episodes as soon as possible.
“Doctor Who’s” fourth season will begin airing in April.
The “Doctor Who” spinoff “The Sarah Jane Adventures” will debut in April.
“Eureka” will return, but no date has been set.
“Stargate Atlantis” is airing Season 4 episodes. Production begins Feb. 19 on Season 5, but no return date has been set.
A new series, “Sanctuary” (which began as an online show), goes into production in March and will debut in the summer or fall.
Showtime
“The L Word” is airing episodes.
“The Tudors” begins its second season March 30.
Tracey Ullman’s “State of the Union,” a new five-episode comedy series, will debut March 30 after the second-season premiere of “The Tudors.”
A second season of “This American Life,” a TV version of the long-running radio show, will air in May.
A new comedy series from England’s ITV, “Secret Diary of a Call Girl,” will air in late spring or early summer.
“Californication” has been renewed for a second season and should be back in the summer.
“Dexter” has been renewed for a third season. No return date has been set, but if the strike ends soon, it’s likely to return in September or October.
“Brotherhood” has been renewed for a third season. No return date has been set, but if the strike ends soon, it’s likely to return in September or October.
The writers for “Weeds” (who are covered by the WGA’s side deal with Lionsgate) have begun working on the show’s fourth season, but no return date has been set.
TBS
“My Boys” is expected to be back this summer.
TNT
“The Closer” and “Saving Grace” are expected to be back this summer.
USA Network
A new show starring Mary McCormack, “In Plain Sight,” premieres April 24. The first season of the show has been filmed.
A second season of “Burn Notice” has been commissioned, but new episodes have not been filmed. If the strike ends in the next couple of weeks, it should be back in the summer.
“Psych” and “Monk” are airing new episodes. If the strike ends in the next couple of weeks, they should be back in the summer.
A second season of “The Starter Wife” has been commissioned. If the strike ends in the next week or two, it should be back in the summer.
“Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” which moved to USA last fall, is back on NBC. The show is expected to go back into production and shoot new episodes for USA when the strike ends.