• by David Kaplan , December 1, 2004

FOX, NBC, and CBS are preparing a number of new dramas for mid-season replacement series, while ABC is keeping mum for the moment on its winter TV plans.

For CBS, the network is banking on "NUMB3RS," a drama about an FBI agent (starring Rob Morrow, the star from the network's "Northern Exposure") who recruits his mathematical genius brother (David Krumholtz) to help the bureau solve a wide range of challenging crimes in Los Angeles. The show premieres Friday, Jan. 21 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

Ridley Scott, who directed Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, and Blade Runner, is the creative force behind the series. Scott, along with Tony Scott, Alex Gansa, and Brooke Kennedy are the executive producers in association with Paramount Network Television.

Fox's two new dramas are "Jonny Zero," which gets its start on January 14, and "Point Pleasant," which premieres January 20. Returning shows include: "American Idol" (January 18 and 19), "24" (January 9 and then moves to its regular time period January 10), "The Simple Life" (January 26), and "Bernie Mac" is January 14.

"Jonny Zero," from the team behind NBC's "The West Wing" and "ER," promise to take viewers on an action-packed ride through the streets of New York City as ex-con Jonny Calvo (played by Franky G.) returns to his old neighborhood, trying to make amends for the mistakes he has made.

A former bouncer, Jonny has a mythic reputation, and his old boss, Garrett (Ritchie Coster), a corrupt club owner, will stop at nothing to get him back on the payroll. But Jonny struggles to go legitimate, befriending wannabe hip-hop renaissance man Random (GQ) and a fellow lost soul, troubled ex-stripper Danni Styles (Brennan Hesser).

"Point Pleasant" is set in a usually quiet New Jersey beach town, when a sudden, violent storm washes in more than the tide as local lifeguard Jesse Parker (Sam Page) sees the lovely Christina Nickson (Elisabeth Harnois) floating in the ocean, he dives into the dangerous waters to save her life and bring her to safety. Little does Jesse know that his heroic rescue heralds the beginning of "all hell breaking loose."

Over at NBC, the network has four new mid-season shows.

A new drama, "Medium," stars Patricia Arquette as a woman who uses visions to help solve crimes. It will premiere on Monday, January 3, at 10 p.m. "Committed," a new sitcom about the whirlwind courtship of two opposites, premieres on Tuesday, January 4, at 9:30 p.m., moving into the Scrubs timeslot, which moves up to air at 9 p.m.

NBC will also team with Sports Illustrated in a show that searches for "the next great swimsuit model" in the series "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search" that premieres Wednesday, January 5 at 8 p.m.

NBC also plans to unveil a new reality series, "The Contender," a boxing show, which will premiere on Monday, Feb. 21, at 9:30 p.m. and will air regularly Tuesdays at 8 p.m. beginning March 1.

A spokesman for ABC said the network has not announced its mid-season replacements yet.