LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- With 2004 quickly drawing to a close several cable networks have outlined their January 2005 (and beyond) launches, including MTV, A&E, Oxygen, Comedy Central, Court TV and Lifetime. Here's a breakdown of those recently released:

THE ASHLEE SIMPSON SHOW (MTV) - Season two of the reality series kicks off Wednesday, January 5 at 10:30/9:30c. Among the events featured during its sophomore effort: Simpson's much-ballyhooed appearance on NBC's "Saturday Night Live."

BATTLE FOR OZZFEST (MTV) - The "battle of the bands" reality series, the winner of which earns a spot on the "Ozzfest" tour, wraps its run on Monday, January 10 at 10:30/9:30c. Viewers can catch up on the series with a marathon on Saturday, January 8 (time TBA).

CAESARS 24/7 (A&E) - The cable channel's latest "docu-soap," a behind-the-scenes look at the most legendary resort and casino in Las Vegas, is set to launch Monday, January 10 at 10:00/9:00c.

CONFESSIONS OF A SOCIOPATHIC SOCIAL CLIMBER (Oxygen) - The Jennifer Love Hewitt-led telefilm has been slated to premiere on Saturday, March 12 at 8:00/7:00c.

CRANK YANKERS (Comedy Central) - The show's third season resumes on the cable channel on Wednesday, January 12 at 9:00/8:00c. Viewers can also check out the series' brand new holiday special on Tuesday, December 21 at 10:30/9:30c.

DAWN ANNA (Lifetime) - The Debra Winger-led telefilm, about a single mother who sturggles with illness and then the killing of her daughter, has been slated to debut on Monday, January 10 at 9:00/8:00c.

DISTRACTION (Comedy Central) - Comedy Central's latest game show entry has been slated to premiere Tuesday, January 18 at 10:30/9:30c. The series features contestants answering relatively simple trivia questions while withstanding various forms of "distractions," such as electrical shocks and body-piercing.

THE EXONERATED (Court TV) - The cinematic adaptation of the award-winning off-Broadway play has been set to premiere Thursday, January 27 at 9:00/8:00c. Susan Sarandon, Danny Glover, Delroy Lindo, Aidan Quinn, David Brown and Brian Dennehy all star in the project, about a group of six people who spent varying amounts of time awaiting capital punishment before dedicated lawyers got their convictions overturned.

JAMIE FOXX'S LAFFAPALOOZA (Comedy Central) - The cable channel will begin rebroadcasting the short-lived Showtime stand-up series Sunday, February 20 at 10:00/9:00c.

MR. ROMANCE (A.K.A. FINDING FABIO) (Oxygen) - The new reality series, which seeks to find the next Harlequin romance novel cover model, is set to launch on Monday, March 14 at 8:00/7:00c.

NEWLYWEDS: NICK & JESSICA (MTV) - Reality television's first couple begins its third and final season on Wednesday, January 5 at 10:00/9:00c.

THE OSBOURNES (MTV) - America's favorite dysfunctional family returns for the remainder of its third season on Monday, January 17 at 10:30/9:30c.

REAL WORLD/ROAD RULES: BATTLE OF THE SEXES 2 (MTV) - The 36 cast member showdown, the winner of which receives a $60,000 cash prize, concludes on Monday, January 24 at 10:00/9:00c. Look for a marathon of the current season on Saturday, January 22 (time TBA).

RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT! (Sci Fi) - Sci Fi is set to begin airing the one-time TBS mainstay every Wednesday at 8:00/7:00c and 9:00/8:00c beginning January 26.

SEE ARNOLD RUN (A&E) - The cable channel's biopic of the "Governator" is set to premiere Sunday, January 30 at 8:00/7:00c. Jurgen Prochnow and Mariel Hemingway star as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver respectively.

STEPHEN KING'S RIDING THE BULLET (USA, New!) - The horror writer's latest will make its small screen premiere on Sunday, January 23 at 8:00/7:00c. Jonathan Jackson stars as a distraught 21-year-old New England college student who hitchhikes through rural Maine to visit his sick mother (Barbara Hershey), only to be picked up by a mysterious stranger carrying haunting secrets.

SWEET 16 (MTV, New!) - The cable channel's latest "10 Spot" entry, a humorous look inside lavish quinceneras and exclusive debutante balls, premieres Tuesday, January 18 at 10:30/9:30c.

THE WIDOW ON THE HILL (Lifetime) - The telefilm, about a hospice nurse (Natasha Henstridge) suspected of killing the ailing wife of wealthy landowner (James Brolin), is set to premiere Monday, January 24 at 9:00/8:00c. Jewel Staite ("Firefly") also stars.

Look for information on other premieres in the coming weeks!