NBC schedule doesn't include Lipstick Jungle

For fans of female-powered dramas, the hoopla surrounding NBC's Lipstick Jungle took a turn for the worse today. The network announced its January schedule, and there's no sign of Lipstick Jungle or Crusoe (more on that in a minute).

What has been included are three new reality shows (ugh!): The recently announced Superstars of Dance and Momma's Boys will take over Mondays, and Howie Do It will lead off Fridays. For those who haven't been keeping up with the reality beat, Superstars of Dance is a dancing-competition show, Momma's Boys is a dating show in which moms pick women for their grown-up sons (losers!), and Howie Do It is about... Well, all we know right now is it involves Howie Mandel, which is more than enough information to pass judgment.

Wait a second--what's up with Monday's one-two combo of Heroes and Chuck? Both of those shows will take January off (as will Life) and return in February, probably with plenty of hype from the Super Bowl on February 1.

As previously reported, Friday Night Lights returns to NBC on January 16 on Fridays, sandwiched between Howie Do It and Dateline NBC in what has to be one of the most interesting trios of shows ever in television history.

But what of the disappearance of Lipstick Jungle and Crusoe? Although the absence of both these bubble shows doesn't mean that they are definitely canceled, it certainly doesn't bode well for them. If you are a "glass is half-full" kind of person, NBC has yet to officially cancel either, and this schedule is only for January. However, we are in the day and age of networks trying to be too nice to shows and not outright canning programs. Suck it up, NBC! Tell us what's really going on!

Here's NBC's January schedule:

Mondays (beginning January 5)
8-10 p.m. -- Superstars of Dance
Note: premieres Sunday, January 4 (9-11 p.m.); Season Finale Monday, January 26 (8-9 p.m.)
10-11 p.m. – Momma's Boys
(Chuck and Heroes return in February)

Tuesdays (beginning January 6)
8-10 p.m. – The Biggest Loser: Couples
10-11 p.m. -- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Tuesday (January 20)
10-11 p.m. – Dateline NBC: Presidential Inauguration Special (10-11 p.m. ET)

Wednesdays (beginning January 7)
8-9 p.m. -- Knight Rider
9-10 p.m. – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit encores
(Life returns in February)
10-11 p.m. -- Law & Order

Thursdays (beginning January 8)
8-8:30 p.m. – My Name Is Earl
8:30-9 p.m. -- Kath & Kim
9:00-9:31 p.m. -- The Office
9:31-10 p.m. -- 30 Rock
10-11 p.m. – ER

Fridays
8-9 p.m. -- Howie Do It (Series Premiere January 9)
9-10 p.m. – Friday Night Lights (Beginning January 16)
10-11 p.m. -- Dateline NBC (Beginning December 5)

Saturdays (Beginning January 10)
8-11 – Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit encores

Sundays (January 4)
7-9 p.m. – Saturday Night Live Sports Extra
9-11 p.m. – Superstars Of Dance (Premiere)

Event Specials
8-11 p.m. – The Golden Globe Awards (January 11)
9-11 p.m. – Saturday Night Live Film Festival (January 18)
9-11 p.m. -- The Last Templar -- (January 25 and Monday, January 26)
6:15-10 p.m. -- Super Bowl XLIII (February 1)