Family TV Round-Up: What's On Tap for 2011

Welcome to the Family TV Round-Up, a recap of all kid-friendly programming across the television universe. We'll sum up all the news related to children's programming, as well as profile the people and shows that your kids, tweens and teens are talking about.

Over the last two weeks we reviewed the past year in family programming. This week we're going to take a look ahead at what parents and children can look forward to in the new year.

PBS Kids Go!
-- The network launched two new programs at the beginning of January. The animated 'Wild Kratts' teaches science and animal concepts to children 6 and older. 'Peep and the Big Wide World,' an animated program featuring narration by Joan Cusack, moved to PBS Kids Go! this year after losing its spot when Discovery Kids transformed into The HUB.

-- A 3rd season of 'The Electric Company' will debut on February 7 and will be comprised of 12 new episodes. Two new characters will be introduced -- Marcus Barnes, who will gain math superpowers, and Carly Sonenclar, who will become a Prankster in Training.

-- 'Design Squad Nation,' a spinoff of the PBS series 'Design Squad,' will premiere on Wednesday, January 26.

ABC Family
-- 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager' and 'Make It or Break It' will return with all new episodes in the spring.

-- 'Pretty Little Liars' and 'Greek' returned to the schedule at the beginning of January. This will be the last season for 'Greek.'

Cartoon Network
-- The cable outlet premiered the new DC Comics-based series 'Young Justice' as well as new episodes of 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' at the beginning of January.

-- Watch for an updated version of the 80s cartoon series 'Thundercats' to premiere sometime this year.

-- The network's first awards show -- 'Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards' will debut in March. Voting for the various award categories is already ongoing at the awards' web site.

Disney Channel and DisneyXD
-- Look for the series finales of 'Hannah Montana Forever' and 'Wizards of Waverly Place' sometime during the first half of the year. For 'Hannah Montana' the countdown will begin this Sunday with an episode highlighting the high school graduation of Miley and Lilly with guest stars Vicki Lawrence and Jon Cryer.

-- 'Good Luck Charlie' will offer up its first two-part episode on Sunday January 16 and 23.

-- 'Sonny With a Chance' will premiere its third season this year with or without star Demi Lovato, who has been in a rehab facility since last fall. Should she not be able to return to the show, the producers have decided to re-center the series on show-within-a-show 'So Random!'

-- Production of the new live-action comedy 'A.N.T. Farm,' about a musical prodigy accepted into an accelerated high school talent program, will begin early this year with a release in the spring or fall.

-- 'Playhouse Disney' will become 'Disney Junior' in February. After the transformation look for a number of new preschool series. Including the animated 'Jake and the Never Land Pirates.'

-- The male-centric DisneyXD will get a new live-action, adventure comedy called 'Kickin It.' Starring Jason Earles ('Hannah Montana') and Leo Howard ('Leo's Little Big Show') the series will premiere later this year.

-- DisneyXD will also get its second animated series from Marvel Studios. 'Ultimate Spider-Man,' based on the comic book series, will premiere in the fall.

The HUB
-- 'Transformers: Prime,' which aired as a five-part series during this past holiday season, will debut into its normal weekly time period starting Friday, February 11 at 4:30PM.

-- Other programs scheduled to premiere in 2011 are the live-action 'Clue,' superhero series 'The 99' and the animated 'The Littlest Pet Shop.'

Nickelodeon
-- 'House of Anubis,' a new live-action drama that takes place at a mysterious boarding school, premiered on New Year's Day.

-- The live-action adventure comedy 'Supah Ninjas' will premiere on Nickelodeon with a preview on January 17.

-- Another live-action comedy, the multi-camera 'Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures' will launch in February. 'Bucket & Skinner' will revolve around the school and personal lives of two surfer teens.

-- 'How to Rock Braces and Glasses,' a new live-action comedy starring singer and actress Cymponique, who turns to music after getting both glasses and braces, will premiere in September.

-- The 18th season of 'Power Rangers' -- 'Power Rangers: Samurai' will premiere on Feb. 7 at 8PM on Nickelodeon. It will also air on sister outlet NickToons.

-- SpongeBob SqurePants, who has just been given a renewal for a ninth season, will appear in a new hour-long special on January 28. 'Legends of Bikini Bottom' will feature four new stories of SpongeBob and his friends.

-- Two series based on DreamWorks films will also be premiering this year. 'Monsters vs. Aliens' is set to debut on March 26 while 'Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness' will premiere later this year.

-- On the preschool side of Nickelodeon, look for the premiere of the animated 'Bubble Guppies' on January 24 at 11AM.

-- After years of being featured in five-minute segments, 'Peppa Pig' will be promoted to a 30-minute series later this year on Nick Jr.

-- Over on NickToons, two 80s cartoon favorites are getting modern-day makeovers. 'Voltron Force,' an update of 'Voltron, Defender of the Universe,' will premiere in the spring. A CGI-animated version of 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' will premiere after the '2011 Kid Choice Awards.'

-- Also coming to NickToons is a new 'Avatar' adventure titled 'Avatar: Legend of Korra,' which will premiere in November.