Monday
Monday nights start the workweek with Emmy-nominated comedies and critically-acclaimed hit dramas. But there's a small hang-up for fans of scripted programming: Two-hour long episodes of Dancing with the Stars also appear on the Monday night fall lineup, even after last summer's gauntlet of reality shows. Fear not. CBS promises sitcom-fun with How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory, while FOX, NBC, and The CW will parade a mix of old and new action-packed dramas -- Heroes and House, both of which air at 8 p.m. Once work is over, the real challenge begins: What are you going to watch?
What do you think is wrong with them?
8:00 - 9:00 p.m.
ABC
Dancing With The Stars (September 21)
Celebrities, like last season's winner Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson, learn choreographed dances and workout with professional movers-and-shakers.
CBS
How I Met Your Mother / Accidentally on Purpose
How I Met Your Mother (September 21, 8 p.m.)
Everyone (including Lily) is back, and Ted's got a new teaching job. Teaser: The mother of Ted's kids is in his class.
Accidentally on Purpose (September 21, 8:30 p.m.)
San Francisco movie critic Billie (played by leggy blond Jenna Elfman) has a one-night stand with a 20-something guy and winds up pregnant. She decides to keep the baby... and the man.
Fox
House (September 21)
**TV.COM STAFF PICK**
Dr. House spun off the deep end when he began hallucinating last season, and in a twist that made our jaws drop, the doctor checked himself into an aslyum. [Watch the Trailer]
NBC
Heroes (September 21)
All-powerful Sylar has been tricked into believing he's Nathan Petrelli, but he starts to remember the truth in the beginning of Season Four. Sylar's back. [Watch the Trailer]
CW
One Tree Hill (September 14)
One Tree Hill will see a drastic makeover this season when the show loses boy-toy Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and beautiful Peyton (Hilarie Burton). [Watch a teaser]
HBO
Real Time with Bill Maher
Maher's changed his tune with Real Time -- calling on politicians and experts instead of the celebs he used to invite. Catch these reruns if you missed Friday's episode.
ABC Family
Greek (August 31)
For a college frat party you shouldn't miss, tune into Greek and remember when you were hazed as a freshman.
I like boating ... with bodies.
9:00 - 10:00 p.m.
ABC
Dancing With The Stars
Lace up your shoes for the second hour of ABC's dance marathon.
CBS
Two and a Half Men / The Big Bang Theory
Two and a Half Men (September 21, 9 p.m.)
The end of Season Six left Charlie with doubts about his engagement to live-in fiancee Chelsea, while Judith gave birth in the hospital.
The Big Bang Theory (September 21, 9:30 p.m.)
CalTech nerds vie for the love of beautiful (far-from-dumb) blond Penny, and according to the show's creator, Sheldon or Leonard will snag the girl this season.
Fox
Lie to Me (August 31)
Think you can beat a lie detector test? The crew of Lie to Me is sure to catch you in the act.
NBC
Trauma (September 28)
Trauma, a new take on medical drama, follows a San Francisco-based team of first-responder paramedics who face extreme challenges to save people's lives. Big explosions galore.
CW
Gossip Girl (September 14)
Everyone's secrets (except Gossip Girl's identity) were revealed in the end of Season Two, leaving the girly Manhattanites uncomfortably exposed. What role will guest star Hilary Duff play in this mess?
SHO
Dexter (September 27)
**TV.COM STAFF PICK**
Playing detective for the Miami PD while moonlighting as a serial killer was easy for Dexter, but being a father is really going to take a toll on him. [Watch the Trailer]
I'm back and better than ever.
10:00 - 11:00 p.m.
ABC
Castle (September 21)
Murder and crime novelist Richard Castle teams up with NYPD Detective Kate Beckett to catch a serial killer who is using Castle's work as a handbook for his kills.
CBS
CSI: Miami (September 21)
The cliff-hanger closer to last season had the CSI team chasing down a Russian mobster who had just broken out of prison.
Fox
Local Programming
NBC
The Jay Leno Show (September 14)
**TV.COM STAFF PICK**
Jay Leno leaves his old late-night formula behind as he moves to a primetime slot. He's even (gasp!) getting rid of the on-stage desk!
Bravo
Flipping Out (August 17)
Real estate speculator Jeff Lewis can't be making a great living during the recession. What will the handsome bloke do?
Comments (57)
woww alot shows I want to see, but not time to see them all....
I'm dying here from estrogen poisoning. These staff picks are so 'pro chick' it's not funny. I don't care if someone was asked to get married on numb3rs, and I'm sure any fan of it is more focused on the science aspect of the show. There should be a more manly type balanced feel in these things. I mean they throw in football to try to make it look balanced but it's not. Maybe the site should be sectioned off with reviewers who are well based in the different genres.
Please tell me I haven't missed the series finale of Reaper. if it is indeed canceled.
add a comment
legend of the seeker returns november 7th
Saturday night, that is.
yuck yuck and more yuck! Looks like rent-a-movie-night to me.
I don't understand why you don't give the schedule for cable as well... When you see the proportion of bad shows on networks and the number of great shows on cable, I'd rather watch cable.
I watch mostly dramas with a few comedy shows scattered in. I use my DVR and record all so I can skip ads.I read the Dexter books (still do) and I love the show.I don't watch any so-called "reality" shows;I consider them garbage.
I can't wait for the season premire of Dexter. I love that show so much.
I notice that you don't make mention of my favorite Showtime series and that's Californication. You mention Dexter so why not that series?
DEXTER airs on Sunday night-not Monday!!It is a must see.
Monday - Heroes, Dexter, Gossip Girl, House, Castle. Tuesday - Warehouse 13. Wednesday - The Beautiful Life, Cougar Town, Mercy, Eastwick. Thursday - Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, Fringe, The Mentalist, Grey's Anatomy. Friday - Smallville, Ugly Betty, Monk, Psych, Ghost Whisperer, Medium, Dollhouse. Saturday - Err... Nothing! Sunday - Californication, Desperate Housewives
Many thanks to TV.com staff for choosing Southland as a STAFF PICK on Friday night. I love the caption for Ben's photograph, "Hellooo, Benjamin MacKenzie." Hopefully, Ben will bring more of his fans to watch the show next season and the ratings will soar!
Can't wait for One Tree Hill
perhaps 30 rock will be a midseason show... Maybe we'll see it january....
I refuse to watch any new show that comes on ABC. If it's good, they cancel it. Only exception so far is Ugly Betty. If they keep Flash Forward on it will be due to them insisting on no Science Fiction, and turning it into a third rate soap opera like they did with LOST. This new season looks sick. None of the new shows look like they'd be interesting. Reminds me of the '94 season. Really bad.
Oops thought the comments were supposed to go one for each day. Tues. Warehouse 13 is the only thing interesting. So what date is it on. Is it a summer show only?
House and Big Bang Theory the best ones. A maybe for Accidentally on Purpose. Mainly due to being a Jenna Elfman fan. Yeah, what about Chuck? Heroes a big yawn.
Looks like I'll be watching heroes and recording One Tree Hill.
How about Chuck and Lost?
how i met your mother, accidentally on purpose looks funny so ill watch that and castle
WOW more trash. Sorry to say 95% of the stuff on TV is TRASH. And CSI is in the tank. It is time to say good by to CSI. Who Who, OOO Who good by to you! It was a great show until WP took off. O well that God for DVDs and NetFlix. Right now TV Sucks...
I don't know how you can manage to write one of these fall schedules without including 30 ROCK and SNL.What planet do you live on?
add a commentSince they took away my beloved, favorite TV show, the Guding Light, I really don't have much to look forward to. Will NOT watch CBS and there seams to be dullsville everywhere else as well.
Here comes another season of "who cares TV". I don't plan to waste a minute on any of this dreck. "Two and a Half Men"?! Should have ended four years ago, while the kid was at least tolerably cute and the premise was mildly amusing. Jay Leno?! How is changing his time slot going to make him funny? Pauly Shore calls himself a "comedian", too. "The Biggest Loser"? Who decided that America wants to watch ugly fat people sweat on TV? "Dancing with the Stars"? Klutzy hasbeens and criminal politicians dragged around by working hoofers? Gag me with a shoe. "Melrose Place" and "902910"? Juvenile soaps the first time around. Are the studios so bereft of ideas they have to make zombies of dead shows? Looks to me like the summer TV doldrums are now a year round event. Two hundred plus channels and still nothing to watch. I'm going to turn my TV set into a planter; watching grass grow will be fascinating compared to this lineup of garbage.moreless
Sunday, Monday and Thursday will be peak nights for TV series fans.
How is NCIS not the staff pick for Tuesdays? It constantly rates well, and is in the top ten for TV.com, and has great characters, stories, and writing. Come on!
Wow Monday is going to be an awesome night. I mean 8 shows I watch when it's the 21st of September
Do we know that Scrubs and Better Off Ted will be premiering in the fall?
And the Psych description, refers to the Mr. Yang case, which was the plot of last season's finale.
30 Rock doesn't premiere until October 15th.
I am really looking forward to the fall premieres but I have to say, I don't agree with most of your tv.com staff picks.
Back to college, Heroes, Supernatural, Castle and Dexter!
What about 30 Rock?
Only one I will not watch is Jay Leno
uhh, where's 30 rock ?!?!
I can't wait for Community Joel is hilarious and I want more of him!
I can't wait this year for all the shows to star here in Argentina (maybe Nov), so my only option is to download them when they air in US. There are so many to watch
Yay for more Cold Case
Many awesome TV shows. I am warming up my TiVo.
Lie to me didn't come back on August 3. they have to fix that.
angrodpallanen: Of course no one is tired of House!!! in fact it just took one of the most interesting turns in its run. pretty critical of house for someone who's logo is of the OC (people tired of that show in two seasons)
lenos gonna tank. it might keep viewers intrested for a while but they are gonna get bored of it fast