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."