Kat with a K

Fall TV Handbook: Mondays at 9

The shows: The Event, Gossip Girl, Lone Star, Mike and Molly, Two and a Half Men

What I'm doing: DVRing The Event and Gossip Girl. I'll give Lone Star a try, assuming Fox puts full episodes online.

*Event, The, NBC, Mondays at 9, 9/20
Stars and how you know them: Jason Ritter (Joan of Arcadia, Parenthood), Blair Underwood (Dirty Sexy Money, LA Law), Laura Innes (ER), Zeljko Ivanek (Damages, Big Love), Sarah Roemer, Scott Patterson (Gilmore Girls)
What it is: Giant government conspiracies! Secret prisons! Missing people! Mysteries all around!
The buzz: Those who have seen the pilot say it's really good. The only concern is whether it will live up to its promises and solve its mysteries.
You might like this if you like: 24, Lost, Persons Unknown

Gossip Girl, CW, Mondays at 9, 9/13
Stars and how you know them: Leighton Meester (Veronica Mars, 24), Blake Lively (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants), Penn Badgley (The Mountain, Bedford Diaries), Chace Crawford, Ed Westwick (Children of Men)
What it is: Super-rich young adults in New York have all sorts of drama.
The buzz: Season three wasn't as good as the amazing first two seasons, but season four is starting in Paris, so that should be exciting.
You might like this if you like: Teen dramas, The O.C., 90210

*Lone Star, FOX, Mondays at 9, 9/20
Stars and how you know them: Bryce Johnson (Pretty Little Liars), Mark Deklin (The Ex List), Eloise Mumford (Crash), Adrianne Palicki (Friday Night Lights, Supernatural), Jon Voight (24, lots of movies)
What it is: A con man in the world of Texas big oil leads a double life and falls in love with his wife AND his girlfriend.
The buzz: I'm hearing mostly good things. It helps that all TV critics seem to LOVE Palicki.
You might like this if you like: Soapy dramas, Brothers and Sisters, maybe Friday Night Lights

*Mike and Molly, CBS, Mondays at 9:30, 9/20
Stars and how you know them: Billy Gardell (Yes, Dear), Melissa McCarthy (Gilmore Girls), Swoosie Kurtz (Sisters, Pushing Daisies)
What it is: A couple meets at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting.
The buzz: Everyone loves Melissa McCarthy, but everyone is concerned about the fat jokes.
You might like this if you like: Sitcoms with laugh tracks, uncomfortable humor

Two and a Half Men, CBS, Mondays at 9, 9/20
Stars and how you know them: Charlie Sheen (Spin City, Wall Street), Jon Cryer (Pretty in Pink), Angus T. Jones
What it is: A bachelor has his brother and nephew move in with him.
The buzz: Really, at this point most of the buzz is about Sheen's personal drama.
You might like this if you like: Sitcoms about dysfunctional families, maybe?