Make that 'New Moon' worldwide opening $274.9 million ... and counting

Summit Entertainment's estimates of how many filmgoers outside North America saw "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" was low. Way low.

As more exact information continues to roll in from overseas markets, the independent studio updated its estimate of ticket sales in the 24 countries where its blockbuster vampire movie played over the weekend.

Its new total, $132.1 million, is a full $14 million, or 12%, higher than its estimate Sunday morning of $118.1 million. Combined with the newly updated domestic total of $142.8 million, $2.1 million higher than Summit's Sunday morning estimate, it now turns out that "New Moon" opened to $274.9 million, the sixth highest worldwide bow of all time.

Because Summit doesn't have its own foreign distribution operation, it works with a variety of distributors in different countries and thus international grosses are coming in much slower than at major studios. Further updates are yet to come, just in case anyone is worried that "New Moon" didn't make enough money this weekend.

--Ben Fritz

Hot winter dates for 'Doctor Who,' 'Scrubs,' 'Vampire Diaries' & more, plus good 'Sons of Anarchy' news

I was compiling my December and January schedules for my editors and thought, why not share with the class? So a list of notable programs coming our way in the next couple of month is below.

One other task I completed on Monday: putting "Sons of Anarchy" creator Kurt Sutter through a 75-minute interview. The man is nothing if not stoic (and articulate too, not surprisingly). I'll have lots more on the show's brilliant second season and a transcript of my chat with Sutter on Monday, Nov. 30, but here's the best news from the interview:

"It's notofficial but of course [the show is] going to get picked up for a thirdseason," Sutter said. And he already has ideas on where to take the SAMCRO characters in Season 3.

Tuesday's episode of "Sons of Anarchy," by the way, is a terrific scene-setter for the show's Dec. 1 season finale, and fans of Sutter's previous writing gig will have reason to rejoice when they see this week's episode. "Sons" airs at 9 p.m. Central on FX.

But back to the suddenly hot winter TV schedule. This isn't a comprehensive list of every show that debuts or returns in December and January. The list generally consists of shows I think I'll try to cover in some way, shape or form, in print and/or online and/or on Twitter (though I'll be on vacation the rest of Thanksgiving week and also Dec. 21-Jan. 4).

Oh, and speaking of "Supernatural" (aren't we always?), I have updated information on when that show will return. It'll be back Jan. 21, not Jan. 14 (the CW changed its mind about when to bring back the show. A longer wait for the Winchesters? Argh!). A list of "Supernatural" December and January reruns is at the end of this post, in case you want to get caught up or re-watch Season 5 before the "Hellatus" ends. (And don't miss out on "A Very Supernatural Christmas," a classic Season 3 episode that airs Dec. 24 on the CW. Airing the episode around the holidays has become a CW tradition. You don't want to miss this standalone episode, which features holiday sweaters, a bit of the old demonic ultraviolence and one of my favorite-ever Drunk Santa scenes in any medium).

OK, selected winter premiere/return dates of note are below (and check out The Futon Critic's listings for the debut/return dates of even more TV shows):

Dec. 1: The "Sons of Anarchy" Season 2 finale airs on FX; "Scrubs" returns with a somewhat reconfigured cast and premise on ABC. Dec. 4: The "Monk" series finale airs on USA, also that network airs the last "White Collar" episode until the show's January return. Also Dec. 4, "Dollhouse" returns with a two-parter on Fox (four other episodes air Dec. 11 and Dec. 18). Dec. 6: The "Alice" miniseries starring Kathy Bates airs on Syfy Dec. 7: "Men of a Certain Age," a new show on TNT with Andre Braugher, Scott Bakula and Ray Romano. Dec. 8: The ABC cult comedy "Better Off Ted" returns. Dec. 14: Does this bite or not? Your call. The CW is rerunning every episode of "The Vampire Diaries" this week -- two episodes each night.  Dec. 19: "Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars" special airs on BBC America. Members of the media will get this in advance so that they can write reviews, however we won't be getting "The End of Time," the final David Tennant two-parter, in advance. Mysterious! Part 1 of "The End of Time" airs Dec. 26. Jan. 6: (Not a confirmed date) "Damages" returns on FX (FX has only confirmed that the show returns in January, but I'd bet on Jan. 6 as the actual start date for Season 3. But please note that date is not confirmed). Jan. 10: "Chuck" returns on NBC. Yippee.  Also, the TV movie "Battlestar Galactica: The Plan" airs on Syfy (according to the Futon Critic) and "Big Love" returns on HBO. Jan. 12: "Southland" begins its run on TNT; the TNT run will begin with the Season 1 episodes that previously aired on NBC in the spring. New episodes made for the show's second season will commence airing in a few weeks.   Jan. 13: The Death Star of TV returns: a new season of "American Idol" (starting with the inevitably pathetic auditions) begins on Fox. Jan. 14: (For "Archer," this is not a confirmed date) "Archer," a new animated comedy, on debuts on FX. Also, "Project Runway" starts a new season on Lifetime (Season 6 wasn't a hot mess, it was a boring mess. Let's hope Season 7 is a huge improvement.) Jan. 17: "Human Target," a new series starring Mark Valley, Jackie Earle Haley and Chi McBride, debuts on Fox. Also, a new season of "24" begins.  Jan. 18: The much-buzzed about new CW drama, "Life uneXpected," debuts on the CW.  Jan. 21: "Supernatural" returns. Exhale. Jan. 22: A white-hot night of TV, with the premieres of "Caprica" on Syfy and "Spartacus" on Starz. If Fox's previously announced schedule goes forward as planned, the series finale of "Dollhouse" airs on Fox as well. Jan. 28: (Not a confirmed date) "Burn Notice" may return on USA, possibly alongside "White Collar." This information is not yet confirmed. And you know I just had to include this: "Lost" returns Feb. 2. Yippee!

Ye Olde Bonus "Supernatural" info: Here is the hiatus rerun schedule. And here are all my episode reviews and features on the show.

Nov. 26: "Good God, Y'all"Dec 3: "Free to Be You and Me"Dec 10: "The End" (no repeat Dec. 17)Dec. 24: "A Very Supernatural Christmas"
Dec. 31: "Changing Channels"
Jan. 7: "The Real Ghostbusters"
Jan. 14: "Abandon All Hope"

Miss Manners: Making off with the leftovers is a no-no
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Several members of our very large family are wondering how to handle something that happens at all of our holiday gatherings.
Alan Cheuse's Book Picks To Warm A Winter's Night

Book reviewer Alan Cheuse selects the highlights of this holiday season: futuristic dystopias; things that go bump in the night; portraits from Norman Rockwell's America; gay New York; a celebration of our immigrant adventures; one writer's journey to manhood; and, of course, Long John Silver.