You may like spring, with flowers blooming and soft breezes blowing.  Or, you may long for autumn, the trees changing colors, the exaggerated use of pumpkin in everything imaginable.  But my favorite season?  New television season!  Having to wait all summer for my favorite shows to crank out new episodes is somewhat excruciating, which is why I love when the new TV season kicks off. It’s like early Christmas cards from my favorite celebs. Plus, it’s always fun to test drive new shows, see which ones will have a permanent place in my repertoire of weekly viewing.  With this year’s season in full swing, some shows are thriving, while others have already bid adieu.

FOX executives have reason to celebrate this year, perhaps with celebratory Christmas cards to one Ms. Zooey Deschanel.  The adorable star from such movies as Elf and (500) Days of Summer is a bona-fide television star with her new hit show, New Girl.  Deschanel stars as Jess, a socially-awkward, yet totally adorable, single girl who moves in with three male roommates.  Deschanel shines as Jess, infusing her with a sweet, bubbly charisma that you can’t help but root for.  Further bragging rights for FOX: New Girlwas the first new show of the season given a full-season pick-up.  Good news for me, because I am totally in love with this show, and can’t bear the thought of it being cancelled.

'New Girl' is a solid comedy hit for FOX. There are so many new shows this season, who knows where to start?

Speaking of cancelled, NBC continues its downward spiral, as two of its new shows have been axed.  The first new show to be yanked off air was the controversial The Playboy Club, based on the infamous Chicago club.  The show failed to capture an audience, especially with protesters lashing out against it before it even premiered.  Even Hugh Hefner commented on the demise of the show, stating that the show may have fared better on a premium network, as opposed to a major network.  I had full intention of checking this show out, going so far as to DVR the first episode.  But alas, I never got around to it; looks like I’ll never have to.

NBC’s other cancelled show was Free Agents, starring Hank Azaria (best known for his voice work on The Simpsons).  The show was about…ummm…secret agents…fighting robots….to free humanity?  Ok honestly I have no idea what this show was about, which goes to show why it was cancelled.  Stick to The Simpsons, Hank.  You guys will be on until the end of time anyway.

Other new shows have popped up with relative success, like CBS’s 2 Broke Girls and ABC’s Revenge (the former I haven’t seen, though I hear it is funny; the latter is my newest guilty pleasure).  I suggest you all stay in and enjoy my favorite season.  Sound off below if you have discovered some new shows worth watching (or rediscovered some old favorites!).

2008 Christmas cards sent by Hugh Hefner featuring himself and his twin girlfriends, Karissa and Kristina Shannon

Hugh Hefner says happy holidays quite like no other. Hefner sent out his Christmas cards this year with a sense of style and grace only befitting a pornography entrepreneur. The cards featured his two new girlfriends Karissa and Kristina Shannon on the front in short-shorts and not much else. The 19-year-old twins’ tops were covered with none other then festive body paint. Situated between the two gorgeous blondes was 85-year-old Hugh Hefner, in his signature robe. The inside of the Christmas cards featured pink writing simply stating one word – “Hef.”

Karissa and Kristina Shannon are definitely no angels. The two were charged in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2008 with aggravated assault. The beautiful models were put on probation and required to pay restitution. As for Hugh Hefner, this past year has seen him lose all the Girls Next Door. Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt, and Kendra Wilkinson, former girlfriends of Hefner featured in the popular television show, all moved on from Hugh this past year into other relationships (good thinking).

Hefner’s magazine Playboy has been in circulation for over 50 years and was founded in Chicago, Illinois. Hefner started his career as a copywriter for Esquire where he reportedly walked out on after being denied a $5 raise. The story goes that he then went out and found 45 investors to start up his now famous magazine, which has turned into an empire over the years. Playboy has branched out into TV, film, and the Internet, although reportedly Hefner has had to start selling tickets to his famous penthouse parties to help bring in more money. Here’s an idea for Hef – sell your Christmas cards on eBay. I’m sure they’d make a ton of money!