DISH is offering a wide array of channels on free preview during the month of January:

• From January 4 – 16: Movies and features from Epix
• From January 3 – 29: Six channels: ID, Tennis Channel, PixL, Fox Movie Channel, NBA TV and LMN
• From January 11-14: Everything from HBO and Cinemax
• From January 12-13: All Showtime channels

Free Preview 1/4-1/16

Epix

Epix is a premium movie network operated by the Studio 3 Partners – the major movie houses of Paramount, MGM and Lions Gate. This gives them exclusive access to many major movies. They also have deals with some of the best independent film producers, and broadcast exclusive sports events and comedy shows.

Free Preview 1/3 – 1/29

For nearly the entire month of January, DISH is promoting six channels with free previews: Investigation Discovery, Tennis Channel, PixL, Fox Movie Channel, NBA TV, and LMN (previously Lifetime Movie Network)

ID (Investigation Discovery)

DISH Channel 192 (Available with America’s Top 200 and up)

ID features programming devoted to true crime, forensics and documentaries about crime investigation and detective work, such as I (Almost) Got Away With It, about the lengths people will go (and fail) to escape arrest.

Tennis Channel

DISH Channel 400 (Available with America’s Top 250 and up)

Programming devoted to all aspects of tennis as a sport, a health regimen and a lifestyle for professionals and amateurs.

PixL

DISH Channel 388 (Available with Blockbuster@Home and the Heartland Package)

Original, commercial free family friendly movies and miniseries.

Fox Movie Channel

DISH Channel 133 (Available with America’s Top 250 and up)

Hollywood Blockbusters and exclusive movies from the extensive archives of famed movie house 20^th Century Fox.

NBA TV

DISH Channel 156 (Available with America’s Top 200 and up)

Live NBA games, playoffs, highlights, news, commentary and original programming from the world of pro basketball. NBA TV is a must-have for any fan.

LMN

DISH Channel 109 (Available with America’s Top 200 and up)

Formerly the Lifetime Movie Network. Feature films, movies based on famous novels and true stories.

Free Preview 1/11 – 1/14

A long weekend with everything HBO and Cinemax have to offer.

All HBO Channels

(DISH Channels 300-305, 307-309)

All Cinemax Channels

(DISH Channels 310-314)

Free Preview 1/12 – 1/13

All Showtime Channels

(DISH Channels 318-323, 327-328, and 333)

Follow the NFL on DISH from Sterling Satellite.

(Updated February 5, 10:12am)

Saturday, January 5^th

AFC Wild Card Round
4:30 p.m. ET on NBC
Cincinnati (10-6) @ Houston (12-4)

Houston came out on top of this low scoring game, which lacked impressive performances from either offense.

FINAL: 19-13

NFC Wild Card Round
8 p.m. ET on NBC
Minnesota (10-6) @ Green Bay (11-5)

Green Bay handily defeated a Minnesota team forced to play without their QB, who was out due to an injury.

FINAL : 24-10

Sunday, January 6^th

AFC Wild Card Round:
1 p.m. ET on CBS
Indianapolis (11-5) @ Baltimore (10-6)

Baltimore came out on top of this game, thanks in large part to the tight connection between QB Joe Flacco and receiver Anquan Boldin.

FINAL: 24-9

NFC Wild Card Round:
4:30 p.m. ET on FOX
Seattle (11-5) @ Washington D.C. (10-6)

A terrible game for the Redskins, losing to Seattle, and a serious knee injury for QB Robert Griffin III.

They went up 14-0 early, but then stalled.

FINAL: 24-14

Saturday January 12^th

AFC Divisional
4:30 p.m. ET on CBS
Baltimore @ Denver (13-3)

Baltimore pulled this one out in overtime with a field goal

FINAL: 38-35

NFC Divisional
8 p.m. ET on FOX
Green Bay @ San Francisco (11-4-1)

Green Bay forgot to bring their defense to this game.

FINAL: 45-31

Sunday January 13^th

NFC Divisional
1 p.m. ET on FOX
Seattle @ Atlanta (13-3)

Atlanta led early, but were almost overwhelmed by a fourth quarter rally by Seattle. A field goal in the last 13 seconds saved it.

FINAL: 30-28

AFC Divisional
4:30 p.m. on CBS
Houston @ New England (12-4)

New England dominated this game against an overmatched Houston team.

FINAL: 41-28

Sunday January 20^th

NFC Championship
San Francisco @ Atlanta
3 p.m. ET on FOX

San Francisco came back from being down 17-0 to win 28-24. After defeating the Packers with his bewildering running game last week, 49ers QB Kaepernick staged an air-war against Atlanta this week.

FINAL: 28-24

AFC Championship
Baltimore @ New England
6:30 p.m. ET on CBS

Baltimore stunned the favorite in this game and will go on to face the 49ers in New Orleans.

FINAL: 28-13

Sunday February 3^rd

SUPER BOWL XLVII

Baltimore vs. San Francisco

The 49ers didn’t do much in the first half, but after a bizarre power outage early in the third quarter, they returned ready to play. But it wasn’t enough: Baltimore held them off to win 34-31.

FINAL: 34-31 — Ravens WIN

6:30 p.m. ET on CBS

Shows Need People To Watch Them?

Last Resort

The series, which follows the crew of a U.S. submarine that finds themselves enemies of the state after refusing an order to fire a nuclear warhead at Pakistan, actually showed some promise. The premise was intriguing, the pilot well constructed and subsequent episodes seemed to move the narrative along in a  compelling way. Unfortunately, remaining on the air requires viewers and for Last Resort they never materialized.

The show was greeted with a relatively warm reception from critics but questions about whether the premise, while interesting, was suited for a full series dogged the show from the beginning. Those concerns may have helped sink the show too-but ultimately it all comes down to viewership and viewers voted with their clickers on this one.

Hauntingly Ill-Concieved Television

666 Park Avenue

image is from abc.go.com

Who thought a show about a demonically possessed rental property wouldn’t work? Everything started off predictably. A good looking young couple seems to get the deal of a lifetime when they’re hired on as co-managers of the illustrious Drake Apartments, scoring a sweet new pad in the process. But, dark, mysterious secrets swirl beneath the Drake’s glamorous exterior.

666 Park Avenue’s problem was the secrets weren’t that dark or mysterious and, apparently, not very interesting either. The show was more soap opera than suspense or horror offering. But that didn’t stop it from trotting out just about every over done horror story convention in the book. A creepy little girl, lost souls trapped in walls, a cult-like secret society that meets in the basement-666 Park Avenue had it all and did nothing with any of it.

Image is from cwtv.com

Died On The Operating Table….

Emily Owens, M.D.

In what can be best described as a mercy killing, the CW amputated this poorly executed Scrubs/Grey’s Anatomy mash up from its lineup after a dreadful run with reviewers and in the ratings.

Basically, Emily is a gifted surgical intern equipped with the emotional immaturity and paralyzing insecurity of a teenager. Her med school crush and old high school nemesis happen to work at the same hospital and Emily just can’t seem to put the superficial and ultimately meaningless concerns of her high school years behind her. Forget the fact she’s in her late 20s and the whole “moving beyond high school” thing should have happened a decade ago.

Sure, she goes above and beyond for her patients, competes for the admiration of her brilliant but cold surgical superior and does all the other things required of a main character in a coming-of-age medical drama.  But ultimately, this show was Mean Girls with lab coats and forceps and a crappy amalgamation of the two at that.

Catch all the bowls on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU with DISH Network from Sterling Satellite!

(Check local listings for broadcast network channels.)

(Updated 1/8 — 8:48  am)

Follow the NFL on DISH from Sterling Satellite!

Introducing this weeks victims: Made in Jersey, the Mob Doctor, Animal Practice, and Partners.

Canceled fastest

The ‘canceled fastest’ crown goes to “Made in Jersey”, which was summarily removed from CBS’s schedule on October 10th after only two episodes had aired. In Made in Jersey the same character is a high powered Manhattan attorney and a saucy Italian-American Jersey girl from the neighborhood, which makes perfect sense.

She was played by English actress Janet Montgomery because Londoners and Italians from New Jersey are basically the same thing.

See?:

Two Great Tastes…

Made in Jersey wasn’t the only “it’s this!…and that!” show to debut this year. It also wasn’t the only one to quickly meet the axe. Enter The Mob Doctor. Dr. Grace Devlin is an awesome doctor, but her dumb brother has gambling debts and now the mob wants her kill people on the operating table. Holy Hippocratic Oath! What ever will she do!?

Half of the show happens in a hospital, and half of it happens under those bridges where mafiosos growl at you and tell you to do things that go against all of your principles or else.

The Monkey Tested Well

NBC’s Animal Practice made it a few more weeks than Made in Jersey but not by much. It’s about an offbeat and irreverent veterinarian who hits on all the pretty pet owners who come to his animal hospital. Then his old girlfriend takes over the hospital and they don’t get along and…I can hear the pitch meeting now:

“It’s like a cross between Scrubs and Night Court. With a monkey!”

“Wait, but Harry didn’t try to sleep with…”

“Imagine Larroquette’s the lead.”

“Oh, ok…good good, Larroquette’s funny

“We didn’t get Larroquette.”

“Oh…but the monkey’s good, right?”

“Oh yeah, the monkey’s great! He tests well.”

“Good, good…Wait…wasn’t there a show with a dentist and a chimp?”

“Yes, but this is a vet…and a monkey…and he’s always trying to sleep with his patients. Um, I mean patients’ owners.”

Not Just Canceled. Vanished.

The well-hyped sitcom Partners made it almost halfway into November, but CBS didn’t just pull it. CBS pretended that it had never existed, removing its pages from the CBS website. Shortly thereafter, this People’s Choice Award nominee vanished from the ballot.

So why did Partners go out like a dead pharaoh? We’re not sure, but it may have something to do with a 1995 show on FOX called Partners.

Tune in next week when we solemnly consider the moldering remains of Last Resort, 666 Park Avenue and Emily Owens, MD.

Second, if you’re still reading this, congratulations! You’re either in a consolation championship or the actual playoffs! Here are a few NFL Week 15 fantasy football starters and benchwarmers to get you jacked for this weekend’s slate of games:

Start ‘Em

Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams

No team has been worse against opposing quarterbacks this season than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and no team has given up more points in the past two weeks to field generals than the Bucs (29, 31 points). St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford faced a moderately porous Minnesota Vikings pass defense last week, coming out of the loss with a season high 27 points on 377 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception.

Bradford takes on Tampa Bay a week after Drew Brees shredded their secondary for four touchdowns. Bradford isn’t likely to throw for over 350 yards for a second consecutive game, but the former No. 1 overall pick should have no problem breaking the 20 point barrier.

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers

Save your pitchforks and torches for next Tuesday, please. Because, believe it or not, someone has charged out of the Carolina Panthers running back foxhole, production a-blazin’, and his name is DeAngelo Williams.

With Jonathan Stewart hurt, Williams has posted 16 and 18 points in the last two weeks, doing so as a rusher and receiver. Williams is blessed with facing an oft-maligned Oakland Raiers run defense (third worst in fantasy) that happens to give up the second most receiving yards to running backs in the NFL.

Justin Blackmon, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Everyone has focused on Cecil Shorts as the Jacksonville Jaguar wide receiver to watch in fantasy, but Justin Blackmon has quietly put together some solid games over the second half of the season. Blackmon faces a fairly vanilla New England Patriots pass defense, and as long as Chad Henne is ducking under center, he should continue getting consistent targets.

Blackmon has racked up 23 looks from Henne over the past two games, and it’s very likely the Jaguars will be dropping back to pass as they play catch-up to a 21 poitn deficit in the second quarter.

Sit ‘Em

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been the toast of the NFL ever since he thoroughly dismantled a “vaunted” Chicago Bears defense in Week 11. In the same Sunday Night Football spotlight four weeks later, Kaepernick turned an anticipated matchup against the New England Patriots into a backyard clinic (24 points, 4 touchdowns).

This week, Kaepernick faces the best pass defense in the NFL in the Seattle Seahawks, who are just as capable of containing rushing quarterbacks with a bevy of fast linebackers and big safeties. This is no doubt a game to watch, but don’t start Kaepernick if you can help it.

Beanie Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals

Whatever you do, don’t buy into Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells’ Week 15 performance against the Detroit Lions (24 points, 3 touchdowns). The Chicago Bears have given up 20+ points to just one bionic running back this year (Adrian Peterson), and held all others under that mark.

The Bears are also playing for a playoff spot, and are likely to force Arizona’s Artist Formerly Known As A Passing Game to strut its awful stuff early on. It’s easy to jump on a bandwagon when a running back puts up 24 points in one week, but Wells is someone you should probably avoid if possible.

Danario Alexander, WR, San Diego Chargers

I feel like we’re raining all over the “who’s hot” parade strolling down the fantasy football waiver wire. San Diego Chargers wide receiver Danario Alexander has been a nifty find over the past six weeks, posting 19, 21, 10, and 20 points in four non-consecutive games.

Last week, facing a respectable Carolina Panther secondary, Alexander was held catch-less. He shouldn’t fair much better against a New York Jets defense that ranks second against fantasy wide-outs. The Jets have given up the least receiving yards in the NFL to wide receivers, so pass on Alexander as your flavor of this week.

The 2012 fantasy football playoffs are upon us, bragging rights, team management moxie and all the rest of what we are hoping to enjoy when Week 1 begins.

Even if you are on the outside looking in, there’s some consolation in winning fantasy football’s version of the NIT. As such, we have a list of crucial Week 14 fantasy football starters and benchwarmers to help you win either of those matchups:

Start ‘Em

Josh Freeman, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Get ready for an air show in the Big Easy this weekend. The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers rank as the last and penultimate team defending quarterbacks (20 ppg and 18.6 ppg, respectively, against fantasy QBs). Drew Brees is an obvious must-start unless he’s not wearing shoulder pads, but this week you should give Josh Freeman an extra look.

Freeman hasn’t lit the world on fire over the past three weeks (10, 15, 16 points), but he rarely turns the ball over (3 interceptions, 1 fumble in his last 8 games) and the Saints are really good at giving up touchdown passes (27 allowed). As extra juice, Freeman’s Buccaneers are still playing for a potential playoff spot, so expect max effort from the Kansas State alum.

David Wilson, RB, New York Giants

If New York Giants running back David Wilson is still available in your league, you probably aren’t playing against MENSA members. Wilson has gotten a lot of publicity for gashing a really bad New Orleans Saints defense and taking a kickoff to the house (always a crowd pleasing event).

This week, Wilson’s value is somewhat dependent on Ahmad Bradshaw’s health, but with the Giants facing a near-equally bad Atlanta Falcons run defense (4.9 YPC against), he should get a few opportunities to stretch his legs on the Georgia Dome turf.

Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns

Finding the right sleeper wide receiver is a feast or famine process. More often than not, you’ll get a few scraps of points, but when you strike gold, it makes Thanksgiving look like a rushed workday breakfast. This week, it’d be smart to take a flyer on Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon.

Despite the enigmatic tendencies of his quarterback Brandon Weeden, Gordon has put together a decent stretch of games over the past two weeks. He notched 17 and 8 points against bad secondaries in Oakland and Kansas City. As luck would have it, he gets the Washington Redskins this week, who give up the second most fantasy points to wide receivers in the NFL (25.8 per game).

Sit ‘Em

Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is no longer a weekly must-start for anyone who has a decent backup. Romo is heading into the team’s Week 15 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers without Dez Bryant, and struggled last week against a good Cincinnati Bengals defense (12 points).

The Steelers are fourth in the league against opposing quarterbacks, and until last week, had given up fewer than 10 points to signal callers in five straight games. It might be hard to do, but sitting Romo might be your best option this week if your backup is someone like Colin Kaepernick or Josh Freeman.

Any New Orleans Running Back Not Named Darren Sproles

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10^th rank against opposing rushers is a bit deceiving. Tampa Bay has allowed the league’s fewest yards on the ground from running backs (871), held Bryce Brown to just two yards last week, and are facing a Saints team that prefers to drop back anyways.

It’s likely Darren Sproles gets some extra attention from New Orleans this week, as the Buccaneers have had trouble defending pass-catching backs (6^th most receiving yards allowed to RBs in the NFL). Otherwise, a sporadic Saints rushing attack is not likely to get any better against Tampa Bay.

Steve Johnson, WR, Buffalo Bills

Since Week 3, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Steve Johnson has been more reputation than production. In the last 10 games, Johnson has capped 10 fantasy points twice, with just one of those performances coming in the last six weeks.

The Seattle Seahawks have a phenomenal secondary, capable of shutting down most elite wide receivers. Johnson is not in that class, and the Bills aren’t exactly an offensive juggernaut. Look elsewhere for wide receiver help.