'The Office's' Jim and Pam get engaged!

If you haven't watched Thursday's hourlong premiere of "The Office," get out of this post as soon as possible! For everyone else, the best moment of the episode was at the very end. Here's Jim proposing in the rain at a gas station (where that soda exploded on him).


Can you say squee-worthy?!

Hear what the stars of 'Pushing Daisies' have to say about the show

As promised, interviews with Lee Pace, Ellen Greene and Swoozie Kurtz! Don't forget to tune in on Wednesday at 8 p.m. on ABC for the season premiere of "Pushing Daisies."


Also, starting on Monday night, pivotal moments in "Grey's Anatomy" history will be up, just in time for Thursday's new episode!

Another sneak peek into 'Pushing Daisies' season premiere on Wednesday

As promised, here is the second sneak peek into the season premiere of "Pushing Daisies"! Don't forget to tune in Wednesday, Oct. 1 on ABC at 8 p.m.

Sarah Michelle Gellar goes back to TV (finally)

"Buffy" alumna Sarah Michelle Gellar is set to return to the small screen in an upcoming HBO series, "The Wonderful Maladys," which she will also executive produce, according to Variety.

Gellar will play a woman that acts like "a drug addict with a to-do list," an interesting character description, no?

The show starts shooting next year. Looking forward to hearing more info on this new ensemble series!

Thursday ratings drop for 'Ugly Betty,' 'The Office'

Oh no, say it isn't so! Last night's premieres were substantially lower than in years past, and it seems like not one show was immune to this outbreak.

According the The Hollywood Reporter's Live Feed, "Grey's Anatomy" had an impressive 18.3 million viewers, but it was down 18% from last year. "Ugly Betty" premiered to a solid 9.8 million, but was down 15% from 2007. Even though ABC's ratings slipped a little from the previous year, the network won the night.

NBC's highly anticipated "The Office" premiere held strong with 9.2 million viewers, but slipped 9% from last year. Its lead-in, "My Name Is Earl," however, lost the most viewers, down 29% with 6.4 million viewers.

Webisodes for 'Ugly Betty' revitalize struggling dramedy

ABC.com has created a new web series, "Mode After Hours," that follows "Ugly Betty" characters (and heavy fan favorites) Marc (Michael Urie) and Amanda (Becki Newton).

According to the Futon Critic, the series will follow the two friends as they navigate the office after work hours and everyone else has left. New webisodes will be posted every Thursday morning to coincide with that night's "Ugly Betty" episode.

ABC also plans on premiering new webisodes for "Scrubs," which returns midseason, and "Brothers & Sisters," which premieres its third season Sunday night at 10 p.m.

Hopefully this will help "Ugly Betty" sustain its viewers.

Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart spoof New Yorker cover for EW

This will brighten your day. Comedy Central stalwarts Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart grace the cover of the current issue of Entertainment Weekly, but it's not just any old photo shoot. Nope, instead Colbert and Stewart parody the controversial New Yorker cover.

You can read the full interview here. Can you even recognize the two comedians on the cover? I had to do a double take.

Who thought Jon Stewart and/or Stephen Colbert should've hosted the Emmys this year?

'Pushing Daisies' season 2 sneak peek adds bees to the mix

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, October 1 because it's going to be a great night of television, beginning at 8 p.m. with ABC's cinematic masterpiece "Pushing Daisies."

To tie you all over until then, I have been fortunate enough to have some special videos teasing the season premiere as well as an interview with some of the cast members, including Lee Pace, Swoosie Kurtz and Ellen Greene.

Disclaimer: If you don't want to be spoiled with crucial story elements, I advise you to skip over the videos.


Check out the blog on Friday night for another sneak peek video of the upcoming season premiere. Check back on Saturday afternoon for a behind-the-scenes interview with the cast.

'The Office' spoiler alert: Jim proposed and Pam said yes!

Not really a spoiler alert, but for those of you who haven't yet seen the premiere, boo on you!

This is a momentous ocassion in television coupledom! Not only did our favorite "Office" couple finally become engaged, after the moment was unknowingly taken away by Andy's proposal to Angela in last season's finale, but the moment was perfect.

In the rain. At the gas station (Jim (via AIM): "Exit 17, the one where the soda exploded on me."). Halfway between New York City and Scranton, PA. Oh, PB&J, how I've missed you.

Even though this isn't the real proposal, this'll tie us all over until tonight's iconic (real) proposal is uploaded onto YouTube, but for now, the fake one will do.

'Do Not Disturb' is donezo (what took them so long?)

The half-hour sitcom starring "Reno 911's" Niecy Nash and Jerry O'Connell is finally done for good. After three aired episodes, "Do Not Disturb," which follows a hotel staff, is just a blip on the radar.

According to E!'s Kristin Dos Santos, the official announcement will not be made until next week, but that the show is done.

I, for one, am happy for this decision. That show wasn't funny and was just a disaster waiting to happen. Save those 30 minutes for something else.

'The Office' comes back, but does Jim still plan to propose?

Tonight is the night we've all been waiting for. Alright, so maybe it's just me who's anticipating the hourlong premiere at 9 p.m. on NBC.

Last season ended filled with surprises. We found out that Jan, Michael's former lover and boss, was pregnant - but not with Michael's child. Andy proposed to Angela, stealing Jim and Pam's thunder, and Angela accepted - but not without revealing that she was still sleeping with her ex-boyfriend (cat killer) Dwight. The new HR representative, Holly Flax, rightly assumed that Kevin was ... slow. And Ryan was arrested via a YouTube video because of fraud.

All in a day's work at the office.

So after months of suspended anticipation, we'll finally see (for the first time ever) what the gang at Dunder-Mifflin have been up to this summer. Is Angela and Dwight still secretly going on about with their little scandalous tryst? Will Jim propose soon to Pam? Is Pam going to that art program she was accepted to? What's up with Michael and Holly? And that's just the start of it.

So tune in tonight at 9 p.m. on NBC. It's going to be legendary.

Look out for ABC sneak peeks

To remind everyone of the big shows that are returning to ABC, I have a few sneak peek videos of some upcoming shows, like "Pushing Daisies" and "Dirty Sexy Money," that will be posted in the coming hours/days.

Also, don't forget to tune in to "The Office" season five premiere tonight at 9 p.m. on NBC!

VP hopeful Joe Biden blasts Obama ad on McCain's 'irrelevancy'

This has been making the headlines this morning and is obviously not a good thing for the Obama camp to be dealing with right now. Vice presidential candidate Joe Biden isn't happy with the advertisement that calls Republican presidential nominee John McCain irrelevant and old.

In the advertisement, in a story posted by AOL News among other reputable news sites, the Obama campaign calls McCain computer illiterate and ignorant about the economy.



Thoughts?

Ciphers, second first dates and a mission to terminate 'Chuck' entertain in premiere

I just finished watching the second season premiere of "Chuck" and since this isn't an official review of it, I am going to leave it short and sweet.

Basically, the gang picks up literally right when its first season ended. Its action-packed first hour balances the nerdy humor (the Nerd Herders at the Buy More), CIA/NSA ass-kicking and a sweet, sentimental moments between Chuck and Sarah at a Morgan-approved Chinese restaurant. There are so many fantastic moments within the first five minutes that it would be an impossible task to list every funny or awesome thing that happened, but here are some of the highlights:

- Casey, an NSA agent partnered with CIA agent Sarah and Chuck, drives his car straight into a Chinese restaurant where Chuck and Sarah have their second first date only to be surrounded by a bunch of hoodlums and says the best line of the episode, "Did anyone order drive-thru?"

- Ryan McPartlin, the Nerd Herders and Big Mike at the Buy More are all included in the opening credits!

- Captain Awesome working out in the hallway. Hot.

Perhaps the funniest exchange is between Zachary Levi (Chuck) and guest star Michael Clark Duncan (Colt) -
Chuck: What exactly are you doing?
Colt (stretching): Stretching, getting limber.
Chuck: Why are you doing that?
Colt: So I won't pull a muscle when I break your neck. Maybe you should get limber too.

- Casey catches Chuck - by the leg, no less - when he is thrown off the side of a building. Quite touching really.

- Chuck saves the day ... or wait, is it Charles Carmichael?

CW orders back nine for '90210'

We're stuck with the skinny blonde/brunette bimbos of the CW's (what feels like a '96) revival of the classic "Beverly Hills, 90210" for an entire season, at the very least. How I miss the original ...

Not a good sign in terms of the state of this year's fall season, not a good one at all.

TheWB.com finally makes full seasons of 'Veronica Mars' available

Though TheWB.com is still testing in Beta (the several times I've visited, there have been many problems with loading time efficiency and video lag time), they have finally made the entire three seasons of Rob Thomas' (not the singer) cult favorite "Veronica Mars" on the website.

Here's to hoping the technicians fixed some of those errors I just mentioned above, because "Veronica Mars" is one show that should never have to deal with technical incompetency.

Other teen-centric shows that have full seasons up for viewing are "The O.C." and "One Tree Hill."

'Chuck', 'Lipstick Jungle' premieres available on NBC.com

Even though NBC's "Chuck" doesn't premiere until next Tuesday, the network has graciously provided its nerd-lovin' season two starter for the impatient and the anxious to view!

"Chuck" was one of last season's breakout hits, and with good reason. The cast is cohesive and funny, the dialogue is smartly written and the action sequences are fantastically shot. So please, if you haven't yet jumped on the bandwagon yet, now is not too late. Take a shot at the pilot and see if you enjoy it as much as I have.

Also available for streaming before their official premiere dates on NBC.com are "Knight Rider" (premieres Sept. 24), "Lipstick Jungle" (premieres Sept. 24). I've seen the season two premiere of "Lipstick Jungle" and it is definitely enjoyable. Mary Tyler Moore starts her multi-episode arc as Brooke Shields' characters mother. Heard from a friend that "Knight Rider" is a complete and utter JOKE. Don't even waste your precious time with it.

60th Primetime Emmys disappoints and shocks

It's been a long night. After liveblogging for the Daily Trojan, which included watching over seven hours of pre-Emmy and red carpet coverage in addition to the three-hour snoozefest that almost made me wish I had a bottle of alcohol nearby, I can successfully say that I have survived the hauntingly boring and arbitrary ceremony that was the Emmys.

To check out my minute-to-minute Emmys updates for the newspaper, go here. Now I'm off to finish up my column and catch some much-needed zzz's.

'Roswell's' Brendan Fehr cast as David Boreanaz's brother on 'Bones'

Maybe now I'll have a reason to actually pay attention to the episodes. (I caught barely half of Wednesday's episode.)

"Roswell" alumnus Brendan Fehr, who was also on ABC Family's miniseries "Samurai Girl" and "CSI: Miami," has been cast as Agent Seeley Booth's (Boreanaz) brother, Jared Booth. Fehr's character will supposedly be spending some quality time with Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel).

According to E!'s Kristin Dos Santos, show runner Hart Hanson spilled that Jared will be a major obstacle between Booth and Brennan. (Duh!)

Let's make this casting stick, Fox!

Note: Don't forget to watch the Primetime Emmys tomorrow night on ABC! I will be live blogging beginning around 3 p.m. when the red carpet show starts, most likely.

'It's Always Sunny' music video promo for season four

Check it out!

Remember when 'The 4400' was USA's biggest show?

As I rewatch the first season of the sci-fi drama "The 4400," which debuted in a six-hour miniseries in the summer of 2004 on a less-crowded USA Network, I kept wondering: How did an original show like this one get forgotten so quickly thereafter?

It was only a little over a year when "The 4400" closed its book for good (or so we think). Since then, it's felt like decades since anyone from the network or the millions of viewers who tuned in week in and week out have uttered one word about it.

The original miniseries (the first season) was basic cable's highest rated shows. In fact, season one averaged 6.2 million viewers. Yes, it must be noted that viewership dwindled by its third season, when the average viewership totaled a little over 3.2 million viewers and subsequently its last season stayed in the cool 2 million range.

What happened? Was it the sci-fi effect? Was it the complicated storylines? Was it the political, social and cultural commentary on the actual world we live in? Was it the direction the show took after its first season? What made it lose its luster? Because damnit, it was such a fantastic show.

I wonder what would've happened to these characters had season four not ended the way it did. I wonder if Seattle would be taken over by Jordan Collier and his followers. I wonder what The 4400 Center would become. Would it even exist in the same capacity as it did in seasonns two and three?

The 'It's Always Sunny' gang talks gas crisis and hunting men

As I said before, I am a contributor to Give Me My Remote this season covering FX's fantastic comedy "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." If you are into wacky, off-color (and stupid, morally incapable) humor with shameless characters, this show is for you!

So please head on over to the website and read the post! The fourth season promises to be a great one!

'True Blood' renewed for another season

HBO has given new life to the mature vampire series "True Blood" by giving it another year to live on the small screen after only two episodes have officially aired. The series is done with its 12-episode production.

Personally, I was mildly surprised to hear that the network decided to continue with the ratings-incompetent show. However, I am happy to hear that Alan Ball and crew will be delving into (perhaps) book two of the Sookie Stackhouse novels of which the show exclusively follows in its storylines.

TUNE IN: 'Fringe' (Tuesdays, 9 p.m.; Fox)

Note: During the course of the next few weeks, as more new shows begin to premiere, I will be making my picks for the shows that will be most worthy of your time. "Fringe" is my first pick of the young television season.

Tonight's second episode of FOX's new hit, "Fringe," was intense, filled with cheesy and awkward dialogue and at the same time, extremely entertaining television.

Yes, the J.J. Abrams hourlong drama thriller is still working out its kinks. And yes, some of the characters' (and actors') chemistry aren't meshing just yet. But the implausibility of its fringe science-driven cases and capabilities are what sustains "Fringe" as one of the fall season's best new hits.

It doesn't matter that we still can't meld two people's thoughts into a coherent dream-like state. Who cares if it's impossible for a fetus to age rapidly in the womb to the point where after just an hour, it kills its mother (via combustion in the womb) and grows into a full-fledged adult. Nope, none of that really matters. All that really matters is that the characters in the world Abrams has created, along with "Transformers'" writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, believe that all that is possible - and they do, rather intensely.

Newcomer Anna Torv (Olivia Dunham) isn't the typical leading lady. She still lacks a demand for attention, something former "Alias" star Jennifer Garner consistently upheld during her tenure on her five-year run on the ABC spy thriller (also helmed by Abrams). But, with a new show, comes time and with time, Torv will learn to show Olivia's emotions with grace and fight with dignity and integrity.

"Dawson's Creek" alumnus Joshua Jackson, however, is the show's comedic relief and often blurts out what us, the viewers, are thinking, reacting or seeing onscreen. Was he the best choice for the role as Peter Bishop? Maybe not, but Jackson injects a sense of realness and cynicism that balances out the absurdities in the cases and supposed fringe science techniques that his institutionalized father, Dr. Walter Bishop, perfected. (Also, Jackson's lines are perhaps one of the weakest aspects of the show, but in tonight's episode, he did use the unforgettable phrase "man baby" twice!)

So is "Fringe" the most accurate show on television? Probably not. But it's intriguing storylines keep evolving into something much more complicated than before; there are layers upon layers of kept secrets, unknown mysteries and dangerous truths - a recipe for another entertaining J.J. Abrams show.

FOX's "Fringe" airs Tuesday nights right after "House" at 9 p.m.

'SNL's' Amy Poehler to leave show after elections

It's a sad day in comedy today.

One of the most entertaining comediennes of "Saturday Night Live", Amy Poehler will be leaving her stoop once she takes maternity leave after the November election. It was old news that Poehler would be leaving the sketch comedy show after this season; it was a matter of when.

Remember a couple months ago it was announced that she would be starring in a new Greg Daniels/Michael Schur project for NBC? Instead, she'll focus her time on that post-baby birth.

'How I Met Your Mother' to have syndicated airings in 2010

Not really exciting news as it doesn't go into effect until the fall of 2010 (that's two years from now), but this should be a sigh of relief to all the loyal 'How I Met Your Mother' viewers out there.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the CBS half-hour comedy will launch in syndication in several metropolitan areas, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston and Sacramento.

Woohoo!

IMDb.com joins Hulu, Fancast in offering free streamable TV, movies

Let's add another destination competing for our online TV and film streaming.

Amazon.com's popular movie and TV database, IMDb.com (International Movie Database), will be offering free online streaming for over 6,000 television series and film titles. The season premieres of two returning NBC shows, "Lipstick Jungle" and "30 Rock," will be available on the website before they are officially telecast on their respective nights.

According to Reuters, popular shows like "24" and "Heroes" will be among the shows available.

What do you think about this new development?

60th Primetime Emmys predictions

On Sunday, Sept. 21 on ABC, we will finally find out the big winners for the major categories! As the night nears, predictions and speculation will come out of the woodwork. Here is my take on who I think should win and who I think will win.

BEST DRAMA SERIES
"Boston Legal"
"Damages"
"Dexter" - should win
"House"
"Lost"
"Mad Men" - will win

BEST COMEDY SERIES
"Curb Your Enthusiasm"
"Entourage"
"The Office"
"30 Rock" - should win, will win
"Two and a Half Men"

BEST ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES
Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Hugh Laurie, "House" - should win, will win
James Spader, "Boston Legal"

BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES
Glenn Close, "Damages" - should win, will win
Sally Field, "Brothers and Sisters"
Mariska Hargitay, "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit"
Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"

BEST ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" - will win
Steve Carell, "The Office" - should win
Lee Pace, "Pushing Daisies" - should win
Tony Shalhoub, "Monk"
Charlie Sheen, "Two and a Half Men"

BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES
Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?"
America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock" - will win
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds" - should win

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES
Ted Danson, "Damages" - should win, will win
Michael Emerson, "Lost"
Zeljko Ivanek, "Damages"
William Shatner, "Boston Legal"
John Slattery, "Mad Men"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES
Candice Bergen, "Boston Legal"
Rachel Griffiths, "Brothers and Sisters"
Sandra Oh, "Grey's Anatomy"
Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment"
Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy" - should win, will win

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES
Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men"
Kevin Dillon, "Entourage"
Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother" - should win, will win
Jeremy Piven, "Entourage"
Rainn Wilson, "The Office"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES
Kristin Chenoweth, "Pushing Daisies" - should win
Amy Poehler, "Saturday Night Live" - will win
Jean Smart, "Samantha Who?"
Holland Taylor, "Two and a Half Men"
Vanessa Williams, "Ugly Betty"

BEST REALITY HOST
Tom Bergeron, 'Dancing With The Stars'
Heidi Klum, 'Project Runway' - should win
Howie Mandel, 'Deal Or No Deal'
Jeff Probst, 'Survivor'
Ryan Seacrest, 'American Idol' - will win

BEST REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
"The Amazing Race" - should win, will win
"American Idol"
"Dancing with the Stars"
"Project Runway"
"Top Chef"

BEST VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
"The Colbert Report" - should win
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" - should win, will win
"Late Show With David Letterman"
"Real Time With Bill Maher"
"Saturday Night Live"

'John Adams' wins big at Creative Emmys

HBO's miniseries "John Adams" starring Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney was the night's biggest winner in tonight's six-hour Creative Emmys hosted by funny man Neil Patrick Harris and Sarah Chalke. The star-studded period drama won eight awards (out of its whopping 23 nominations), easily topping the next best performer, AMC's "Mad Men," which won a total of four statuettes.

"John Adams" took home awards for casting, costumes, prosthetic makeup, visual effects, sound mixing, editing, cinematography and art direction.

Other notable awards came with ABC's freshman hit "Pushing Daisies," which took home picture editing for a comedy and music composition. NBC's "30 Rock" won awards for guest actor with Tim Conway, casting and sound mixing. "Mad Men" took home an award for main title design, among three others.

The Creative Emmys are naturally a more subdued affair, honoring those behind the scenes (makeup, wardrobe, costumes, etc.) more than the ones in front of it. Tonight's Creative Emmys will air Saturday, Sept. 20 on E! The main Emmys telecast with all the major players will air live on Sunday, Sept. 21 via ABC.

Among the networks, HBO was the big winner, with 16 awards to add to its mantle, mostly due in part to "John Adams'" impressive haul. ABC and PBS tied for second with nine, while CBS and NBC walked away with eight and six respectively.

Preview of Friday night shows up Sept. 19

I am back from a busy but fun-filled, crazed weekend!

Friday consisted of a random, but great (besides the Counting Crows) concert with Augustana (who I missed), Counting Crows and Maroon 5 in Irvine. On my way up to our seats, I saw Adam Levine riding his motorcycle to the backstage area. So badass.

Saturday consisted of the best home football game since I've been at USC, against Ohio State. The football team ended up killing the Buckeyes (isn't that a nut?) 35 to 3.

The fall preview of Friday night shows will be posted next Friday. I will be getting back into the swing of things soon!

'House' star Hugh Laurie gets big raise

Hugh Laurie is now among the highest-paid actors in a drama series.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Laurie will earn $400,000 per episode, putting him right behind "CSI's" William Peterson, who earns a whopping $600,000, and "24's" Kiefer Sutherland, who gets a weekly paycheck of about $500,000. When you do the math, that means that Laurie will earn more than $9 million this year.

Laurie will also receive a producing credit and has extended his contract until 2011-12, which means there'll be at least a couple more years of Dr. Gregory House's sarcastic wit!

FALL '08 PREVIEW: THURSDAY NIGHTS

Welcome to the mania of Thursday nights! There are just so many things to watch and so little time. What to do ...

"The Office" (9 p.m., NBC)
Season 5 premieres Sept. 25

Starring: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer
Synopsis: For the first time in its four-season run, we will see what events transpired during the summer. The season premiere, titled "Weight Loss," is basically an office-wide competition with, you guessed it, a prize for the person who loses the most weight. Changes are also coming for our beloved will they-won't they couple, Jim and Pam. Also, Amy Ryan (the lovely Holly Flax, new Human Resources Director) will be appearing in the new season.
My Prediction: With time comes changes, and "The Office" is no different. In Dunder-Mifflin's fifth year, an integral member of the cast (one of the five major actors) will no longer be in the office. Who, you ask, my it's pretty easy to tell - just rewatch the finale. This is a series that relies on the awkward silences and everyday ridiculousness that ensues in an artificial working environment.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"Kath & Kim" (8:30 p.m., NBC) NEW
Series premieres Oct. 9

Starring: Molly Shannon, Selma Blair, Mikey Day
Synopsis: (From TV.com) Based on the hit Australian series, this comedy follows a divorced mom (Shannon) living in a suburban house with her depressed daughter (Blair).
My Prediction: The Australian show wasn't funny, so why is this version any different?
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Pass

"Ugly Betty" (8 p.m., ABC)
Season 3 premieres Sept. 25

Starring: America Ferrera, Eric Mabius, Vanessa Williams, Ana Ortiz, Becki Newton
Synopsis: (From TV.com) In the season premiere, many questions will plague Betty (Ferrera) and company: Will Betty choose Henry or Gio? Will Tony Diaz choose Hilda or his wife? And will Alexis choose Daniel or Wilhelmina to run Mode?
My Prediction: Hopefully with its move to New York City, the city's architecture and atmosphere will add a much-needed touch to the dramedy.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Catch Later

"Grey's Anatomy" (9 p.m., ABC)
Season 5 premieres Sept. 25

Starring: Ellen Pompeo, Patrick Dempsey, Katherine Heigl, Chandra Wilson, Sandra Oh
Synopsis: In a nutshell, stuff happens to the doctors on Seattle Grace and "Grey's Anatomy" shows it.
My Prediction: It's slowly leaning toward has-been territory.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Pass

"Life on Mars" (10 p.m., ABC) NEW
Series premieres Oct. 9

Starring: Jason O'Mara, Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol
Synopsis: (From TV.com) Sam Tyler (O'Mara) is a detective from the 21st century who travels back in time to the 1970s after a car accident. Tyler clashes with new boss Gene Hunt (Keitel) who doesn't take his coming from the future seriously. Tyler ends up working on a case involving a serial killer that may have something to do with his girlfriend's kidnapping in the present time.
My Prediction: I haven't heard much about the show but based on the premise, it sounds remotely interesting.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Catch Later

"Eleventh Hour" (10 p.m., CBS) NEW
Series premieres Oct. 9

Starring: Rufus Sewell, Marley Shelton, Andrew Hedge, Michael Jonsson, Colin Lawrence
Synopsis: (From TV.com) The show follows Dr. Jacob Wood (Sewell), a special science adviser to the U.S. government who saves people from the worst abuses of science. He is accompanied by his feisty female bodyguard, Rachel Young (Shelton).
My Prediction: Like "Life on Mars," haven't heard much, so I can't really determine if it's worthy of viewing. It's another procedural and it's produced by Jerry Bruckheimer so chances are, it'll stay on TV for at least a couple of episodes.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Catch Later

"30 Rock" (9:30 p.m., NBC)
Season 3 premieres Oct. 30

Starring: Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Jane Krakowski, Tracy Morgan, Jack McBrayer
Synopsis: (From TV.com) Liz Lemon, played by "Saturday Night Live's" Tina Fey, is the head writer of "The Girlie Show." When her old boss dies and a new boss comes in (Baldwin as Jack Donaghy), demanding the addition of a volatile former movie star (and re-branding the show "TGS with Tracy Jordan" in the process), Liz must figure out how to keep things running smoothly without losing her mind.
My Prediction: Last season was the best Fey and company have ever been.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"Supernatural" (9 p.m., CW)
Season 4 premieres Sept. 18

Starring: Jensen Ackles, Jared Padelecki
Synopsis: We all know that it's about two brothers who fight evil beings.
My Prediction: Season one was perhaps its best.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Pass

"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" (10 p.m., FX)
Season 4 premieres Sept. 18

Starring: Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, Kaitlin Olson, Danny DeVito
Synopsis: (From TV.com) "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" revolves around four friends who run a bar in the City of Brotherly Love and have to overcome their relentless self-involvement to make their friendship and business work.
My Prediction: The most politically-incorrect comedy (but freakin' hilarious) on television, hands down.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

Warner plans January theater re-release of 'The Dark Knight'

I know this isn't necessarily relevant but it's certainly exciting!

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. is planning on bringing back "The Dark Knight" to theaters in January for an Oscar push. While the DVD is on track to be released in December, just in time for the holiday season, this will help boost the movie's overall box office numbers, although it would be mighty difficult to top the $1.84 billion "Titanic" racked up over the span of 1997 and 1998.

This is exciting news, only because "The Dark Knight" is worthy of Oscar buzz and I hope that it does score multiple nominations. It was by far the best summer movie and maybe even one of the best of the entire year. Hopefully the Academy will recognize that.

Shannen Doherty leaving '90210'

According to Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello, Brenda Walsh (Shannen Doherty's character) will be out of the picture very very soon. She is only signed on to appear in four episodes. We already saw her in the premiere (that's one) and the next time she'll be on screen is next week (two down).

Jennie Garth, on the other hand, just signed on for another five episodes, plus the six episodes she is already contracted to appear on. That makes 11, for all the math-illiterates out there.

Personally, I'd prefer Kelly over Brenda any day.

Production stops for 'Dollhouse,' '24'

Scripts are playing a large role in the production schedule for two anticipated FOX shows, both of which are scheduled to return in January 2009.

Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse," which has garnered some headlines due to the swapping of its first episodes, has halted production for the next two weeks per the creator's request, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This is so that Whedon, who was apparently unhappy with the show's next scripts, could hunker down on the problem and resolve them without worrying about the blocking or lighting for the next scene. The first three episodes have already been shot. Production is set to resume Sept. 25.

Another midseason FOX drama, "24" has also taken the same route, per The Hollywood Reporter, to work on its scripts. Production will start up again after the next two and a half weeks.

FALL '08 PREVIEW: WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

Wednesdays feature a good mixture of the old and the new. ABC's three-hour slate is perhaps the strongest of all the networks. Several new shows ("Gary Unmarried," "Knight Rider" and "Do Not Disturb") aren't nearly as strong and it would be of no surprise if they were all cancelled before December.

"Pushing Daisies" (8 p.m., ABC)
Season 2 premieres Oct. 1

Starring: Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, Kristin Chenoweth
Synopsis: Ned the Piemaker (Pace) can bring people and animals back from the dead, but only for a minute, otherwise someone or something else in its vicinity will take its place. That's pretty much the broad overview of the show. But things are made more complicated when Ned brings back his childhood sweetheart and neighbor, Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (Friel).
My Prediction: This has to be my favorite television series currently on, aside from "The Office." Death is treated with goodnatured humor even though death is, well, a pretty damn depressing thing to think about. The colors of the Coeur d'Coeur world are magnificent and rich, and totally made for Blu-ray. It was the breakout hit of last season and it will definitely create even more ridiculously enriching storylines this year.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"Private Practice" (9 p.m., ABC)
Season 2 premieres Oct. 1

Starring: Kate Walsh, Tim Daly, Audra McDonald, Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman
Synopsis: (From TV.com) "Private Practice" is a spin-off of the highly popular ABC series, "Grey's Anatomy" starring Kate Walsh as Dr. Addison Forbes Montgomery, a renowned neonatal surgeon. After realizing that her life isn't advancing at Seattle Grace, Addison packs her bags and heads off to Santa Monica to start a new life. She reunites with her newly divorced med school friends, Naomi (McDonald) and Sam (Diggs), and joins them in their chic private practice.
My Prediction: It'll do just fine. In many ways, I prefer this world over "Grey's Anatomy." I think I've outgrown the latter; I haven't watched it in two seasons.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Catch Later

"Dirty Sexy Money" (10 p.m., ABC)
Season 2 premieres Oct. 1

Starring: Peter Krause, Donald Sutherland, Blair Underwood, William Baldwin, Zoe McLellan
Synopsis: (From TV.com) In the season premiere, Juliet's (Samaire Armstrong) new boyfriend Kai tries to adjust to her lifestyle and is asked to appear in Natalie Kimpton's upcoming music video. Tripp (Sutherland) asks for assistance from the Governor to get around the subpoena issued by his son Patrick (Baldwin) for him to appear before the Fantini case. The Governor refuses to get in the way as he is a friend of Simon Elder (Underwood). Nick (Krause) and Brian (Glenn Fitzgerald) try to help Tripp avoid the subpoena instead. Meanwhile, Nick is instructed to hire a private investigator to locate Carmelita. Jeremy (Seth Gabel) and Lisa (McLellan) put up an art dealership, but Lisa initially faces difficulties with running the business.
My Prediction: I have to be honest and say that I haven't caught up on this show at all, however, my friend who regularly tuned in last year said it was fantastic so I'll have to take her word for it.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Catch Later

"Gary Unmarried" (8:30 p.m., CBS) NEW
Series premieres Sept. 24

Starring: Jay Mohr, Jaime King, Paula Marshall, Kathryn Newton
Synopsis: (From TV.com) A newly divorced father of two (Mohr) balances life with his new girlfriend and his ex-wife to whom he was married for fifteen years. In the pilot, Gary's ex-wife has got engaged and he finds himself trying to navigate fatherhood and his own new love interest.
My Prediction: Been there, done that.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Pass

"Lipstick Jungle" (10 p.m., NBC)
Season 2 premieres Sept. 24

Starring: Brooke Shields, Kim Raver, Lindsay Price
Synopsis: (From TV.com) In the premiere, Nico's (Raver) guilt over her affair leads her to decide to do anything to save her marriage. Wendy (Shields) decides to spend more time at home with her family, but things aren't easy when her mother decides to come for a visit. Victory (Price) is having trouble keeping her distance from Joe (Andrew McCarthy) who is trying to get her back. .
My Prediction: The perfect guilty pleasure show that's ten times better than watching "The Hills" or "90210."
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"Knight Rider" (8 p.m., NBC) NEW
Series premieres Sept. 24

I will be previewing this show when it premieres in two weeks, so until then, enjoy the photo above!

"Bones" (8 p.m., FOX)
Episode 3 of season 2 airs tonight

Starring: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin, T.J. Thyne, Tamara Taylor, John Francis Daley
Synopsis: (From TV.com) In tonight's episode, the body of the host of a popular reality TV show is found partially decomposed in an outhouse, and Booth (Boreanaz) and Brennan (Deschanel) must find out who the killer is. Meanwhile, Booth learns that Brennan is juggling two relationships.
My Prediction: Last week's two-hour premiere was fantastic. I expect nothing less than that all season long.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"Do Not Disturb" (9:30 p.m., FOX) NEW
Series premiere airs tonight

Starring: Jerry O'Connell, Niecy Nash, David Franco, Molly Stanton
Synopsis: (From TV.com) Tonight's premiere focuses on an article about the sexual exploits of the staff of The Inn while on the job, which is run at a local New York magazine, causing Rhonda (Nash) to take action and Neal (O'Connell) to try to act on his best behavior. Meanwhile, Molly (Jolene Purdy) helps Nicole (Stanton) with her modeling career, and Gus (Franco) helps Larry (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) with his love life. .
My Prediction: How did this get greenlit? Oh wait ... it's FOX.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Pass; don't even attempt to watch it, brain cells will evaporate.

"Sons of Anarchy" (10 p.m., FX) NEW
Episode 2 of season 1 airs tonight

Go here for a review of last week's premiere.

Live blogging during the premiere of "Privileged"

First time doing this; let's see how it goes ...

9:03 p.m.: Fantastic song to open up a new series. Can't go wrong with Paolo Nutini.
9:04 p.m.: Michael Cassidy as Charlie equals perfection.
9:04 p.m.: Love the vibe. I can already tell that this is going to be a fantastic series. Reminds me of "Devil Wears Prada" and "Confessions of a Shopaholic."
9:08 p.m.: Missed a couple of minutes, thanks to a phone call.
9:08 p.m.: What's up with the fantastic music?! I want all these songs!
9:13 p.m.: Smart, witty dialogue. That's all Rina Mimoun.
9:14 p.m.: I never knew how great of an actress JoAnna Garcia was until this show.
9:18 p.m.: Charlie and Megan have such a cool friendship.
9:25 p.m.: The two girls Megan is tutoring are funny. I do prefer the sister that's not Sage though.
9:26 p.m.: Wow the mom is a little harsh. She is grading Megan on the grades the girls get; doesn't matter how they get them.
9:27 p.m.: Hot guy alert!
9:28 p.m.: Ooh, he's the neighbor. What is his name?!
9:31 p.m.: He's a trust fund baby! Man, he's kind of attractive. His dad works at Random House or something like that. He's a sports photographer. Seems like there's some depth under the hotness. That's always nice.
9:33 p.m.: The girls need a mother, er, older sister figure. They'll thank Megan later.
9:38 p.m.: Aw, I almost teared up. I'm already invested in Megan's story.
9:42 p.m.: What's up with Sage? There's definitely something going on there.
9:49 p.m.: Hot guy!
9:55 p.m.: Awkward, funny encounter between Rose, Megan, Megan's sister Lily and Will (the hot guy).
9:58 p.m.: Megan is slowly making her way into the inner circle. Yikes.

All in all, I loved the premiere. I am definitely tuning in next week.

FALL '08 PREVIEW: TUESDAY NIGHTS

Tuesdays are filled with new shows all vying to stay in their coveted place. Two have already premiered ("90210," "Greek"), and some of the most anticipated have still yet to come ("House," "Fringe"). Here's a look at a relatively light night of television.

"The Mentalist" (10 p.m., CBS) NEW

Series premieres Sept. 23

Starring: Simon Baker, Robin Tunney, Amanda Righetti, Owain Yeoman
Synopsis: (From TV.com) "The Mentalist" tells the tale of Patrick Jane (Baker) who is employed as an independent detective working with the California Bureau of Investigation to solve crimes. He has refined his observations skills to a near perfect level and lends these skills to the CBI to help them solve cases. The team that he works with consists of the senior agent, Teresa Gibson (Tunney), agents Kimball Cho (Tim Kang) and Wayne Rigsby (Yeoman) and the rookie, Grace Van Pelt (Righetti).
My Prediction: Saw the pilot and thought it was okay - just that, okay. It's essentially another procedural amid the "CSIs," "Law and Orders" and "Without a Traces," but one could say this is different because it uses a "psychic" (really just a very observant dude in nice suits) to help solve their cases. Sound sort of like "Psych"? Yea, it's pretty much the same, only not a light comedy by any means.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Catch Later; it's best to watch this in passing. You're not missing much if you don't.

"90210" (8 p.m., CW) NEW

Episode 3 of season 1 airs tonight

Go here to read my review of "90210."

"Privileged" (9 p.m., CW) NEW

Series premiere airs tonight

Starring: Joanna Garcia, Lucy Kate Hale, Ashley Newbrough, Michael Cassidy

Synopsis: (From TV.com) Yale graduate Megan Smith (Garcia) recently moves to Manhattan with hopes of finding success in the field of journalism. However, when her plans go wrong, she accepts a job as the live-in tutor helping two wealthy high school students in Palm Springs get accepted at a top university.

My Prediction: I'm kind of excited to see it tonight. I haven't had a chance to catch it beforehand, but good things have come out about this show.

Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Catch Later; I've heard from many people that this is perhaps one of the smartest and wittiest comedies of the new season, so give it a chance.

"Fringe" (9 p.m., FOX) NEW

Series premiere airs tonight at 8 p.m. (special time)

Starring: Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, Mark Valley
Synopsis: (From TV.com) FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Torv) and Peter Bishop (Jackson) are faced with a rapidly spreading unexplained phenomenon of the threatening kind. In an attempt to stop the spread, they enlist the assistance of Bishop's estranged father, the institutionalized scientist Dr. Walter Bishop (Noble).
My Prediction: I saw the two-hour pilot at Comic-Con in July and what I remember is that it was a little on the long side. There were esentially things that were put in there just to try and fill up the time. Hopefully by tonight, the people behind "Fringe" cut it down a little and made it tighter. In the version I saw, the only parts you had to really pay attention to was the beginning and the end - not good for a special premiere. Also, a lot of the lines - especially the ones that Joshua Jackson had - were unnatural and cliche.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV, but with reservations.

"Greek" (8 p.m., ABC Family)

Episode 3 of season 2 airs tonight

Starring: Spencer Grammer, Jacob Zachar, Scott Michael Foster, Jake McDorman

Synopsis: (From TV.com) In tonight's episode, Casey (Grammer) and Rusty (Zachar) organize a casino night in order to help a debt-plagued Ashleigh (Amber Stevens). Elsewhere, Evan (McDorman) struggles with accepting the fine print on his trust fund. Cappie's (Foster) in need of new car. And, Rebecca (Dilshad Vadsaria) wants more from a relationship but she's not sure if she'll get it from Cappie.

My Prediction: I've followed this show since the beginning and loved every minute of it. Loved ... it's time to move on.

Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Pass

"Eli Stone" (10 p.m., ABC)

Season 2 premieres Oct. 14

Starring: Jonny Lee Miller, Victor Garber, Natasha Henstridge, Loretta Devine
Synopsis: (From TV.com) In a nutshell, this show follows the tale of a San Francisco lawyer (Miller) who finds out he has prophetic powers and decides to use them for good.
My Prediction: Fantastic cast, interesting premise and highly entertaining. "Eli Stone" has to be the most underrated returning series of the new season and that's a shame, because each episode keeps you on the edge of your seat - literally.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"House" (8 p.m, FOX)

Season 5 premieres Sept. 16

Starring: Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein, Robert Sean Leonard, Omar Epps, Jennifer Morrison, Jesse Spencer
Synopsis: Do we really need to figure out what "House" is about? Let's just say its previous season was by far one of the most intense seasons yet, and that itself is an understatement.
My Prediction: Um ... this show is the quintessential case study for a dramatic comedy. I've seen the first two episodes and they are both perfect in their own ways. You'll see what I mean when they air.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

Daily Trojan: Four steps to take you to a television utopia

By Philiana Ng

Since the fall season officially started last Monday, I got to thinking: Was there a formula someone came up with that consistently produced successful television shows? Sadly, as I sat on the couch scribbling Venn diagrams and long, complicated outlines, nothing was clicking or making sense. That is, until I decided to take the reins and create my own pseudo-formula for anyone interested in trying their hands in the ultracompetitive television industry.

Starting a new venture is never easy, especially when you're competing against dozens of creative minds to nab that coveted one-hour slot on Thursday nights. But let's pretend we live in a perfect world; if we did, this would be an easy four-step program. All you have to do is start at No. 1.

1. Embrace your inner nerd.

Right now, there are the "CSIs" and the "Law & Orders" for the crime procedural junkies. For the medical mystery addicts "Grey's Anatomy" and "House" fill that weekly void. "Chuck" is a love letter to the geeks who work at big box stores (or those who just want to be with one), while "Gossip Girl" brings the drama-seeking fashionistas to their knees. What these shows all have in common is simple: They all appeal to your inner alter ego, the one that's hidden deep inside and only comes out once in a blue moon.

Viewers have been leaning toward the weird and the awkward, abandoning formulaic mega hits (cue "Desperate Housewives" four years ago) that used to be ratings smashers and giving way to niche programming. If there is a channel that exclusively airs shows with sci-fi, alternate universe themes and places where only the mature reign and the faint of heart rarely stop by for a visit, chances are, whatever those inner selves desire, someone else in the world wants it, too.

If an entire universe centered on a talking car and its human counterpart can become a culture icon and phenomenon, then anything must be possible.

2. Make friends with the USA Network.

Broadcast networks have another competitor on their hands, and oftentimes many of them are owned by the same umbrella company: cable. One network has proven to be miles ahead of the rest, the USA Network, which is also owned by NBC's parent company, NBC Universal. Granted, a fantastic day for USA would be the equivalent of a flop in broadcast terms, but with the network's ability to craft a memorable slogan ("Characters Welcome") and follow it up with original programming that each have their own crop of loyal watchers has catapulted USA to the top spot among cable networks in total viewers, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

USA's "In Plain Sight," a new series that premiered this summer, became the year's most-watched cable program to date. And while USA largely relies on reruns, sports broadcasts and multiple movie airings for its daily programming, The Hollywood Reporter reported that five of the network's scripted original series consistently rank in the top seven for total cable viewers.

3. Call up the "Battlestar Galactica" crew.

A cast is one of the most essential puzzle pieces, if not the most important. Without one, there wouldn't be a show to watch or characters to invest in. Without the perfect lead or an adaptable supporting cast, the faux chemistry can only last so long before the show is gone forever, down the dreaded cancellation chamber.

As the "Battlestar Galactica" era winds down on the Sci-Fi Channel, the show's ensemble cast has become the industry's very own go-to actors and actresses - and deservedly so. Tricia Helfer (Number Six) has a recurring role as a mysterious handler on USA's "Burn Notice," Jamie Bamber (Apollo) is leading a British version of "Law & Order: U.K.," Grace Park (Boomer/Athena) plays a supporting role in "The Cleaner" and Tahmoh Penikett (Helo) has a major role in Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse." While the Sci-Fi remake is heavy on the melodrama and light on everything else, its seasoned cast is well equipped to cover a wide range of acting styles.

4. Nab some notable guest stars.

While the cast might be absolute perfection, the network has proven to be a nice fit and the show's premise is both original and entertaining, making a few phone calls for some new blood isn't a bad idea. "30 Rock" and "Chuck" are the king and queen of this court. Between the two, they have added a daughter of a famous R & B singer, the queen of talk shows, a former "Friends" star, two gossiping "It" girls and an "Arrested Development" alumnus to their upcoming season returns.

This four-step pseudo-formula has never been proven to produce hits. Maybe you'll be the first. Give me a call when it happens.

FALL '08 PREVIEW: MONDAY NIGHTS

Monday nights are quickly becoming the next Thursday night. As you can see here, these are just the highlights of the night; I didn't include CBS' "Two and a Half Men," TNT's "Raising the Bar," " ABC's "Boston Legal" and CBS' "CSI: Miami." Get those DVRs ready; it's going to be a busy night of television.

"How I Met Your Mother" (8:30 p.m., CBS)

Season 4 premieres Sept. 22

Starring: Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan

Synopsis: When we last left the fivesome at the end of season 3, Barney (Harris) pined for Ted's (Radnor) former lover, Robin (Smulders). Ted proposed to tattoo removal doctor, Stella ("Scrubs'" Sarah Chalke). Will Stella say yes? Will Barney tell Robin his true feelings?

My Prediction: The third season solidified this CBS sitcom as one of the true standouts in the current television climate. Without a "Friends" or "Seinfeld" to pave the way for half-hour comedies, "How I Met Your Mother" fulfills its newfound role with heart, good-natured humor and realistic, everyday problems. The fourth season leads off with the answers to all the questions in the third season finale, and the characters will have to live with the consequences of their decisions extremely quickly. Can't. Wait.

Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"Worst Week" (9:30 p.m., CBS) NEW

Series premieres Sept. 22

Starring: Kyle Bornheimer, Erinn Hayes, Kurtwood Smith, Nancy Lenehan
Synopsis: In the pilot, Sam (Bornheimer) and Mel (Hayes) intend to reveal her pregnancy to her parents after a quiet dinner. However, when Sam misses the train after having a drunk girl throw up on him, the dinner starts becoming increasingly unlikely.
My Prediction: Not quite sure what to expect from this show, but apparently some TV critics have shown their love for it while others haven't been so forthcoming. We'll see how this one pans out.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Pass

"My Own Worst Enemy" (8 p.m., NBC) NEW

Series premieres Oct. 13

Starring: Christian Slater, Madchen Amick, Taylor Lautner, Saffron Burrows

Synopsis: (From TV.com) Edward Albright is a super spy. Henry Spivey is living the normal American dream in the suburbs with his wife, two kids and dog. The two men (Slater) have one thing in common - they share the same body because Edward took part in an experiment several years earlier to create a split personality. Henry has never met his alter-ego Edward, and one day he receives an email from Edward saying that people are coming to kill him. Now, the super spy and the suburban daddy have to learn to live with each other in the same body.

My Prediction: This one could go either way. The concept is interesting, however, that means nothing if the cast and the storylines don't consistently create an intriguing world the viewers truly care about.

Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Catch Later

"Samantha Who?" (9:30 p.m., ABC)

Season 2 premieres Oct. 6

Starring: Christina Applegate, Jean Smart, Barry Watson, Jennifer Esposito
Synopsis: (From TV.com) Samantha "Sam" Newly (Applegate) is a corporate executive and hit-and-run victim who awakens after being in a coma for eight days, only to find she has amnesia. With no memories of the past, she must rediscover everything about her life and herself by looking for clues from her past. Sam discovers that she wasn't a very nice person to most people and she is determined to change that.
My Prediction: I regret never watching this show when it first started last October because I've heard such great things from everyone who has seen it either online or on TV. Going solely on other people's reactions and reviews, the second season will be one of comedic gold.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Catch Later

"The Big Bang Theory" (8 p.m., CBS)

Season 2 premieres Sept. 22

Starring: Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Sara Gilbert, Jim Parsons

Synopsis: (From TV.com) "The Big Bang Theory" is a sitcom that shows what happens when hyperintelligent roommates/physicists Sheldon (Parsons) and Leonard (Galecki) meet Penny (Cuoco), a beautiful woman moving in next door - and realize they know next to nothing about life outside of the lab. Rounding out the crew are the smarmy Wolowitz (Helberg), who thinks he's as sexy as he is brainy, and Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar), who suffers from an inability to speak in the presence of a woman.

My Prediction: I have to be honest here and say that I'm surprised that this show made it past its first season. Although it did have a solid following, I didn't find it that funny at all.

Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Pass

"Chuck" (8 p.m., NBC)

Season 2 premieres Sept. 29

Starring: Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Adam Baldwin, Sarah Lancaster

Synopsis: (From TV.com) In its season finale, Chuck (Levi) finds a bug in the Buy More, which leads Casey (Baldwin) and Sarah (Strahovski) to take drastic measures to find out whether the truth about Chuck has been discovered. Whilst facing the possibility that he may have to leave his life forever, Chuck loses something very important- the engagement ring for Ellie (Lancaster) entrusted to him by Captain Awesome (Ryan McPartlin).
My Prediction: Highly entertaining and at the same time, sometimes ridiculous, Levi plays the nerdy computer geek to perfection. (I'm already sold that he is one in real life.) An impressive line of guest stars are already lined up for its sophomore season and we'll finally get to meet Jill, Chuck's first love while he was at Stanford.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"Heroes" (9 p.m., NBC)

Season 3 premieres Sept. 22

Starring: Milo Ventimiglia, Hayden Panettiere, Masi Oka, Ali Larter, Adrian Pasdar
Synopsis: (From TV.com) "Heroes" is a serial saga about people all over the world discovering that they have superpowers and trying to deal with how this change affects their lives. (We all know what this show is about.)
My Prediction: Per my roommate who attended the "Heroes" panel at Comic-Con this July, the season premiere is absolutely insane, and in a good way.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: I recommend Appointment TV, but I will have to Pass.

"Gossip Girl" (8 p.m., CW)
Episode 2 of season 2 airs tonight

Starring: Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Chace Crawford, Penn Badgley, Ed Westwick
Synopsis: (From TV.com) Tonight's episode goes a little like this: Spotted, Lord Marcus (guest star Patrick Heusinger) having a conversation with his mother? The identity of Lord Marcus mother is revealed - which leaves our favorite Upper East Siders shocked. Nate (Crawford) and Serena (Lively) get closer. Chuck (Westwick) and Lord Marcus begin an unexpected friendship and Blair (Meester) makes a revelation.
My Prediction: It's going to be another trashy season!
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV for all the wrong reasons

"One Tree Hill" (9 p.m., CW)
Episode 2 of season 6 airs tonight

Starring: Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Hilarie Burton, Sophia Bush, Bethany Galeotti
Synopsis: (From TV.com) For anyone who cares, here's what the next episode is about: Tree Hill residents are surprised to learn that a couple will indeed get married. Brooke (Bush) tries to adjust to life after the robbery at "Clothes Over Bros". Nathan (Lafferty) and Haley (Galeotti) receive devasting news and Nanny Carrie's return creates more blanks than answers, after she kidnaps Dan - whose life is in jeopardy..
My Prediction: They cancelled "Veronica Mars" for this has-been?!
Catch Later or Appointment TV: Pass

"Prison Break" (9 p.m., FOX)
Episode 2 of season 4 airs tonight

Go here for a review of "Prison Break."

"Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" (8 p.m., FOX)
Season 2 premiere airs tonight

Go here for a review of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles."

FALL '08 PREVIEW: SUNDAY NIGHTS

Sunday nights are filled with continuing shows, with just one newbie on the fall slate. What if there was no writers' strike? Would there be more new series testing the waters or would it still be riddled with TV veterans?

"True Blood" (9 p.m., HBO) NEW

Series premiere airs tonight

Starring: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Ryan Kwanten

Synopsis: In Bon Temps, Louisiana, vampires and humans live among each other. Waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Paquin) can read people's minds but can't get get through to mysterious vampire Bill, which strikes her curiosity. Amid their vampire-human relationship, murders plague the small town.

My Prediction: It is one of those love it or hate it shows. Since helmer Alan Ball ("Six Feet Under") is adapting this from the popular Sookie Stackhouse novels, the new take on the vampire myth adds a little bit of intrigue, which could lose viewers or keep them tuned in. It will catch a small audience to make it through its first season, but beyond that, its fate is questionable.

Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Catch Later

"Desperate Housewives" (9 p.m., ABC)

Season 5 premieres Sept. 28

Starring: Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria
Synopsis: On Wisteria Lane, it is five years after the fourth season ended. The kids have grown up (new cast members) and things have changed drastically.
My Prediction: It'll do fine, but it's been losing its luster.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Pass

"Brothers & Sisters" (10 p.m., ABC)

Season 3 premieres Sept. 28

Starring: Sally Field, Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths, Rob Lowe, Matthew Rhys
Synopsis: Last season, Kevin (Rhys) and Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) got married, Justin (Dave Annable) and Rebecca (Emily Van Camp) officially became a couple and the Walkers learned that their patriarch fathered another child.
My Prediction: The Walkers are the epitome of the family everyone wants to know, but is afraid to admit it. They are dysfunctional (in the best way possible), deal with real everyday problems and love each other unconditionally all the way through. The second season was without its critics (the whole Justin-Rebecca pairing fueled some fire), and it's not to say this new season won't have the same. It has just the right amount of humor, drama and emotion without being too cliche.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"Californication" (10 p.m., Showtime)

Season 2 premieres Sept. 28

Starring: David Duchovny, Natascha McElhone
Synopsis: By season's end, novelist Hank Moody (Duchovny) got everything he wanted. His ex-lover, Karen (McElhone), married another man but ran off with Moody and their daughter in the end to a seemingly perfect fairytale ending.
My Prediction: It might not have the same buzz as other shows since it's on the uncensored Showtime channel, but Duchovny is eerily perfect in his role as a narcotic sex-addicted has-been writer struggling to get his life back together. Fantastically written and wonderfully acted, the second season will be better than the first.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"Entourage" (10 p.m., HBO)

Season 5 premiere airs tonight

Starring: Adrian Grenier, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon
Synopsis: At Cannes, the gang try to sell their film "Medellin" before anyone even sees it. Someone does end up purchasing it, but for far less than what they were thinking it'd go for. Vincent's (Grenier) film tanks at the festival and Ari (Piven) enters an under-the-table deal to get them out of trouble.
My Prediction: The fifth season will be another solid one for the post-"Sopranos" era on HBO. They're going to need all the help they can get.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Pass

"The Amazing Race" (8 p.m., CBS) UNSCRIPTED

Season 13 premieres Sept. 28

Starring: Phil Keoghan
Synopsis: Thirteen teams of two travel the world in hopes of arriving first in the last leg to collect the grand prize. Along the way, other prizes and shortcuts act as incentives for the racers.
My Prediction: Besides "Project Runway," "Top Chef" and "So You Think You Can Dance," I am pretty much against reality shows. "The Amazing Race," however, has always provided one of the best narratives all season long and the characters they focus on each episode feels genuine and unrehearsed. The Emmy voters love this show (won five straight Emmys) and even though it's time someone else had a chance to win the Emmy, as long as this show is on, it's going to be incredibly difficult.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV