Now that the holidays are over and the new year has begun, a slew of television series are returning to their normal programming. Among those returning on Jan. 4 is the ABC sci-fi drama, 'V,' which features Morris Chestnut, and TNT's 'Southland,' which features Regina King.

Despite declining ratings, 'Southland,' which started out on NBC in 2009, was picked up by TNT in 2010. The series was renewed for a 10-episode third season.

The show, which also stars Michael Cudlitz, Benjamin McKenzie and Shawn Hatosy, is an intense, first-person look at cops and detectives on the streets of Los Angeles.

King plays detective Lydia Adams, who lives with and is the primary caregiver of her mother. In season three, she is paired with a new partner, detective Josie Ochoa (played by Jenny Gago).

Over at ABC, 'V' started off slowly in 2010, but increased ratings led the network to renew it for a second season. Based on the 1983 miniseries, the new series chronicles the arrival on Earth of a technologically advanced alien species that ostensibly comes in peace but actually has sinister motives.

Chestnut plays Ryan Nichols – a visitor posing as human determined to undermine the insidious plans of his alien people.

Jane Badler, who played the evil alien overlord Diana in the 1980s version of 'V,' has signed on as the mother of Anna (played by Morena Baccarin).

The second season opens in the wake of Anna unleashing "red sky" on the planet. Ryan is kept in isolation on the mothership so Anna can experiment on his hybrid baby, while Chad (played by Scott Wolf) wants to fight with the Fifth Column to atone for being duped by Anna.