This midseason is mainly about the returns. Has America missed Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) after “24” didn’t air last year? Can “Lost” electrify fans all over again? Will “American Idol” retain its ratings power?

So far, the TV season has been a disappointment for most broadcast networks. Only CBS, bolstered by “The Mentalist” and a string of sturdy crime dramas, has maintained its viewership from a year ago. ABC, Fox and NBC are each down 9 percent in total viewers.

Fox kept “24” off the air last year after the writers’ strike interrupted production. The thriller returns with four hours on Sunday and Monday. A two-hour movie, “24: Redemption,” scored respectable ratings in November and set up the new season.

The United States has a female president, and Bauer is answering a senator’s questions about torture when the FBI turns to him. Bauer learns that Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) is miraculously alive and apparently involved with the bad guys.

“We stripped out CTU for the season, gave Jack less to work with and thrust him out in the world,” executive producer Manny Coto says. “He’s working with the FBI, but he’s not an FBI agent.”

Will viewers cotton to the changes? A different challenge faces ABC’s “Lost”: Can it maintain its mesmerizing style after last year’s season stunning finale? The drama returns Jan. 21.

Each struggling broadcast network has a reason to hope. “American Idol,” coming back with a new, fourth judge, has yet to fail Fox. NBC airs the Super Bowl, usually the most-watched program, on Feb. 1. “Dancing With the Stars,” ABC’s most popular series, returns March 9.

In coming weeks, broadcasters will go heavy on reality. Yet some new dramas offer impressive actors. Tim Roth plays a deception expert in Fox’s “Lie to Me,” arriving Jan. 21. Ian McShane of “Deadwood” headlines NBC’s “Kings,” debuting in March. Nathan Fillion portrays a mystery novelist in ABC’s “Castle,” coming in March.

The actors are the main attractions on cable. TNT’s “Trust Me” brings together Eric McCormack (“Will & Grace”) and Tom Cavanagh (“Ed”) in an acid look at the advertising world; it starts Jan. 26. Toni Collette displays multiple personalities as the heroine of Showtime’s “United States of Tara,” starting Jan. 18.

Grammy-winner Jill Scott has the lead role in HBO’s “No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency,” based on Alexander McCall Smith’s novels and starting in March. The pilot is the final work from director Anthony Minghella, who died last year.

FX’s “Damages” returns Wednesday with Glenn Close in her Emmy-winning role as high-powered attorney Patty Hewes. The series has added Timothy Olyphant of “Deadwood” and Oscarwinners William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden.

Close says the show is lucky to have all that talent.

“When you have somebody with the brains and the experience of a Marcia Gay or a Bill Hurt . . . it just frees everybody up to do their absolute best work, because there’s not one weak link anywhere. It just makes everybody better.”

Stuck in the middle

Shows getting a midseason start

“Scrubs” ABC, tonight

“Friday Night Lights” NBC, Jan. 16

“Lie to Me” Fox, Jan. 21

“The Amazing Race” CBS, Feb. 15

When does your show start?