Your Fall Premiere Guide

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Do you know how hard it is for a TV-obsessed girl to organize a new TV schedule? DO YOU? It is so difficult that I went and bought a new calendar so I'd have clean pages to write on. Then I went to every TV source I have and organized all of the information I could find into one simple notepad document that when I printed was 25 PAGES LONG. That is a lot of information. And TV networks don't make it easy by premiering shows on abnormal nights (I'm looking at you CBS and Viva Laughlin) or at atypical lengths (ABC and The Bachelor) or worse: BOTH. (Dancing With The Stars - HATE.) But -- I rose to the challenge. I will not be defeated by this season's bizarre fall line-up. As proof? I am posting the final schedule here today because I know your secret. You have a new calendar too.

Without Further Ado The Fall TV Premiere Guide That Ate Zoot's Soul:

This is listed in chronological order with descriptions of new shows written in italics. If you would rather just view by day of the week - I've taken care of that for you as well (but the by-day listings do not contain descriptions): Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Lincoln Heights
ABC Family;
Premieres September 4 (second season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
Fox
Premieres September 6 (second season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

Don't Forget the Lyrics
Fox
Premieres September 6 (second season)
9:00PM-10:00PM

Tell Me You Love Me
HBO
Premieres September 9
9:00PM-10:00PM
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Official Web Site
Description: HBO's press release
TELL ME YOU LOVE ME looks at the connection, or disconnection, between sex and intimacy, as seen through the stories of three couples who attend therapy sessions with Dr. May Foster. Dave and Katie, in their 40s, are outwardly happy, but have stopped having sex. Carolyn and Palek, in their 30s, want to have a baby, but the pressure to get pregnant is taking a toll on them. Jamie and Hugo, in their 20s, are engaged, but trying to resolve issues with fidelity.

Curb Your Enthusiasm
HBO
Premieres September 9 (sixth season)
10:00PM-11:00PM

The Biggest Loser
NBC
Premieres September 11 (fourth season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
FX
Premieres September 13 (third season)
10:00PM-10:30PM

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader
Fox
Friday show premieres September 14 (second season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

Nashville
Fox
Premieres September 14
9:00PM-10:00PM
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Official Web Site
Description: FOX's web site
From the creative minds behind the series "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County" comes NASHVILLE, a high-stakes, high-drama docu-soap featuring a cast of young dreamers living in the "biggest small town of America." Featuring the city as its backdrop, NASHVILLE is about this group of young people and their friendships, their failures and their quest for success in a town that can make or break them. NASHVILLE premieres Friday, Sept. 14 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

Prison Break
Fox
Premieres September 17 (third season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

Deal or No Deal
NBC
Monday Premieres September 17 (third season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

K-Ville
Fox
Premieres September 17
9:00PM-10:00PM
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Official Website
Description: FOX's website
From writer and executive producer Jonathan Lisco (“NYPD Blue,” “The District”) comes K-VILLE, a heroic police drama set – and filmed – in New Orleans. Two years after Katrina, parts of the city are still in chaos, but hope has emerged. Battling an upsurge of violence, understaffing of police forces and a lack of crime labs and other facilities, the cops who remain in the New Orleans Police Department have courage to burn and a passion to reclaim and rebuild their city. MARLIN BOULET (Anthony Anderson) is a brash, wry, in-your-face veteran of the NOPD’s Felony Action Squad, the specialized unit that targets the most-wanted criminals. Even when his partner deserted him during the storm, Boulet held his post, spending days in the water saving lives and keeping order. Now, two years later, he’s unapologetic about bending the rules when it comes to collaring bad guys. The stakes are too high, and the city too fragile, for him to do things by the book. Boulet’s new partner, TREVOR COBB (Cole Hauser), was a soldier in Afghanistan before joining the NOPD. He’s tough and committed, but if he’s less than comfortable with Boulet’s methods, it’s because he’s harboring a dark secret. Cobb has come to New Orleans seeking redemption, but redemption can be dangerous. Will Boulet be able to trust him? Will Cobb’s past endanger them both? Rounding out the crew are wisecracking JEFF “GLUE BOY” GOODEN (Blake Shields), the team’s comic relief; tough-as-nails GINGER “LOVE TAP” LeBEAU (Tawny Cypress), the only female on the squad; and CAPTAIN JAMES EMBRY (John Carroll Lynch), who wrangles the eclectic personalities of his squad with equal parts humor and tenacity. Through its no-holds-barred crime stories and dramatic personal stories, this intriguing series will take viewers from the Victorian mansions of the Garden District to the rubble of the Lower 9th Ward. K-VILLE, executive-produced by Lisco and Craig Silverstein (BONES, “Standoff”), is produced by 20th Century Fox Television. Deran Sarafian (HOUSE, “CSI”) directed the pilot.

Beauty and the Geek
The CW
Premieres September 18 (fourth season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

Back to You
Fox
Premieres September 19
8:00PM-8:30PM
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Official Web Site
Description: FOX's web site
In the '90s, the local TV news scene in Pittsburgh was dominated by one team: CHUCK DARLING (Kelsey Grammer, "Frasier," "Cheers") and KELLY CARR (Patricia Heaton, "Everybody Loves Raymond"). They had that elusive quality all news teams need: chemistry… at least on-screen. Off-screen, Chuck was a bit of a self-centered womanizer, Kelly a bit of an uptight know-it-all. So when Chuck got the call to move up to a larger market, no tears were shed. But after an embarrassing on-air tirade ended up on the internet, Chuck found himself on the downswing career-wise. He even questioned whether his lifestyle of chasing women and living in hotels was as exciting as it used to be. So when he got the call to return to Pittsburgh, to reunite with Kelly and try to take the newscast back to No. 1, it was an offer he couldn't refuse. Back in Pittsburgh, Chuck has a couple of new co-workers: RYAN CHURCH (Josh Gad), the overstressed news director and MONTANA DIAZ HERRERA (Ayda Field, "Studio 60"), the perky, sexy weather anchor. There are also familiar faces like MARSH McGINLEY (Fred Willard, "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," "Best In Show"), the affable, endlessly inappropriate sports anchor, and GARY CREZYZEWSKI, pronounced Kre-shoov-ski (Ty Burrell, "In Good Company," "Out of Practice"), the perennially put-upon field reporter who always seems to get left out in the snow. But, mostly, there's Kelly, now a single mom to 10-year-old GRACIE (Laura Marano, "Without a Trace"). There was magic between them once. Can they find it again? BACK TO YOU is created, written and executive-produced by Steven Levitan ("Just Shoot Me!" "Frasier," "Wings") and Christopher Lloyd ("Frasier," "The Golden Girls").

Kid Nation
CBS
Premieres September 19
8:00PM-9:00PM
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Official Web Site
Description: CBS Press Release
KID NATION is a reality-based series in which 40 kids will have 40 days to build a new world - in a ghost town that died in the 19th Century. These kids, ages 8-15, will spend more than a month without their parents or modern comforts in Bonanza City, N.M., attempting to do what their forefathers could not - build a town that works. They will cook their own meals, clean their own outhouses, haul their own water and even run their own businesses - including the old town saloon (root beer only). They'll also create a real government - four kid leaders who will guide the kids through their adventure, pass laws and set bedtimes. Through it all, they'll cope with regular childhood emotions and situations: homesickness, peer pressure and the urge to break every rule they've ever known. At the end of each episode, all 40 kids will gather at an old fashioned Town Hall meeting where they will debate the issues facing Bonanza City. They'll show wisdom beyond their years and the unflinching candor that only kids can exhibit. There are no eliminations on KID NATION - you only go home if you want to. And in every Town Hall meeting, kids may raise their hands and leave. Will they stick it out? In the end, will these kids prove to adults everywhere - and their own parents - that they have the vision to build a better world than the pioneers who came before them? And just as importantly, will they come together as a cohesive unit, or will they abandon all responsibility and succumb to the childhood temptations that lead to round-the-clock chaos?

America's Next Top Model
The CW
Premieres September 19 (ninths season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

'Til Death
Fox
Premieres September 19 (second season)
8:30PM-9:00PM

Kitchen Nightmares
Fox
Premieres September 19
9:00PM-10:00PM
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Official Web Site
Description: FOX's web site
Hell hath no fury like an angry chef, and no chef has a sharper temper than Gordon Ramsay when things go wrong in the kitchen. The star of the highly rated culinary boot camp HELL’S KITCHEN returns to FOX with another sizzling unscripted series, KITCHEN NIGHTMARES. This time, Chef Ramsay hits the road, in each episode tackling a restaurant in crisis and exposing the stressful realities of trying to run a successful food business. The third season of HELL’S KITCHEN will premiere on FOX this spring. For restaurant owners in crisis with lazy chefs in the kitchen, temperamental wait staffs and few and unhappy diners, it’s time to call in the restaurant industry’s equivalent of 911. Inspired by one of the UK’s biggest hits, KITCHEN NIGHTMARES is seen in more than 50 territories around the globe, and the series reveals a whole new side to Ramsay. He’s still prone to the explosive outbursts and spectacular confrontations familiar to fans of HELL’S KITCHEN, but he also shows his sensitive and nurturing side -- a unique blend of fury, passion, inspirational leadership and tough love that can turn a small spark of talent into a roaring flame. Feared and revered in equal measure, Ramsay has to galvanize owners, chefs and their kitchen brigades as he attempts to turn around the fortunes of each restaurant in just one week and save them from their living nightmares. There’s no time for polite small talk as Ramsay embarks on his mission to turn things around. If the wine waiter’s service isn’t up to par, he’ll be out the door before he can say “merlot.” If the head chef doesn’t match up to Ramsay’s expectations, Ramsay will hammer him into shape, and if he can’t stand the heat, he may quit the kitchen. Ramsay’s reputation is on the line, so there’s bound to be high blood pressure, raised voices and serious clashes as he attempts to do the impossible: turn a deserted dining room into the most sought-after venue in town in just a week. KITCHEN NIGHTMARES is a co-production of Granada America and Optomen Television, in association with A. Smith & Co. Executive producers are Arthur Smith, Pat Llewellyn, Kent Weed, Gerry McKean and Curt Northrup.

Survivor
CBS
Premieres September 20 (fifteenth season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

The Simpsons
Fox
Premieres September 23 (nineteenth season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

King of the Hill
Fox
Premieres September 23 (twelfth season)
8:30PM-9:00PM

Family Guy
Fox
Premieres September 23 (sixth season) Special one-hour premiere episode
9:00PM-9:30PM

Cold Case
CBS
Premieres September 23 (fifth season)
9:00PM-10:00PM

Chuck
NBC
Premieres September 24
8:00PM-9:00PM
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Official website
Descripton: NBC Press Release
From executive producer, Josh Schwartz ("The O.C.") and executive producer-director McG ("Charlie's Angels," "We Are Marshall") comes a one-hour, comedic spy thriller about Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi, "Less Than Perfect") - a computer geek who is catapulted into a new career as the government's most vital secret agent. When Chuck opens an e-mail subliminally encoded with government secrets, he unwittingly downloads an entire server of sensitive data into his brain. Now, the fate of the world lies in the unlikely hands of a guy who works at Buy More. Instead of fighting computer viruses, he must fight assassins and international terrorists. With the government's most precious secrets in Chuck's head, Major John Casey (Adam Baldwin, "My Bodyguard") of the NSA assumes the responsibility of protecting him. His partner is the CIA's top agent (and Chuck's first date in years) Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strzechowski, "Gone"). They'll keep him safe by trading in his pocket protector for a bulletproof vest. Also starring are Joshua Gomez ("Without a Trace") as Chuck's best buddy Morgan and Sarah Lancaster ("What About Brian?") as Chuck's ever-supportive sister Ellie. Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak wrote "Chuck," which is produced by College Hill Pictures and Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television.

Dancing with the Stars
ABC
Special 90-minute premiere episode September 24th (fifth season)

How I Met Your Mother
CBS
Premieres September 24 (third season)
8:30PM-9:30PM

The Big Bang Theory
CBS
Premieres September 24
8:30PM-9:00PM
************
Official website
Description: CBS' press release
Leonard and Sheldon are brilliant physicists, the kind of "beautiful minds" that understand how the universe works. But none of that genius helps them interact with people, especially women. All this begins to change when a free-spirited beauty named Penny moves in next door. Sheldon, Leonard's roommate, is quite content spending his nights playing Klingon Boggle with their socially dysfunctional friends, fellow CalTech scientists Wolowitz and Koothrappali. However, Leonard sees in Penny a whole new universe of possibilities... including love.

Two and a Half Men
CBS
Premieres September 24 (fifth season)
9:00PM-9:30PM

Heroes
NBC
Premieres September 24 (second season)
9:00PM-10:00PM

Rules of Engagement
CBS
Premieres September 24 (second season)
9:30PM-10:00PM

The Bachelor
ABC
Premieres September 24 (eleventh season) Special 90-minute premiere
9:30PM-11:00PM

CSI: Miami
CBS
Premieres September 24 (sixth season) Special 90-minute premiere
10:00-11:00

Journeyman
NBC
Premieres September 24
10:00PM-11:00PM
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Official Website
Description: NBC's Press Release
From Emmy Award-winning writer-producer Kevin Falls ("The West Wing") and Emmy Award-winning director-producer Alex Graves ("The West Wing"), "Journeyman" is a romantic mystery-drama about Dan Vasser (Kevin McKidd, "Rome"), a San Francisco newspaper reporter and family man who inexplicably begins to travel through time and change people's lives. Along the way, he also must deal with the difficulties and strife at work and home brought on by his sudden disappearances. However, his freewheeling travels through the decades reunite him with his long-lost fiance Livia (Moon Bloodgood, "Day Break") -- which complicates his present-day life with wife Katie (Gretchen Egolf, "Martial Law") and their son. Reed Diamond ("Homicide: Life on the Street") and Charles Henry Wyson ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") also star. "Journeyman" is a production of 20th Century Fox Television. Falls is executive producer and writer; Graves is executive producer and director of the pilot.

Bones
Fox
Premieres September 25 (third season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

N.C.I.S.
CBS
Premieres September 25 (fifth season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

House
Fox
Premieres September 25 (fourth season)
9:00PM-10:00PM

The Unit
CBS
Premieres September 25 (third season)
9:00-10:00PM

Reaper
The CW
Premieres September 25
9:00PM-10:00PM
***************
Official Web Site
Description: From The CW website
For the first 20 years of his life, Sam (Bret Harrison, "The Loop," "Grounded for Life") wondered why his parents went so easy on him. Whether it was school, sports or career choices, Sam's mom (Allison Hossack, "Falcon Beach") and dad (Andrew Airlie, "The L Word") always let him get by with the least possible effort. As a result, Sam skipped college, took a dead-end job at the local Work Bench home improvement store and now wastes endless hours playing video games. Everything in his slacker world changed the day Sam turned 21 and discovered the ungodly reason his parents let him slide: they sold his soul to the devil before he was even born. Though his guilt-ridden parents try to explain the circumstances that led them to the forfeit his soul, Sam can't wrap his mind around what is happening to him. He's always been the under-achieving son, while his younger brother Kyle (Kyle Switzer, "15/Love") was pushed to get straight A's, excel at every sport and join every club. Kyle resents the easy ride Sam has enjoyed, and Sam can't help but feel jealousy over Kyle's achievements. What neither brother realizes is that their lives have been shaped by forces they can't yet begin to understand. When Satan himself (Ray Wise, "24," "The Closer") drops by to personally explain that Sam must now serve as his bounty hunter, tracking down evil souls that have escaped and returning them to Hell, Sam refuses to accept his bizarre fate. After getting just a glimpse of Satan's temper, however, Sam realizes that breaking a deal with the devil has consequences that are very, very bad. Still, Sam is fascinated by the devil's charm and his flattering insistence that Sam is full of untapped potential. Armed with a constantly changing series of vessels -- starting with a Dirt Devil mini-vacuum -- to collect the escapees, Sam finds that his new line of work is dangerous and frightening, even with the goofball help of his friends and co-workers Bert "Sock" Wysocki (Tyler Labine, "Boston Legal," "Invasion") and Ben (Rick Gonzalez, "Coach Carter"), along with Sock's former-girlfriend-turned-paralegal, Josie (Valarie Rae Miller, "Dark Angel"). Sock has been Sam's closest friend and slacker role model for many years and was the first person Sam turned to with the news about his gig with the devil. A perennial adolescent who attended high school on the six-year plan, Sock is perfectly happy with his life and his job at The Work Bench, where he is a thorn in the side of the assistant manager, Ted (Donavon Stinson, "The Fantastic Four"). Sock thinks Sam's news is totally cool, and is happy to help with Sam's assignments from Hell. Ben, on the other hand, immediately grasps the seriousness of Sam's situation. A college student and the son of a reverend, Ben is also on board to help, but he knows that dealing with the devil is no game. Sam knows he'll have to go to great lengths to hide his new identity from the person who matters most in his world: his smart and pretty co-worker Andi (Missy Peregrym, "Smallville," "Heroes"). Trapped by his lack of self-confidence, Sam has loved Andi from afar, despite Sock's constant urging that he ask her out. Andi had gone away to college, but came home to her mother and her job at The Work Bench after her father died. Now she's stuck in a safe job and a safe friendship with Sam. Though his life has suddenly turned weird and scary, Sam is surprised to find that he somehow feels good about his newfound "mission" -- removing evil-doers from the world and sending them back where they belong. Back when nothing was expected of him, Sam never had to push himself to achieve. Now, with his friends and his trusty vessel-of-the-week at his side, Sam is ready to face his destiny as the Reaper. "Reaper" is from ABC Studios with executive producers Michelle Fazekas ("Ed," "Law & Order, Special Victims Unit"), Tara Butters ("Ed," "Law & Order, Special Victims Unit"), Mark Gordon ("Grey's Anatomy," Criminal Minds"), Deborah Spera ("Criminal Minds") and Tom Spezialy ("Desperate Housewives").

The Singing Bee
NBC
Premieres September 25 (second season)
9:30PM-10:00PM

Boston Legal
ABC
Premieres September 25 (fourth season) Special 90-minute premiere episode
10:00PM-11:00PM

Cane
CBS
Premieres September 25
10:00PM-11:00PM
***************
Official Web Site
Description: CBS Press Release
CANE is an epic drama about the external rivalries and internal power struggles of a large Cuban-American family running an immensely successful rum and sugar business in South Florida. When the family patriarch, Pancho, is offered a lucrative but questionable deal by his bitter adversaries, the Samuels, to purchase thousands of acres of sugar fields, he's faced with a tough choice: Should he cash out of the sugar business and focus solely on rum, which would please his impulsive natural son, Frank, or protect the family legacy that he built from the ground up by not selling, and side with his adopted son, Alex, who mistrusts the Samuels and still sees value in sugar? Alex and Frank's approach to business is as different as their approach to life. While Frank might lose focus chasing women, Alex is deeply in love with his beautiful wife, Isabel, who is also Pancho's daughter. Married when she was just 17 years old, Isabel balances Alex by choosing not to involve herself in the business, focusing instead on their three children, Jaime, Katie and Artie, who are determined to forge their own paths outside the family. Jaime has a deep love for his father, but also yearns to make it on his own outside of the family business and when he's accepted to a reputable college he must face the decision to please Alex or stick by his beloved girlfriend Rebecca and choose a new life. Katie is their rebellious teenage daughter who looks and acts far older than she is. Henry, Pancho's youngest son, prefers to stand in the sidelines while his oldest siblings battle for control of the Duque's interests. While her sons wrestle with their own personal difficulties and secrets, Pancho's wife, Amalia, sees to the normal inter-personal conflicts that occur within an extended family and bridges the gap between the three generations hosting the family's large music-filled cookouts and lively dinners. For the Duques, will family allegiance come first or will their secrets and acrimonious conflicts over love, lust and control of the family fortune be their downfall?

Law & Order: SVU
NBC
Premieres September 25 (ninth season)
10:00PM-11:00PM

Deal or No Deal
NBC
Wednesday episodes premiere September 26
8:00PM-9:00PM

Bionic Woman
NBC
Premieres September 26
9:00PM-10:00PM
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Official Web Site
Description: NBC Press Release
Struggling as a bartender and surrogate mom to her teenage sister, Jaime Sommers (Michelle Ryan, "EastEnders") didn't think life could get much harder. But when a devastating car accident leaves her at death's door, Jaime's only hope for survival is a cutting-edge, top-secret technology that comes at a hefty price. With a whole new existence and a debt to re-pay, Jaime must figure out how to use her extraordinary abilities for good, while weighing the personal sacrifices she will have to make. Ultimately, it's Jaime's journey of self-discovery and inner strength that will help her embrace her new life as the Bionic Woman. Also starring are: Mae Whitman ("State of Grace") as Becca, Jaime's younger sister; Miguel Ferrer ("Crossing Jordan") as Jonas, the man who employs Jaime's boyfriend; Chris Bowers ("Rescue Me) as Will, Jaime's boyfriend, who performs the operation; Will Yun Lee ("Witchblade") as Jae, the specialized operations leader; and Molly Price ("Third Watch"), as Ruth, Jonas' second-in-command. "Bionic Woman" is produced by NBC Universal Television Studio and executive-produced by David Eick ("Battlestar Galactica"), Glen Morgan ("The X-Files"), Michael Dinner ("Kidnapped") -- who also directed the pilot -- and Jason Smilovic ("Lucky Number Slevin"). Laeta Kalogridis ("Birds of Prey") is also an executive producer on the pilot.

Private Practice
ABC
Premieres September 26
9:00PM-10:00PM
*********
Official Web Site
Description: ABC's web site
From Shonda Rhimes, the Golden Globe-winning creator of "Grey's Anatomy" comes a story about finding a way to begin the rest of your life. Addison Forbes Montgomery is a renowned surgeon. Having left behind Seattle Grace Hospital, a broken marriage with Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd, and her torn relationship with Mark "McSteamy" Sloan, Addison moves to Los Angeles for sunnier weather and happier possibilities. Addison reunites with her friends from medical school, Naomi and Sam Bennett, joining them at their chic, co-op, Oceanside Wellness Center in Santa Monica. Naomi, a fertility and hormone specialist and majority owner of the clinic, and Sam, an internist whose self-help books have made him the "common man's medical guru," are newly divorced. They co-exist for the sake of their teenaged daughter, Maya, and their medical practice, but the relationship is hardly amicable. The center's resident pediatrician is Dr. Cooper Freedman, whose success in his profession belies his rocky personal life. He's a serial internet dater who is always attracted to the wrong woman. Most dates end badly for him; some even end in petty or grand theft. Cooper finds solace and counsel in his closest friend, co-op psychiatrist Dr. Violet Turner but she's no luckier in love. Able to deftly advise her patients in their relationships, she's intense, determined and unwilling to let outsiders see the obvious cracks in her veneer. Inside, Violet is crumbling after her recent breakup with an ex who has already moved on and married. Dr. Pete Wilder is the alternative medicine specialist at the practice. Attractive and assured, Pete is a "catch" by any standard; in fact, he's already caught Addison's eye, and he, hers. Though the chemistry is immediate and palpable between the two, Pete's cockiness and confidence conceal a man still reeling from his wife's tragic passing eight years beforehand, a man who has been unable to truly connect with a woman since. With Addison starting anew in Los Angeles, Pete may chance new beginnings in his own life. Witness to it all at the co-op is the receptionist, William Dell Parker. Young, quirky and confident, Dell may seem like an easygoing surfer, but he's deeply interested in the medical profession. In Addison, he sees the chance to have a mentor and pursue his dream -- becoming a midwife. Coming in direct conflict with the co-op doctors is Charlotte King, the Chief of Staff of the nearby hospital. A southerner who does not suffer fools gladly, Charlotte believes that the co-op doctors' patient care methods are unorthodox and, therefore, inferior to her own. For Addison, an old friend's invitation brings her to a new city and a new life full of promise. At Oceanside Wellness Center, the doctors are dedicated pros; it's their private lives that need a little practice. "Private Practice" stars Kate Walsh as Dr. Addison Forbes Montgomery, Tim Daly as Dr. Pete Wilder, Audra McDonald as Dr. Naomi Bennett, Paul Adelstein as Dr. Cooper Freedman, KaDee Strickland as Dr. Charlotte King, Chris Lowell as William Dell Parker, with Taye Diggs as Dr. Sam Bennett and Amy Brenneman as Dr. Violet Turner. "Private Practice" was created and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes ("Grey's Anatomy," "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge"). Betsy Beers ("Grey's Anatomy," "Casanova"), Marti Noxon ("Grey's Anatomy," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), Mark Gordon ("The Hoax," "Saving Private Ryan") and Mark Tinker ("St. Elsewhere," "NYPD Blue") are executive producers. "Private Practice" is an ABC Studios Production.

Criminal Minds
CBS
Premieres September 26 (third season)
9:00PM-10:00PM

Gossip Girl
The CW
Premieres September 26
9:00PM-10:00PM
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Official Web Site
Description: The CW's web site
The privileged prep school teens on Manhattan's Upper East Side first learn that Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants") is back in town the way they learn all the important news in their lives -- from the blog of the allknowing albeit ultra-secretive Gossip Girl. No one knows Gossip Girl's identity, but everyone in this exclusive and complicated vicious circle relies on her website and text messages for the latest scoop. Even Serena's closest friend, Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester, "Entourage"), is surprised to find that Serena has suddenly ended her selfimposed exile to boarding school and returned to Manhattan. Once the Upper East Side's most notorious party girl, Serena's reasons for returning are mysterious, although they may have something to do with her younger brother Eric (Connor Paolo, "Alexander"). Whatever the reasons, the change in Serena is obvious, especially to Blair, whose friendship with Serena has always been competitive and difficult. When Serena was out of the picture, Blair enjoyed her time in the spotlight and she has no intention of going back to living in Serena's shadow. Their uneasy relationship is further complicated by Blair's boyfriend Nate (Chace Crawford, "The Covenant"), a young man uneasy with all the privileges that have been handed to him by his high-powered father Howie "The Captain" Archibald (Sam Robards, "The West Wing"). Now that Serena is back, Blair will have to fight to hold onto Nate's attention. It also remains to be seen whether Blair's loyal lieutenants -- Katy (newcomer Nan Zhang) and Isabel (newcomer Nicole Fiscella) -- will remain by her side or break ranks to follow Serena. The tension between Blair and Serena isn't lost on anyone in this crowd, since they all live for gossip and scandal -- along with fashion, shopping and partying in Manhattan's trendiest hot spots. This is a world you have to be born into, full of wealth, power, and people like Chuck (Ed Westwick, "Children of Men"). A friend of Nate's since childhood, Chuck leads a reckless life, and constantly pushes Nate to explore his dark side. The proverbial fish-out-of-water at the prep school are Dan (Penn Badgley, "John Tucker Must Die," "The Bedford Diaries") and his sister Jenny (Taylor Momsen, "Paranoid Park," "How The Grinch Stole Christmas"), middle-class kids whose background keeps them on the fringes of this exclusive clique. Dan and Jenny are attending the school at the insistence of their father Rufus (Matthew Settle, "Into The West"), a former rocker turned art gallery owner, determined to give his kids a first-class education. Rufus has a history with Serena's mother Lily (Kelly Rutherford, "Melrose Place"), a socialite who hides her past as a dancer and rock groupie. When a chance encounter brings Dan to Serena's attention, he suddenly finds himself dating the girl of his dreams. The more Dan discovers about the real Serena, the more he's challenged to make sense of her world. Dan's sister Jenny is the youngest of the group and wants desperately to be accepted. The price she'll have to pay for popularity will take a toll, but at the moment, Jenny is just thrilled to have entry into this glamorous world. Dan and Serena's relationship is further complicated by the arrival of Dan's friend Vanessa, a Brooklyn rebel and loner who doesn't approve of Serena's world of money, fashion shows and fundraisers. Vanessa's attempts to pull him back to his roots will cause friction between Dan and Serena. Keeping track of the shifting friendships, jealousies and turmoil in this wealthy and complex world isn't easy, but it's what Gossip Girl does best. Filmed in New York and based on the popular series of young-adult novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, "Gossip Girl" is from Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Paramount Television Inc. with executive producers Josh Schwartz ("The O.C.") & Stephanie Savage ("The O.C."), Bob Levy, Leslie Morgenstein ("Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants") and Felicia Henderson ("The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"), and co-executive producer K.J. Steinberg ("The Nine").

Life
NBC
Premieres September 26
10:00PM-11:00PM
**************
Official Web Site
Description: NBC's press release
From Rand Ravich and Far Shariat, the executive producers of the feature film "The Astronaut's Wife," and David Semel, who directed the pilot of NBC's "Heroes," "Life" is a new drama about a detective who is given a second chance. Damian Lewis ("Band of Brothers") stars as complex, offbeat Detective Charlie Crews, who returns to the force after years in prison, thanks to close friend and attorney Constance Griffiths (Melissa Sagemiller, "Sleeper Cell"), after serving time for a crime he didn't commit. The cast also includes Sarah Shahi ("Rush Hour 3") as Charlie's skeptical, demanding partner, Robin Weigart (HBO's "Deadwood") as their hard-hitting lieutenant, and Adam Arkin ("Chicago Hope") as former cellmate Ted Early. "Life" is an NBC Universal Television Studio production. Rand Ravich is executive producer and writer; Far Shariat is executive producer; David Semel is executive producer and director on the pilot.

Dirty Sexy Money
ABC
Premieres September 26
10:00PM-11:00PM
**************
Official Web Site
Description: ABC's Web Site
Power, privilege and family money are a volatile cocktail. Living proof of this are the Darlings of New York City, so absurdly wealthy, they put the "upper" in Upper East Side. This preeminent family are always getting mixed up with the wrong people and finding themselves in the middle of bad situations. It'll take a miracle to take care of the legal and sometimes illegal needs of the Darling family. That miracle comes in the form of Nick George. As a boy, Nick watched his father surrender his freedom and family as the Darling's trusted consigliere. Nick grew up in a troubled household where he was always second to the overpowering Darling family. Burned by his own boyhood encounters with them, he vowed never to follow in his father's footsteps. The idealistic Nick did a 180-degree turn and became a lawyer for the disadvantaged. After the mysterious, sudden death of Nick's father, family patriarch Tripp Darling offers Nick the opportunity to inherit the responsibility of protecting the Darlings' secrets. The job, with an ungodly salary, will allow Nick the freedom to be an altruistic do-gooder. But he discovers all too soon that his new position requires him to be an all-around problem fixer, hand-holder, therapist and public relations expert. The powerful and persuasive Tripp Darling, owner of vineyards and homes around the world, lives with his beautiful, graceful and posh wife, Letitia. While they symbolize the charm and all-Americanism of old money, they also embody scandal and have spawned five grown, troubled children. The oldest is Patrick Darling, the attorney general for New York. He's a handsome and commanding man whose political star is quickly rising. There's just one problem -- he has a transgendered girlfriend who won't go away, and this potential senatorial candidate needs Nick to fix the situation. The sexy, stunning and thrice-married Karen is the eldest daughter, a socialite who runs the family foundation. She lost her virginity to Nick, a fact she isn't shy about telling her newest fiancé. A self-described loser in love, Karen still looks to Nick for help in her personal life. Brian Darling is a man of the cloth, working in the Episcopal church. He loathed Nick as a kid and loathes him still. When Nick's father was alive, he spitefully accused the man of trying to infiltrate a family he didn't belong in, and now feels that Nick is attempting the same thing. But now Brian needs Nick's help in sweeping a problem under the rug -- an illegitimate son. The youngest siblings are Juliet and Jeremy Darling, twins in their 20s. Juliet is a petulant, spoilt celebutante who longs to be taken seriously as an actress. Should a taxi driver, an autograph seeker or anyone else upset her, she will snap at them her favorite retort, "You're poor!" Jeremy is frequently seen in rumpled clothing, hung over, smoking cigarettes and pleading with Nick to get him out of a jam. He's completely oblivious to the concept of relative suffering and unable to conceive of a life worse than his, despite his obscene wealth. He fears he's the family disappointment and that his father hates him. As Nick handles the whirlwind goings-on of the Darlings, his sensible wife, Lisa, is a patient partner in parenting their young daughter and gets a kick out of the Darlings' lavish parties. But lately she has gotten the sense that Nick is drifting away from her, specifically in the direction of the alluring Karen Darling. The billions of dollars possessed by the Darling clan have created a great American family -- and those same riches might also demolish it. The money Nick earns as their personal lawyer allows him the freedom to do some good for society. But as he finds himself racing to plead with cops, hush the tabloids and furiously try to wipe the mud off the esteemed Darling reputation, Nick wonders if he has gotten the chance of a lifetime or a life sentence. "Dirty Sexy Money" stars Peter Krause as Nick George, Donald Sutherland as Tripp Darling, William Baldwin as Patrick Darling, Natalie Zea as Karen Darling, Glenn Fitzgerald as Rev. Brian Darling, Samaire Armstrong as Juliet Darling, Seth Gabel as Jeremy Darling, Zoe McLellan as Lisa George, with Jill Clayburgh as Letitia Darling. "Dirty Sexy Money" was created by Emmy-nominated Craig Wright ("Brothers & Sisters," "Lost," "Six Feet Under"). Wright, Greg Berlanti ("Brothers & Sisters," "Everwood"), Josh Reims ("Felicity," "Everwood"), Oscar-nominated Matthew Gross ("Day Break") and Bryan Singer ("House," "Superman Returns," "The Usual Suspects") are executive producers. The series is produced by ABC Studios.

CSI: NY
CBS
Premieres September 26 (fourth season)
10:00PM-11:00PM

My Name is Earl
NBC
Premieres September 27 (third season)
8:00PM-8:30PM

Ugly Betty
ABC
Premieres September 27 (second season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

Smallville
The CW
Premieres September 27 (seventh season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

The Office
NBC
Premieres September 27 (fourth season)
9:00PM-9:30PM

Grey's Anatomy
ABC
Premieres September 27 (fourth season)
9:00PM-10:00PM

CSI
CBS
Premieres September 27 (eighth season)
9:00PM-10:00PM

ER
NBC
Premieres September 27 (fourteenth season)
10:00PM-11:00PM

Big Shots
ABC
Premieres September 27
10:00PM-11:00PM
************
Official Web Site
Description: ABC's Web Site
The line gets blurred between the boardroom and the bedroom in a new outrageous drama about four dysfunctional CEOs who will do anything to stay on top. The lines between boardroom and bedroom blur in Big Shots, the story of four friends who are at the top of their game... until the women in their lives enter the room. These competitive but dysfunctional New York CEOs take refuge in their friendship, discussing business, confiding secrets, seeking advice and supporting one another through life's twists and turns. James Walker (Michael Vartan, Alias) is the group's moral center, but his professional life almost crumbles in an instant, thanks to a corporate shakeup at AmeriMart Industries. However, his work woes pale in comparison to what he later learns about his wife. Brody Johns (Christopher Titus, Titus) is Senior Vice President of Alpha Crisis Management. Despite his professional success, his wife will be judging him by how magnificently he can put together her birthday party. Karl Mixworthy (Joshua Malina, The West Wing) is the sweet yet always nervous CEO of a large pharmaceutical company. He has a loving wife and a cunning mistress who is beginning to monopolize whatever free time he can muster. And Duncan Collinsworth (Dylan McDermott, The Practice) is the sexy, divorced CEO of Reveal Cosmetics. Having built his company into the industry leader, he now finds his personal life threatened by rumor of a personal indiscretion which is actually a fact that could turn his world upside down. The concept for Big Shots sprang from creator Jon Harmon Feldman's desire to explore, in comedic and dramatic terms, what it means to be a man in 2007. Also starring in Big Shots are Paige Turco (Rescue Me) as Lisbeth, Duncan's ex-wife; Peyton List (Day Break) as Cameron Collinsworth, Duncan's 19-year-old daughter; Jessica Collins (Tru Calling) as Marla, Karl's high-strung mistress; Amy Sloan (The Heartbreak Kid) as Wendy, Karl's wife, who hopes that therapy can restore his desire for her; and with Nia Long (Premonition) as Katie Graham, James' "work wife." Created and executive-produced by Jon Harmon Feldman (Reunion, Tru Calling, American Dreams, Dawson's Creek), Big Shots is from Warner Bros. Television. The pilot was directed by Charles McDougall (Desperate Housewives, Sex and the City). Co-executive producers are Michael Katleman (Primeval, Tru Calling), Emily Whitesell (American Dreams, Once and Again), Danielle Stokdyk (Veronica Mars) and Jennifer Gwartz (Veronica Mars).

Without a Trace
CBS
Premieres September 27 (sixth season)
10:00PM-11:00PM

Deal or No Deal
NBC
Moves to new day on September 28
8:00PM-9:00PM

Ghost Whisperer
CBS
Premieres September 28
8:00PM-9:00PM

Las Vegas
NBC
Premieres September 28 (fifth season)
9:00PM-10:00PM

Moonlight
CBS
Premieres September 28
9:00PM-10:00PM
***************
Official Web Site
Description: CBS's press release
Mick St. John is a captivating, charming- and immortal- private investigator from Los Angeles who defies the traditional blood-sucking norms of his vampire tendencies by using his wit and powerful supernatural abilities to help the living. In a life-altering twist of fate, Mick was "bitten" 60 years ago by his new bride, the seductive Coraline. Forever 30 years of age, Mick's as handsome and charismatic as the day he was "turned," and he eschews others of his kind who view humans only as a source of nourishment. With only a handful of like-minded confidantes for company, including the eternally young, wealthy and mischievous Josef, a hedge fund trader who relishes his uniqueness, Mick fills his infinite days protecting the living. But one night years ago, a single act of kindness changed Mick when he saved a young girl's life, making him want to be a better vampire. Now their paths cross again and Mick develops a distinctive bond with Beth Turner who has grown into a beautiful, ambitious Internet investigative reporter. Reconnecting with her unleashes feelings Mick knows he can't pursue without exposing the part of him that would make him a monster in Beth's eyes. As Mick lives between two realities, fighting his adversaries among the undead and falling in love, he discovers the mysteries and pleasures that a valuable life has to offer

Numb3rs
CBS
Premieres September 28 (fourth season)
10:00PM-11:00PM

Stargate Atlantis
Sci Fi
Premieres September 28 (fourth season)
10:00PM-11:00PM

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
ABC
Premieres September 30 (fifth season) Special two-hour season premiere
8:00PM-9:00PM

Desperate Housewives
ABC
Premieres September 30 (fourth season)
9:00PM-10:00PM

Dexter
Showtime
Premieres September 30 (second season)
9:00PM-10:00PM

American Dad
Fox
Premieres September 30 (third season)
9:30PM-10:00PM

Brothers & Sisters
ABC
Premieres September 30 (second season)
10:00PM-11:00PM

Shark
CBS
Premieres September 30 (second season)
10:00PM-11:00PM

Brotherhood
Showtime
Premieres September 30 (second season)
10:00PM-11:00PM

Everybody Hates Chris
The CW
Premieres October 1 (third season)
8:30PM-9:30PM

Aliens in America
The CW
Premieres October 1
8:30PM-9:00PM
**************
Official Website
Description: The CW website
Justin Tolchuck (Dan Byrd, "The Hills Have Eyes") is a sensitive, lanky 16-year old just trying to make it through the social nightmare of high school in Medora, Wisconsin, with the help of his well-meaning mom Franny (Amy Pietz, "Caroline in the City"), aspiring-entrepreneur dad Gary (Scott Patterson, "Gilmore Girls") and his beautiful and popular younger sister Claire (Lindsey Shaw, "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide"). Although he's bright and funny, Justin is also shy, socially awkward and pretty much resigned to the fact that he'll never be one of the cool kids. Franny, however, is the kind of take-charge mom who micro-manages her family, and she's come up with a plan to help Justin: she signs up for the school's international exchange student program. Picturing an athletic, brilliant Nordic teen, Franny is sure this new friendship will bestow instant coolness on her outsider son. However, when the Tolchuck's exchange student arrives, he turns out to be Raja Musharaff (Adhir Kalyan, "Fair City"), a 16-year-old Muslim from a small village in Pakistan. Raja is thoughtful, responsible and wise beyond his years. To the Tolchucks and everyone else in Medora, he's also just about as foreign as a foreigner can be. While the rest of the family is slightly freaked out by the Muslim in their midst, Gary is comforted by the fact that the host family receives a monthly check to help with expenses. This fits right in with Gary's money-making schemes, and when he sees how hard-working and respectful Raja is, he's totally on board. As for Claire, she's too busy with her friends and her new boyfriend to pay much attention to their houseguest, but Raja is smitten from the moment he first sees her. After the initial shock wears off, Justin is quickly won over by Raja's humor, gestures of friendship and by their common status as outsiders. Despite the cultural chasm between them, Justin and Raja develop an unlikely bond that just might allow them to navigate the minefield that is contemporary high school. It's going to be a very interesting year for Raja, Justin, his family and the entire population of Medora. "Aliens In America" is from CBS Paramount Network Television Inc. and Warner Bros. Television with executive producers Tim Doyle ("Jake in Progress"), Moses Port ("Just Shoot Me," "Mad About You") and David Guarascio ("Just Shoot Me," "Mad About You"), and co-executive producers Richard Day ("Arrested Development," "The Larry Sanders Show") and Michael Glouberman ("Malcolm in the Middle," "3rd Rock From the Sun").

Girlfriends
The CW
Premieres October 1 (eight season)
9:00PM-9:30PM

The Game
The CW
Premieres October 1 (second season)
9:30PM-10:00PM

Cavemen
ABC
Premieres October 2
8:00PM-8:30PM
*****************
Official Web Site
Description: From ABC's Website
They have been around since the dawn of time, survived the Ice Age and witnessed the evolution of the Homo sapiens, making them one of the world's oldest minorities. Keeping mostly to themselves over the millennia and living in remote communities, a small number of cavemen -- and cavewomen -- have been slowly migrating from these sub-societies and attempting to acclimate themselves to the Homo sapien world. Needless to say, this has proven difficult. Meet three cavemen who have successfully made the move to San Diego and are just trying to fit in. Joel (Bill English) is a sophisticated and intelligent man who has a beautiful girlfriend, a decent job and shares an apartment with his younger brother, Andy (Sam Huntington, Superman Returns), and his best friend, Nick (Nick Kroll, VH1's Best Week Ever). Nick is wary of the Homo sapien world and feels like he's running away from his heritage. Andy, on the other hand, looks at this new world with his eyes wide open and is willing to take risks in order to learn and to live life to the fullest. Nick questions Joel on many of his choices, including his girlfriend, Kate (Kaitlin Doubleday, The TV Set), a beautiful Homo sapien woman and high society southern belle. The fact that Kate's eccentric mother, Leslie (Julie White, Tony Award winner for The Little Dog Laughed), owns Joel's condominium complex makes things even more complicated for the three roommates. Meanwhile, Kate's best friend, Thorne (Stephanie Lemelin), is intent on discovering the cavemen's wilder side. Joel, Nick and Andy have to overcome prejudice from most of the Homo sapien world and the misconceptions that modern society has of its earliest ancestors. In order for these cavemen to survive in the 21st century, they must work together to render those misconceptions extinct. Cavemen stars Bill English as Joel, Nick Kroll as Nick, Sam Huntington as Andy, Kaitlin Doubleday as Kate, Stephanie Lemelin as Thorne and Julie White as Leslie. The series is based in part on characters from the GEICO commercials created by The Martin Agency. Cavemen was developed by Josh Gordon & Will Speck (directors of Blades of Glory) and Joe Lawson. Bill Martin & Mike Schiff (Grounded for Life, 3rd Rock from the Sun), Gordon & Speck, Daniel Rappaport (Office Space) & Guymon Casady serve as executive producers. Cavemen is from ABC Studios.

Carpoolers
ABC
Premieres October 2
8:30PM-9:00PM
************
Official Web Site
Description: From ABC's web site
There are men who actively try and figure out the world -- together. These men are more complicated than we might think -- they have hopes, ambitions, families, careers, and insecurities. These men are the Carpoolers; four guys, living different versions of the modern suburban family life who obsess, dream, and strategize as they rocket their way up and down the carpool lane every day. Like strangers on a train, Gracen, Laird, Aubrey, and Dougie can't stop what leaks out from their heads. Fears: "Ever have that dream where your teeth don't fit..?" Obsessions: "I think my wife is making more money than me..." "I think my son does..." Inner-longings: "Think of all the girls in high school that we should have had sex with when we had the chance -- not that we had the chance." The comically mundane: "I'm a killer, I'm a man of action. I'm a dentist." To the just plain practical: "Never recycle -- your neighbors will just be able to see what a boozer you are." We'll watch as these complimentary men (meaning they are flawed in different ways) muse and get entangled in each others lives and personal relationships. Their trek to and from work is the jumping off point each week as our four guys rile one another up and then attempt to deal with the complications and problems of life. Executive Producer/Writer Bruce McCulloch (Kids In The Hall) and Emmy® Award-winning Executive Producers/Directors Anthony and Joe Russo (Arrested Development) bring this hilarious new take on the intricacies of modern male life to the screen. Every day at 65 mph, this unique group of Carpoolers speak freely because they know "what happens in the carpool lane, stays in the carpool lane."

Dancing with the Stars
ABC
Tuesday episodes begin October 2
9:00PM-10:00PM

Pushing Daisies
ABC
Premieres October 3
8:00PM-9:00PM
***********
Official Web Site
Description: ABC's web site
Once upon a time, Director Barry Sonnenfeld (Men In Black, Get Shorty, The Addams Family) and Writer-Producer Bryan Fuller (Heroes, Wonderfalls, Dead Like Me) created an unprecedented blend of romance, crime procedural and high-concept fantasy. It is a love story about a young man with a very special gift…the ability to return someone dead briefly back to life with just a simple touch. Ned, a mild-mannered baker of fabulous pies, discovered his gift as a child. Now he puts his gift to good use, working with his only friend, a private investigator, to crack murder cases by asking victims to name their killers. But the tale gets complicated, as all tales do, when he saves his childhood sweetheart and she miraculously stays alive. Each week, she encourages him to use his powers to solve mysteries and help others. Life would be perfect, except for one cruel twist: if Ned ever touches her again, she'll lose the life he gave her, for good this time. There's always a catch… Golden Globe-nominee Lee Pace (The Good Shepherd, Soldier's Girl), Chi McBride (The Nine, Boston Public), Golden Globe-nominee Swoosie Kurtz (Huff, Sisters) and Tony Award-winner Kristin Chenoweth (The West Wing, Broadway's Wicked) star in a fairytale in the spirit of Amelie, Stranger than Fiction, and Chocolat. From the producers of Big Fish comes an equally magical and delightful series that offers a weekly dose of sweet, heartwarming, quirky fun.

Supernatural
The CW
Premieres October 4 (third season)
9:00PM-10:00PM

The Sarah Silverman Program
Comedy Central
Premieres October 3 (second season)

Law & Order: Criminal Intent
USA
Premieres October 4 (seventh season)
10:00PM-11:00PM

Friday Night Lights
NBC
Second season premieres October 5
9:00PM-10:00PM

America's Funniest Home Videos
ABC
Premieres October 7 (eighteenth season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

Life is Wild
The CW
Premieres October 7
8:00PM-9:00PM
***************
Official Web Site
Description: The CW's web site
Katie Clarke (Leah Pipes, "Clubhouse") may never forgive her veterinarian father, Danny (D.W. Moffett, "For Your Love") for dragging their entire blended family out of New York City to spend a year living in a broken-down lodge called The Blue Antelope on a game reserve deep inside South Africa. In fact, the one area of agreement among Katie, her 11-year-old brother Chase (K'sun Ray, "Smith"), their rebellious teenage step-brother Jesse (Andrew St. John, "General Hospital") and 7-year-old step-sister Mia (Mary Matilyn Mouser, "Eloise"), is that Danny has lost his mind. For Danny and his second wife, Jo (Stephanie Niznik, "Everwood"), however, the reasons for the move are very clear. Once they married and brought their children together under one roof, it soon became obvious that the kids had little in common and the family was drifting apart. In New York, Katie was a good student with close friends and a serious boyfriend. Mature beyond her years, Katie took on even more adult responsibilities when her mother died, helping her younger brother Chase deal with the loss. Jo's children had to deal with their parents' divorce after their father went to prison for a white-collar crime. Jesse reacted by cutting school, rebelling against every rule and resenting his mother's remarriage, while little Mia comforted herself with her obsession with the New York Mets. While they worried about the family, Danny and Jo had their own demanding careers to deal with. Jo was a sought-after divorce attorney who worked long hours, while Danny's skills as a vet made him a favorite with wealthy New Yorkers and their pampered, overweight pets. When Danny learned of the urgent need for vets in South Africa, he saw the opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to change all their lives for the better. Once the family arrives in South Africa, Danny realizes his motivations go beyond his desire to keep his troubled family together while making a difference in the lives of the people and animals of this amazing place. His deceased first wife Claire grew up at The Blue Antelope, and the lodge is still home to her reclusive father Art (David Butler). The Blue Antelope was once a thriving safari business, but after the loss of his daughter, Art let the lodge slip into disrepair. Now that Danny has arrived with Art's grandchildren and a new family, Art may finally find a reason to get his life back on track. The adjustment to this strange land is difficult for Jo and the children, but not for Danny. He's instantly at home working with the locals to vaccinate their cattle, and using his skills to heal wounded wild animals as well - in their first few days in South Africa, the family encounters an injured lioness, a lost cub and a gentle giraffe. Katie and Jesse spend the first days in Africa resenting the upheaval of their lives and feeling completely out of place. Things begin to change when they meet a few of the locals, including a handsome and somewhat reckless young Brit, Oliver Banks (newcomer Calvin Goldspink), and Tumelo (newcomer Atandwa Kani), who dreams of becoming a veterinarian, against the wishes of his doctor father. Katie is intrigued by both boys - one British and one South African - and by their knowledge of local customs and culture. Meanwhile, Jesse can't help but notice Oliver's sultry twin sister Emily (newcomer Tiffany Mulheron), as well as a beautiful, mysterious young woman named Mbali (casting TBD), a singer/bartender at a local hangout called Ant's Hill. While they are definitely strangers in a strange land with a lot to learn about their new home, Katie, Jesse and the rest of the family are nevertheless beginning to love the breathtaking vistas of the bush country, the wild animals and the vibrant culture enveloping them. A year in this strange but beautiful place might not be so bad after all. "Life is Wild" is a production of CBS Paramount Network Television Inc., Warner Bros. Television and Company Pictures, an All 3 Media Company, with executive producers Michael Rauch ("Love Monkey," "Beautiful People"), Charlie Pattinson ("Wild at Heart," "Shameless") and George Faber ("Wild at Heart," "Skins"), and co-executive producers Sue Tenney ("7th Heaven"), Dana Baratta ("Providence") and Jim Sadwith ("Elvis," "Crackers").

30 Rock
NBC
Premieres October 11 (second seasno)
8:30PM-9:00PM

Women's Murder Club
ABC
Premieres October 12
9:00PM-10:00PM
**************
Official Web Site

Description: ABC's web site
When you are a woman working in a man's field, you get a lot further by teaming up. Two-time Emmy Award®-winning Director/Producer Scott Winant (Huff, thirtysomething) adapts the best selling novels by James Patterson for a thrilling new crime series that redefines women's work. San Francisco Detective Lindsay Boxer (Angie Harmon, Law & Order) can analyze a crime scene in seconds, but she's frustrated that investigating and prosecuting a crime can take months or even years. To circumvent the Justice Department men's club, she assembles an all-female group of experts -- a medical examiner, a newspaper reporter and a young assistant district attorney. And because personal lives often blend into professional ones, they also become reliable friends. These women solve the latest homicides while unraveling the mysteries of their own turbulent romantic lives. Four of today's brightest talents approach this character-driven plot with intelligence, warmth, action and humor. Combine the feminine wit and warmth of Sex and the City with the gritty reality of CSI and the dedication of Law and Orderand you'll understand the unique appeal of Women's Murder Club. Sometimes, the best way to get your man is with a woman.

Men in Trees
ABC
Premieres October 12 (second season)
10:00PM-11:00PM

Samantha Who?
ABC
Premieres October 15
9:30PM-10:00PM
*****
Official Web Site
Description: ABC's web site
Christina Applegate returns to network television in a comedy that offers a do-over in life. What if you had the chance to start over, to do it all again? For Samantha Newly (Ms. Applegate), this fantasy becomes a reality after a hit-and-run accident leaves her in an eight-day coma. When she awakens in the hospital, she is surrounded by family and friends. The only problem is that she has no idea who they are or who she is. In medical terms, Sam has retrograde amnesia, which allows her to fully function in the world but leaves her with no personal memories. Most people would deem this disorder a curse. But Sam may come to call it a miracle. As she sets out to rediscover herself, Sam is forced to rely on the only people who can help her -- an eclectic bunch of friends and family. Although now strangers to Sam, it's not long before she begins to get an idea of who she was before the accident. Regina (Jean Smart, "24," "Designing Women") and Howard (Kevin Dunn, "Transformers," "Dave") appear to be loving parents -- when they're not downplaying the fact that Sam hasn't spoken to them in two years. Her supposed best friend, Dena (Melissa McCarthy, "Gilmore Girls"), is sincerely supportive, until her real best friend, Andrea (Jennifer Esposito, "Crash," "Spin City"), exposes Dena as a fraud who hasn't seen or spoken to Sam since the seventh grade. Andrea is a party girl who seems to have Sam's best interests at heart. However in the midst of celebrating her return, Andrea neglects to mention that Sam's an alcoholic, is having an affair with a married man, and has a tendency for all-around morally questionable behavior. Sam's only seemingly trustworthy acquaintance is boyfriend Todd (Barry Watson, "What About Brian," "7th Heaven"). But will that trust last when he discovers that she cheated on him? Sam quickly discovers she was a horrible person. Vain, selfish and potentially surrounded by far more enemies than friends. She makes a conscious decision to improve herself moving forward. She vows to make better choices, even though her instincts may not always steer her in the right direction. She begins with Frank (Tim Russ, "Live Free or Die Hard," "Star Trek: Voyager"), the doorman at Todd's apartment building. Sam never gave him the time of day before, but upon actually saying hello to him, she discovers an incredibly observant and unlikely confidant. Sam will need to continue to piece together things from her past to guide her in discovering who she is& or was. After all, sometimes to get to the end of the story, the only place to start is the beginning. "Samantha Who?" stars Christina Applegate as Samantha, Jennifer Esposito as Andrea, Kevin Dunn as Howard, Melissa McCarthy as Dena, Tim Russ as Frank with Barry Watson as Todd and Jean Smart as Regina. "Samantha Who?" was created by Cecelia Ahern and Donald Todd. Todd and Peter Traugott serve as executive producers. "Samantha Who?," which is filmed in Los Angeles, is from ABC Studios.

Viva Laughlin
CBS
Special preview October 18
Moves to normal Sunday slot on October 21
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Official Web Site
Description: CBS's press release
VIVA LAUGHLIN is a mystery drama with music about eternal optimist and freewheeling businessman Ripley Holden, whose sole ambition is to run a casino in Laughlin, Nev. Occasionally using upbeat contemporary songs to accentuate the drama and humor and advance the story, the series is based on the hit BBC show "Viva Blackpool." Ripley is the ultimate gambler with an infectious personality who is on the brink of making a killing... just as soon as he opens his casino that's nowhere near completion. When his financing suddenly falls through, the fearless and tenacious Ripley approaches his enemy - dashing, sarcastic, wealthy casino owner Nicky Fontana, and his lieutenant Marcus, for help. Though the odds are stacked against him, Ripley doesn't miss a beat, even when he becomes embroiled in a murder investigation headed by Detective Carlyle after the body of his ex-business partner is found at his club. At home, Ripley uses his dry wit to adjust to the demands of his family: his gorgeous wife Natalie wants more attention; his teenage daughter Cheyenne wants his approval; and his son Jack wants to help him at work. All of this adversity would defeat a lesser man, but for the outgoing and passionate Ripley there's no such thing as bad news, only deals to be struck and wagers to be won in the intoxicating neon glow of Laughlin, where the cards are on the table, romance is in the air and music is on the stage.

American Band
Fox
Premieres October 19
8:00PM-9:00PM
**************
Official Web Site
Description: FOX's press release
The producers behind mega-hit phenomenon AMERICAN IDOL take the musical reality genre to a whole new level with a mission to find undiscovered American bands that are ready to rock the nation, starting with the special two-hour series premiere of THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND (working title) Friday, Oct. 19 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. The show will air in its regular time period on Fridays (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). From hair bands to hip-hop, classic rockers to country crooners, THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN BAND (working title) scoured the country seeking musical groups of all ages and styles, with hundreds of bands auditioning for a backstage pass to stardom. From the auditions, judges will narrow down the hopefuls to 10 semifinalist bands who will perform weekly in front of a live studio audience. Viewers will vote for their favorite bands to determine who stays in the competition. Each week, the bands will perform either original music or covers of varied styles. The range of genres will test their musical limits, and could also strike the wrong chord in their personal and professional relationships. The season finale brings the ultimate battle of the bands, with the last three groups competing to secure a contract with 19 Recordings and the title of "Next Great American Band." The series' host and judges will be announced soon.

Viva Laughlin
CBS
Premieres October 21 (regular timeslot)
8:00PM-9:00PM

Scrubs
NBC
Premieres October 25 (seventh season)
9:30PM-10:00PM

MONDAYS

Lincoln Heights
ABC Family;
Premieres September 4 (second season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

Prison Break
Fox
Premieres September 17 (third season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

Deal or No Deal
NBC
Monday Premieres September 17 (third season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

Chuck
NBC
Premieres September 24
8:00PM-9:00PM

Dancing with the Stars
ABC
Special 90-minute premiere episode September 24th (fifth season)

How I Met Your Mother
CBS
Premieres September 24 (third season)
8:30PM-9:30PM

Everybody Hates Chris
The CW
Premieres October 1 (third season)
8:30PM-9:30PM

The Big Bang Theory
CBS
Premieres September 24
8:30PM-9:00PM

Aliens in America
The CW
Premieres October 1
8:30PM-9:00PM

K-Ville
Fox
Premieres September 17
9:00PM-10:00PM

Two and a Half Men
CBS
Premieres September 24 (fifth season)
9:00PM-9:30PM

Heroes
NBC
Premieres September 24 (second season)
9:00PM-10:00PM

Girlfriends
The CW
Premieres October 1 (eight season)
9:00PM-9:30PM

Samantha Who?
ABC
Premieres October 15
9:30PM-10:00PM

Rules of Engagement
CBS
Premieres September 24 (second season)
9:30PM-10:00PM

The Game
The CW
Premieres October 1 (second season)
9:30PM-10:00PM

The Bachelor
ABC
Premieres September 24 (eleventh season) Special 90-minute premiere
9:30PM-11:00PM

CSI: Miami
CBS
Premieres September 24 (sixth season) Special 90-minute premiere
10:00-11:00

Journeyman
NBC
Premieres September 24
10:00PM-11:00PM

My Boys
TBS
New episodes resume July 30
10:00PM-10:30PM

TUESDAYS

The Biggest Loser
NBC
Premieres September 11 (fourth season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

Cavemen
ABC
Premieres October 2
8:00PM-8:30PM

Bones
Fox
Premieres September 25 (third season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

N.C.I.S.
CBS
Premieres September 25 (fifth season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

Beauty and the Geek
The CW
Premieres September 18 (fourth season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

Carpoolers
ABC
Premieres October 2
8:30PM-9:00PM

Dancing with the Stars
ABC
Tuesday episodes begin October 2
9:00PM-10:00PM

House
Fox
Premieres September 25 (fourth season)
9:00PM-10:00PM

The Unit
CBS
Premieres September 25 (third season)
9:00PM-10:00PM

Reaper
The CW
Premieres September 25
9:00PM-10:00PM

The Singing Bee
NBC
Premieres September 25 (second season)
9:30PM-10:00PM

Boston Legal
ABC
Premieres September 25 (fourth season) Special 90-minute premiere episode
10:00PM-11:00PM

Cane
CBS
Premieres September 25
10:00PM-11:00PM

Law & Order: SVU
NBC
Premieres September 25 (ninth season)
10:00PM-11:00PM

WEDNESDAYS

Back to You
Fox
Premieres September 19
8:00PM-8:30PM

Deal or No Deal
NBC
Wednesday episodes premiere September 26
8:00PM-9:00PM

Pushing Daisies
ABC
Premieres October 3
8:00PM-9:00PM

Kid Nation
CBS
Premieres September 19
8:00PM-9:00PM

America's Next Top Model
The CW
Premieres September 19 (ninths season)
8:00PM-9:00PM

'Til Death
Fox
Premieres September 19 (second season)
8:30PM-9:00PM

Kitchen Nightmares
Fox
Premieres September 19
9:00PM-10:00PM

Bionic Woman
NBC
Premieres September 26
9:00PM-10:00PM

Private Practice
ABC
Premieres September 26
9:00PM-10:00PM

Criminal Minds
CBS
Premieres September 26 (third season)
9:00PM-10:00PM

Gossip Girl
The CW
Premieres September 26
9:00PM-10:00PM

Life
NBC
Premieres September 26
10:00PM-11:00PM

Dirty Sexy Money
ABC
Premieres September 26
10:00PM-11:00PM

CSI: NY
CBS
Premieres September 26 (fourth season)
10:00PM-11:00PM

The Sarah Silverman Program
Comedy Central
Premieres October 3 (second season)

THURSDAYS