Just one day after it was announced that American Idol would bring on Harry Connick Jr. (and bring back Jennifer Lopez) as a judge, Dancing with the Stars one-upped them with the reveal of what is, quite possibly, their best cast yet.

Is this what bringing sexy back looks like?

A photo of The X Factor crew in happier times...

In keeping with the New Year's spirit, it's out with the old, in with the new at HBO.

We already receive our most important life lessons from television, but we're hoping producers, studios and networks themselves learn from the successes and failures of this fall. Here are our big takeaways from the first half of the 2011-12 season:

Pride is one of the seven deadly sins, but inappropriate behavior should really be added to that list.

This singing competition has been quietly airing during December for the last two years, spotlighting a capella groups and airing only a handful of episodes. But while The Sing-Off doesn't get as much attention as American Idol or America's Got Talent or the forthcoming X Factor, it really is one of the best vocal-adrenaline-filled shows on television. If you haven't been watching, this season is already off to a great start -- and here's why it's worth checking out:

Are casting directors, showrunners and network executives purposely trying to conspire to force me to stop watching my favorite shows? Seriously, people. I'm OK with a little bit of stunt casting, but I've about had it up to here (gesturing approximately 12 inches above my head) with the starlets who find more fame on the pages of the tabloids than from doing any actual work, coming onto my favorite shows and mucking things up and then getting a lot of credit when the show gets a ratings boost.

Finally, another reason to go to Amsterdam! You know, besides the culture. Cinema Expo is happening this week in the Dutch city of sin, and the studios are unraveling their 2008-2009 slates for an international crowd. Here's what's been lighting up the message boards: