PASADENA-The first of each year means resolutions, bowl games and the Television Critics Association Winter meetings. The 12-day event is at the midpoint, and here's some of the news that has come out of the sessions with the TV networks.

Still waiting: There's no word on whether FOX will bring back "House," "Terra Nova" or "Fringe." All three would be very costly for the network so the odds are high that only one of the three (if any) survive.

Dueling shows: NBC and FOX are gearing up for a big battle between "The Voice" and "American Idol." Those involved with both shows say they are going to have spectacular years.

"The level of talent [in] season one was so high that it's appeared that we went in early for season two, that working musicians, people who really want to make it, who never would have stood in line for any other show, came out and sought us out for season two," says "The Voice" host Carson Daly. "So the level potentially of talent for season two, whatever you thought of season one, this is way, way, way higher than that."

"American Idol" executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz says, "When 'Idol' started, there was only one of its kind, and the truth is now there's a lot of these shows. It's therefore a more competitive marketplace, but in the end competition is good. It's good for everybody. It means you have to raise your game. And that's what we try and do. Every season we come back and we try to be better than the season before."

Life's funny again: After several years of struggling to launch new comedies, ABC has worked out its problems. "Last Man Standing" and "Suburgatory" join established hits "The Middle" and "Modern Family. The network is having so much comedy luck, they would love to have a night of young, irreverent comedies with "Happy Endings," "Cougar Town" and "Apartment 23."

Dead and gone: "Allen Gregory" is finished at FOX. The network expects the new "Napoleon Dynamite," or the return "Bob's Burgers," to fill the void.

Well-represented: The FOX Network has become THE place for Fresno/Clovis talent to find acting work. You already knew about Chris Colfer and Dot-Marie Jones, who are on "Glee."

Now, you can add Clovis West graduate Aaron Ruell to the Fox family. He's reprising his role of Kip from "Napoleon Dynamite" in the animated version that joins the network's Animation Domination on Sundays.

The future: Mariska Hargitay isn't leaving "Law & Order SVU," and "Community" will return at NBC in the spring.

No problems: NBC expects Howard Stern to be on his best behavior when he joins the judging panel for "America's Got Talent."

You can find more news about the networks at my blog: fresnobeehive.com.

Other news

Big effort: KFSN (Channel 30.1) raised approximately $1,600 for the Valley Animal Center, a no-kill shelter in Fresno. The money was raised through the local ABC station's Facebook page. The station gave 30 cents for each of the 5,328 "Like" clicks Dec. 14-31.

On the Web: Fresno's Stewart St. John's online TV network -- The SFN at www.sfntv.com -- will launch the new show "River Ridge" starring Daytime Emmy Award winner Julie Pinson and assorted daytime and primetime stars. The second season premiere of the web soap "DeVanity" is also starting.