Kat with a K

Fall TV Handbook: Fridays at 10

The shows: Blue Bloods, Outlaw

What I'm doing: DVRing both, at least for a few episodes.

*Blue Bloods, CBS, Fridays at 10, 9/24
Stars and how you know them: Tom Selleck (Magnum P.I.), Donnie Wahlberg (New Kids on the Block), Bridget Moynahan (I, Robot), Will Estes (American Dreams)
What it is: A drama about a family of cops in New York
The buzz: Critics who have seen the pilot are saying it's really good.
You might like this if you like: Cop shows, family dramas

*Outlaw, NBC, Fridays at 10, 9/17
Stars and how you know them: Jimmy Smits (West Wing)
What it is: A rogue Supreme Court justice retires to go back to practicing law
The buzz: It's sounding like Smits is great, as usual, but the show as a whole is pretty mediocre.
You might like this if you like: Law dramas, maybe The West Wing

Fall TV Handbook: Fridays at 9

The shows: Body of Proof, CSI: NY, The Good Guys, Supernatural

What I'm doing: DVRing The Good Guys and Supernatural. Trying Body of Proof online.

*Body of Proof, ABC, Fridays at 9, possibly 9/24?
Stars and how you know them: Dana Delaney (Desperate Housewives)
What it is: A medical examiner solves crimes.
The buzz: Everyone loves Dana Delaney, but there's not all that much enthusiasm for this.
You might like this if you like: Procedurals, Bones, Women's Murder Club

CSI: NY, CBS, Fridays at 9, 9/24
Stars and how you know them: Gary Sinise, Melina Kanakaredes (Providence)
What it is: CSI. In New York.
The buzz: Another old reliable.
You might like this if you like: Procedurals

Good Guys, The, FOX, Fridays at 9, 9/24
Stars and how you know them: Bradley Whitford (West Wing), Colin Hanks (Roswell), Diana Maria Riva (West Wing, Sabrina), Jenny Wade (Reaper)
What it is: An action-comedy about mismatched detectives in Dallas.
The buzz: This is hilarious. You should give it a try, really.
You might like this if you like: Cop shows, funny things, Burn Notice (from the same producers)

Supernatural, CW, Fridays at 9, 9/24
Stars and how you know them: Jensen Ackles (Smallville), Jared Padalecki (Gilmore Girls)
What it is: Hot, hot brothers hunting demons while wearing lots of layers.
The buzz: This is a niche show, but it's really good.
You might like this if you like: supernatural stuff, Buffy

Fall TV Handbook: Fridays at 8

The shows: Human Target, Medium, School Pride, Secret Millionaire, Smallville

What I'm doing: Nothing! How delightful.

Human Target, FOX, Fridays at 8, 10/1
Stars and how you know them: Mark Valley (Boston Legal), Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies), Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen)
What it is: An action show about a bodyguard-for-hire.
The buzz: There really isn't much. This didn't do that well when it premiered last year.
You might like this if you like: Action shows, comic books

Medium, CBS, Fridays at 8, 9/24
Stars and how you know them: Patricia Arquette
What it is: A medium solves crimes.
The buzz: This show is still on? I guess people don't talk about it much.
You might like this if you like: Supernatural mysteries

*School Pride, NBC, Fridays at 8, possibly 9/24
Stars and how you know them: N/A
What it is: Like Extreme Makeover Home Edition but for schools.
The buzz: Haven't really heard much.
You might like this if you like: Feel-good reality shows

Secret Millionaire, ABC, Fridays at 8, no date yet
Stars and how you know them: N/A
What it is: Rich people go "undercover" and help people.
The buzz: I had forgotten this existed.
You might like this if you like: Apparently this is the hour for feel-good reality shows.

Smallville, CW, Fridays at 8, 9/24
Stars and how you know them: Tom Welling
What it is: Clark Kent, before he was Superman
The buzz: Ten seasons in, I think the audience for this is pretty set in stone.
You might like this if you like: Superhero stuff

Fall TV Handbook: Thursdays at 10

The shows: The Apprentice, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, The Mentalist, Private Practice

What I'm doing: DVRing The Mentalist and Private Practice.

Apprentice, The, NBC, Thursdays at 10, 9/16
Stars and how you know them: Donald Trump
What it is: Contestants compete to be Trump's apprentice.
The buzz: There really isn't much.
You might like this if you like: Reality competitions

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, FX, Thursdays at 10, 9/16
Stars and how you know them: Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney
What it is: Friends running a bar
The buzz: Critics seem to be pretty enthusiastic about this.
You might like this if you like: My brother and all the guys I work with love this, so I'm going to say you'll like this if you're a guy between 20 and 40.

League, The, FX, Thursdays at 10:30, 9/16
Stars and how you know them: Don't think there are any big names here.
What it is: A comedy about a fantasy football league
The buzz: Critics seem to like this a lot more than general audiences do.
You might like this if you like: Fantasy football? My brother likes it, for the record.

Mentalist, The, CBS, Thursdays at 10, 9/23
Stars and how you know them: Simon Baker (The Guardian), Robin Tunney (Prison Break)
What it is: A fake psychic works with the police to solve murders.
The buzz: I haven't really heard much about the new season, now that I think about it. But I love this show.
You might like this if you like: Procedurals, Bones, Castle

Private Practice, ABC, Thursdays at 10, 9/23
Stars and how you know them: Kate Walsh (Grey's Anatomy), Taye Diggs (Day Break), Tim Daly (Wings), Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy), Audra McDonald (Broadway), Paul Adelstein (Prison Break), KaDee Strickland
What it is: A Grey's Anatomy spinoff about a group of doctors in California.
The buzz: This show was a disaster last season, and has never been great. There's really no reason to watch if you're not already attached to the characters.
You might like this if you like: Grey's Anatomy

Fall TV Handbook: Thursdays at 9

The shows: Burn Notice, CSI, Fringe, Grey's Anatomy, Nikita, The Office, Outsourced

What I'm doing: DVRing Fringe and Nikita, then when Burn Notice starts up again I'll DVR that and watch one of the others online, unless I've given up on Nikita. Watching Grey's online.

Burn Notice, USA, Thursdays at 9, 11/11
Stars and how you know them: Jeffrey Donovan (Crossing Jordan), Gabrielle Anwar (The Tudors), Bruce Campbell
What it is: A former spy tries to support himself and help others while figuring out why he was burned.
The buzz: This is pretty reliable fun.
You might like this if you like: Spy stuff, other USA shows.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CBS, Thursdays at 9, 9/23
Stars and how you know them: At this point, I think you know them all from this.
What it is: The title is pretty self-explanatory.
The buzz: People certainly like this, but it doesn't get that much buzz anymore, really.
You might like this if you like: Procedurals

Fringe, FOX, Thursdays at 9, 9/23
Stars and how you know them: Joshua Jackson (Dawson's Creek), John Noble, Anna Torv
What it is: An FBI agent works with a possibly-crazy scientist and his son to research unexplained phenomena.
The buzz: It's a niche show, but the people who love it really love it. Plus - PACEY!
You might like this if you like: Sci fi shows, X-Files, Supernatural

Grey's Anatomy, ABC, Thursdays at 9, 9/23
Stars and how you know them: By now, you know them from this.
What it is: A drama about surgeons.
The buzz: After a few so-so seasons, Grey's got everyone's attention again with an amazing season finale. We'll see if they can keep the momentum going.
You might like this if you like: Medical dramas

*Nikita, CW, Thursdays at 9, 9/9
Stars and how you know them: Maggie Q, Lyndsy Fonseca (How I Met Your Mother), Shane West (ER), Melinda Clarke (The O.C.)
What it is: A professional assassin tries to get revenge on the group that forced her into the life.
The buzz: Those who have seen the pilot are saying it's pretty good.
You might like this if you like: Action shows, maybe Dollhouse?

Office, The, NBC, Thursdays at 9, 9/23
Stars and how you know them: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer
What it is: Sitcom about an office. You know what it is.
The buzz: Everyone seems agreed that it's past its peak.
You might like this if you like: Discomfort humor

*Outsourced, NBC, Thursdays at 9:30, 9/23
Stars and how you know them: Ben Rappaport
What it is: A sitcom about an American who goes to run a call center in India.
The buzz: I'm hearing this is not funny, and full of stereotypes.
You might like this if you like: Uh, racism? You probably just shouldn't tell me if you like this.

Fall TV Handbook: Thursdays at 8

This is the hour that is giving TV fans nightmares. Why, networks, why?

The shows: $#*! My Dad Says, 30 Rock, The Big Bang Theory, Bones, Community, My Generation, The Vampire Diaries

What I'm doing: DVRing Bones and The Vampire Diaries. Watching Community online. I'll try My Generation online, too. I'd watch Big Bang Theory if CBS would put it online, but they don't.

*$#*! My Dad Says, CBS, Thursdays at 8:30, 9/23
Stars and how you know them: William Shatner (Star Trek)
What it is: A sitcom based on the "shit my dad says" Twitter feed.
The buzz: Everyone unanimously says this is completely awful.
You might like this if you like: Shatner, I guess?

30 Rock, NBC, Thursdays at 8:30, 9/23
Stars and how you know them: Tina Fey (SNL), Tracy Morgan (SNL), Alec Baldwin (all sorts of stuff), Jane Krakowski (Ally McBeal)
What it is: Sitcom set behind the scenes at a sketch comedy show
The buzz: This is one of those perpetual favorites.
You might like this if you like: SNL

Big Bang Theory, The, CBS, Thursdays at 8, 9/23
Stars and how you know them: Jim Parsons (Judging Amy), Johnny Galecki (Roseanne), Kaley Cuoco (Charmed)
What it is: A woman moves in next door to brilliant, awkward geeks.
The buzz: People loooove this, and Parsons just won an Emmy.
You might like this if you like: Sitcoms, geeky stuff

Bones, FOX, Thursdays at 8, 9/23
Stars and how you know them: David Boreanaz (Buffy, Angel), Emily Deschanel
What it is: An FBI agent and a forensic anthropologist solve murders.
The buzz: Last season was a little controversial, and the "will they or won't they?" pressure is building.
You might like this if you like: Castle, The Mentalist, procedurals

Community, NBC, Thursdays at 8, 9/23
Stars and how you know them: Joel McHale (The Soup), Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Allison Brie, Chevy Chase, Yvette Nicole Brown, Donald Glover
What it is: Sitcom about demographically diverse students at a community college
The buzz: Everyone adores this show.
You might like this if you like: Other NBC Thursday sitcoms

*My Generation, ABC, Thursdays at 8, 9/23
Stars and how you know them: There's a huge cast, but the only name I recognized was Mehcad Brooks (The Deep End).
What it is: A mockumentary drama following members of the class of 2000 ten years later.
The buzz: A lot of critics love this, and the rest completely hate it.
You might like this if you like: Dramas about twentysomethings. Grey's Anatomy, maybe?

Vampire Diaries, The, CW, Thursdays at 8, 9/9
Stars and how you know them: Nina Dobrev (Degrassi), Ian Somerhalder (Lost), Paul Wesley (Everwood, American Dreams)
What it is: A high school girl's life is disrupted when two vampire brothers come to town. I promise it's better than it sounds.
The buzz: The first season was amazing, the finale was the best finale I've ever seen, and the premiere is getting raves from critics.
You might like this if you like: Teen dramas, vampires, Buffy, Supernatural

Fall TV Handbook: Wednesdays at 10

The shows: The Defenders, Law & Order: Los Angeles, Psych, Terriers, The Whole Truth

What I'm doing: DVRing Psych. Trying . . . gosh, trying all the others, I guess. Let's hope I don't like them all.

*Defenders, The, CBS, Wednesdays at 10, 9/22
Stars and how you know them: Jerry O'Connell (Sliders), Jim Belushi (According to Jim)
What it is: Defense attorneys in Las Vegas
The buzz: O'Connell and Belushi are supposed to be good, but the show itself is sounding meh.
You might like this if you like: Las Vegas, lawyer shows

*Law & Order: Los Angeles, NBC, Wednesdays at 10, 9/29
Stars and how you know them: Skeet Ulrich (Jericho), Corey Stoll, Wanda De Jesus, Alfred Molina, Teri Polo (West Wing)
What it is: Law and Order. In Los Angeles.
The buzz: It's, you know, Law and Order. In Los Angeles.
You might like this if you like: Law and Order.

Psych, USA, Wednesdays at 10, 11/10
Stars and how you know them: James Roday (Miss Match), Dule Hill (West Wing)
What it is: A fake psychic and his friend run a detective agency and help the police.
The buzz: This is consistently funny, and also has real heart.
You might like this if you like: Other USA shows, funny procedurals.

*Terriers, FX, Wednesdays at 10, 9/8
Stars and how you know them: Donal Logue (Grounded for Life), Michael Raymond-James (True Blood)
What it is: An ex-cop and his friends start an unlicensed private investigation business.
The buzz: Critics are loving this.
You might like this if you like: Other FX shows? Justified, maybe?

*Whole Truth, The, ABC, Wednesdays at 10, 9/22
Stars and how you know them: Maura Tierney (ER), Rob Morrow (Northern Exposure, Numb3rs)
What it is: A legal show giving equal attention to the prosecution and defense.
The buzz: Tierney is a recent addition, replacing the original lead, so there aren't many real opinions yet. But buzz is generally positive.
You might like this if you like: Legal shows

Fall TV Handbook: Wednesdays at 9

The shows: Cougar Town, Criminal Minds, Hell's Kitchen, Hellcats, Law & Order: SVU, Modern Family

What I'm doing: DVRing Hellcats and Modern Family

Cougar Town, ABC, Wednesdays at 9:30, 9/22
Stars and how you know them: Courteney Cox (Friends), Josh Hopkins (Pepper Dennis, Brothers & Sisters, Private Practice)
What it is: Sitcom about a recently-divorced woman
The buzz: The buzz seems to be "Better than it sounds! Really!"
You might like this if you like: Friends, maybe? That would be the obvious.

Criminal Minds, CBS, Wednesdays at 9, 9/22
Stars and how you know them: Shemar Moore (The Young and the Restless), Matthew Gray Gubler, Thomas Gibson (Dharma & Greg)
What it is: Profilers catch criminals.
The buzz: Last season was supposed to be not very good, and I think they fired some popular actresses. I don't know.
You might like this if you like: Procedurals

Hell's Kitchen, FOX, Wednesdays at 9, 9/22
Stars and how you know them: Gordon Ramsey
What it is: Chefs go through a variety of challenges
The buzz: No one really talks about this much. I'm sure it has its fans.
You might like this if you like: Cooking, reality competitions, Top Chef

*Hellcats, CW, Wednesdays at 9, 9/8
Stars and how you know them: Alyson Michalka (Phil of the Future), Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical), Matt Barr (Harper's Island), Aaron Douglas (Battlestar Galactica)
What it is: A pre-law student becomes a cheerleader to get a scholarship.
The buzz: It's a silly CW show. You'll probably either love it or hate it.
You might like this if you like: College shows, dance movies

Law & Order: SVU, NBC, Wednesdays at 9, 9/22
Stars and how you know them: Christopher Meloni (Oz), Mariska Hargitay (Prince Street)
What it is: NYPD detectives investigate sexual crimes.
The buzz: Lots of people love this. You probably know about it already.
You might like this if you like: Procedurals, Law and Order shows

Modern Family, ABC, Wednesdays at 9, 9/22
Stars and how you know them: Ed O'Neill (Married with Children), Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen (Boston Legal), Ty Burrell (Back to You), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (The Class), Eric Stonestreet
What it is: A sitcom about a big complicated non-traditional extended family
The buzz: This just won a bunch of Emmys, and everyone in the universe loves it, it seems.
You might like this if you like: Satirical humor, family shows

Fall TV Handbook: Wednesdays at 8

The shows: America's Next Top Model, Better With You, Lie to Me, The Middle, Survivor: Nicaragua, Undercovers

What I'm doing: DVRing Undercovers. DVRing Lie to Me if I can catch up, since it doesn't come back until November. Maybe trying an episode or two of Better With You.

America's Next Top Model, CW, Wednesdays at 8, 9/8
Stars and how you know them: Tyra Banks
What it is: Girls compete to become models.
The buzz: This has become one of those reality standards that keep going and going.
You might like this if you like: Reality competitions, melodrama

*Better With You, ABC, Wednesdays at 8:30, 9/22
Stars and how you know them: Josh Cooke (Committed), Jennifer Finnigan (Committed, Close to Home), Joanna Garcia (Reba), Jake Lacy, Debra Jo Rupp (That 70s Show)
What it is: A sitcom about sisters at different stages in their relationships.
The buzz: Decidedly lukewarm.
You might like this if you like: Relationship sitcoms

Lie to Me, FOX, Wednesdays at 8, 11/10
Stars and how you know them: Tim Roth (lots of movies), Kelli Williams (The Practice), Brendan Hines (The Middleman), Monica Raymund
What it is: A group of experts helps solve crimes by being able to tell when people are lying through various psychology methods.
The buzz: Everyone seems to really like this.
You might like this if you like: Offbeat procedurals, House

Middle, The, ABC, Wednesday at 8, 9/22
Stars and how you know them: Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond), Neil Flynn (Scrubs)
What it is: A sitcom about a family in Indiana.
The buzz: My response to seeing this on the ABC schedule was "That show is still on?" So really, no one talks about it much.
You might like this if you like: Family sitcoms, Malcolm in the Middle

Survivor: Nicaragua, CBS, Wednesdays at 8, 9/15
Stars and how you know them: Jeff Probst
What it is: It's Survivor. You know what it is.
The buzz: I think this season is supposed to be old vs. young or something.
You might like this if you like: I'm sure you already know whether you're interested in this.

*Undercovers, NBC, Wednesdays at 8, 9/22
Stars and how you know them: Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Doctor Who), Boris Kodjoe (Soul Food)
What it is: Retired married spies-turned-caterers get back into the game.
The buzz: People who have seen the pilot virtually all say it's one of the best shows of the new season.
You might like this if you like: Spy stuff, Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Fall TV Handbook: Tuesdays at 10

The shows: Detroit 1-8-7, The Good Wife, Parenthood, Sons of Anarchy

What I'm doing: DVRing The Good Wife and Parenthood - hey, it's Sports Night alumni hour! I'll try an episode of Detroit 1-8-7 if they put it online.

*Detroit 1-8-7, ABC, Tuesdays at 10, 9/21
Stars and how you know them: D.J. Cotrona (Windfall), Erin Cummings (Spartacus), Aisha Hinds (True Blood), Michael Imperioli (Life on Mars)
What it is: A gritty cop show set in Detroit
The buzz: The original pilot was in a mockumentary style, and has been redone, so . . . we'll see.
You might like this if you like: Cop shows, Southland

Good Wife, The, CBS, Tuesdays at 10, 9/28
Stars and how you know them: Julianna Margulies (ER), Matt Czuchry (Gilmore Girls), Josh Charles (Sports Night), Archie Panjabi, Christine Baranski (Cybill), Chris Noth (Sex and the City)
What it is: After her politician husband is embroiled in scandal and imprisoned, a woman tries to put her life back together and goes to work at an old flame's law firm. Drama and love triangles ensue!
The buzz: This was one of the best new shows last season, and it's way better than it sounds from my little blurb there. Watch it!
You might like this if you like: Legal dramas, relationship dramas

Parenthood, NBC, Tuesdays at 10, 9/14
Stars and how you know them: Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls), Peter Krause (Sports Night, Six Feet Under), Dax Shepard (When in Rome), Monica Potter (Boston Legal)
What it is: A close-knit extended family has various issues and dramas.
The buzz: I haven't heard much about the new season, but everyone, including me, loved the first season.
You might like this if you like: Brothers and Sisters, Gilmore Girls

Sons of Anarchy, FX, Tuesdays at 10, 9/7
Stars and how you know them: Charlie Hunnam (Undeclared), Mark Boone Jr., Tommy Flanagan, Maggie Siff (Mad Men), Ron Perlman (everything ever), Kim Coates, Katey Sagal (Futurama)
What it is: A guy tries to balance family life and his motorcycle gang.
The buzz: Everyone seems to love this. (I've never seen it.)
You might like this if you like: Dramas? Motorcycles? I'm honestly not sure.

Fall TV Handbook: Tuesdays at 9

The shows: Dancing with the Stars, Life Unexpected, NCIS: Los Angeles, Raising Hope, Running Wilde

What I'm doing: DVRing Life Unexpected. DVRing Running Wilde for an episode or two to see if it's worth it.

Dancing with the Stars, ABC, Mondays at 8, Tuesdays at 9, 9/20
Stars and how you know them: Bristol Palin, The Situation (Jersey Shore), Jennifer Grey (Dirty Dancing)
What it is: "Celebrities" in a ballroom dancing competition.
The buzz: Bristol Palin. The Situation. Enough said.
You might like this if you like: Dancing? Celebrity trainwrecks?

Life Unexpected, CW, Tuesdays at 9, 9/14
Stars and how you know them: Brittany Robertson (Swingtown), Shiri Appleby (Roswell), Kristoffer Polaha (North Shore, Valentine), Kerr Smith (Dawson's Creek)
What it is: A teenager who grew up in foster care finds her birth parents.
The buzz: Last year, this ended up being better than people expected, and I'm hearing good things about the new season.
You might like this if you like: Quirky family dramas, Gilmore Girls

NCIS: Los Angeles, CBS, Tuesdays at 9, 9/21
Stars and how you know them: Chris O'Donnell (Fried Green Tomatoes, Circle of Friends), LL Cool J (In the House)
What it is: Another NCIS show.
The buzz: I haven't really heard many good things about this one.
You might like this if you like: Procedurals, NCIS

*Raising Hope, FOX, Tuesdays at 9, 9/21
Stars and how you know them: Lucas Neff, Martha Plimpton (movies, guest-starring everywhere), Cloris Leachman (Mary Tyler Moore), Garret Dillahunt (Deadwood)
What it is: A twentysomething slacker and his dysfunctional family try to raise a baby.
The buzz: This is sounding pretty awful.
You might like this if you like: Family sitcoms, I guess?

*Running Wilde, FOX, Tuesdays at 9:30, 9/21
Stars and how you know them: Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Keri Russell (Felicity)
What it is: A rich bad boy tries to reform when he falls for his childhood friend turned environmental activist.
The buzz: Critics want to like this because of the stars, but it's not sounding that great.
You might like this if you like: Mismatched relationship sitcoms

Fall TV Handbook: Tuesdays at 8

The shows: The Biggest Loser, Glee, NCIS, No Ordinary Family, One Tree Hill

What I'm doing: DVRing Glee and actually watching it. DVRing One Tree Hill because I have the crazy idea that I might someday watch the previous 5000 seasons. I'll try No Ordinary Family online.

Biggest Loser, The, NBC, Tuesdays at 8, 9/21
Stars and how you know them: Jillian Michaels, Alison Sweeney (Days of Our Lives)
What it is: A reality show weight loss competition
The buzz: It is what it is. You like it or you don't.
You might like this if you like: Reality shows on which people overcome obstacles, I guess?

Glee, FOX, Tuesdays at 8, 9/21
Stars and how you know them: Matthew Morrison (Broadway), Lea Michele (Broadway), Jane Lynch (Party Down, Julie and Julia), a bunch of new stars you know from this show
What it is: Musical dramedy about a high school glee club
The buzz: The show got off to a great start, and then had a difficult second half of its first season. So we'll see if and how they manage to recover in the second season.
You might like this if you like: High school shows, musicals

NCIS, CBS, Tuesdays at 8, 9/21
Stars and how you know them: Mark Harmon (Chicago Hope, St. Elsewhere), Michael Weatherly (Dark Angel), Pauley Perrette, David McCallum (The Replacements)
What it is: A procedural about the Naval Criminal Investigative Service
The buzz: I think this one just kind of keeps going. It certainly has lots of fans.
You might like this if you like: Procedurals

*No Ordinary Family, ABC, Tuesdays at 8, 9/28
Stars and how you know them: Julie Benz (Buffy, Angel, Dexter), Michael Chiklis (The Shield)
What it is: A regular family is in an accident and gets superpowers.
The buzz: People aren't wildly enthusiastic, but it's sounding good.
You might like this if you like: The Incredibles, Heroes

One Tree Hill, CW, Tuesdays at 8, 9/14
Stars and how you know them: James Lafferty, Bethany Joy Galeotti (Guiding Light), Sophia Bush (Nip/Tuck), Austin Nichols (John from Cincinnati)
What it is: A bunch of high schoolers - who must be in college by now, no? - in North Carolina have lots of drama.
The buzz: This show has its fans, and everyone else says "That's still on?"
You might like this if you like: Teen dramas, Dawson's Creek, The O.C.

Fall TV Handbook: Mondays at 10

The shows: The Big C, Castle, Chase, Hawaii Five-0, Men of a Certain Age, Weeds

What I'm doing: DVRing Castle and Hawaii Five-0. If the network puts Chase online, I'll try an episode, but I'm not hopeful.

*Big C, The, Showtime, Mondays at 10:30, 8/16
Stars and how you know them: Laura Linney (John Adams, Love Actually), Oliver Platt (West Wing, lots of movies), Reid Scott (My Boys, Secret Life)
What it is: A woman deals with a cancer diagnosis.
The buzz: Everyone seems to LOVE thing, and Linney and Platt are always great. I'd watch this if I had Showtime.
You might like this if you like: Weeds, maybe?

Castle, ABC, Mondays at 10, 9/20
Stars and how you know them: Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Serenity, Dr. Horrible), Stana Katic (Quantum of Solace)
What it is: A charming, famous playboy mystery novelist helps the police solve murders.
The buzz: This show grew into a hit in its second season, and I'm hearing good things about the third. Can't wait!
You might like this if you like: Bones, The Mentalist

*Chase, NBC, Mondays at 10, 9/20
Stars and how you know them: Kelli Giddish (Past Life, All My Children), Cole Hauser (K-Ville), Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives), Amaury Nolasco (Prison Break), Rose Rollins (The L Word)
What it is: A team of marshals tracks down fugitives.
The buzz: It's, uh, sounding pretty bad.
You might like this if you like: I suppose In Plain Sight is the obvious choice, but . . .

*Hawaii Five-0, CBS, Mondays at 10, 9/20
Stars and how you know them: Scott Caan (Entourage), Daniel Dae Kim (Lost), Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica), Alex O'Loughlin (Moonlight, Three Rivers)
What it is: A remake, obviously. Detectives in Hawaii!
The buzz: People who have seen the pilot are saying it's actually quite good. Produced and written by the people who did the new Star Trek movie, btw.
You might like this if you like: Procedurals in exotic settings, bromances, the sci fi shows that all the stars and writers are known for.

Men of a Certain Age, TNT, Mondays at 10, 11/29
Stars and how you know them: Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond), Scott Bakula (Enterprise, Quantum Leap), Andre Braugher (Gideon's Crossing)
What it is: Former college buddies are now middle-aged friends.
The buzz: This has a following, but I haven't heard all that much about it.
You might like this if you like: Everybody Loves Raymond, maybe? I'm not sure.

Weeds, Showtime, Mondays at 10, 8/16
Stars and how you know them: Mary-Louise Parker (West Wing, Angels in America), Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould, Kevin Nealon (Glenn Martin DDS), Justin Kirk
What it is: A suburban mom deals marijuana.
The buzz: People seem somewhat unsure about this new season, but I don't watch it, so I'm not entirely clear on why.
You might like this if you like: Six Feet Under, maybe?

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?

Fall TV Handbook: Mondays at 8

The shows: 90210, Chuck, Dancing with the Stars, House, How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement

What I'm doing: DVRing Chuck and House because I remain perpetually convinced that I might watch them some day. Watching How I Met Your Mother online because I am actually caught up on that.

90210, CW, Mondays at 8, 9/13
Stars and how you know them: Shenae Grimes (Degrassi), Tristan Wilds (The Wire), AnnaLynne McCord (Nip/Tuck), Ryan Eggold (Dirt), Jessica Stroup (Reaper)
What it is: The next generation of the original 90210 - a family moves to Beverly Hills and teenage soapy drama ensues.
The buzz: This one is at least holding on, unlike the Melrose Place reboot. I don't think I've heard anything either way about how the new season is, so they might not have sent out screeners.
You might like this if you like: High school dramas, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, the original 90210

Chuck, NBC, Mondays at 8, 9/20
Stars and how you know them: Zachary Levi (Less Than Perfect), Yvonne Strahovski (Headland), Sarah Lancaster (What About Brian), Adam Baldwin (Firefly, Serenity), Joshua Gomez (Without a Trace)
What it is: A random geek accidentally gets secret government databases downloaded into his brain and gets involved with the CIA and NSA.
The buzz: This show has a small but rabid following.
You might like this if you like: Funny spy stuff

Dancing with the Stars, ABC, Mondays at 8, Tuesdays at 9, 9/20
Stars and how you know them: Bristol Palin, The Situation (Jersey Shore), Jennifer Grey (Dirty Dancing)
What it is: "Celebrities" in a ballroom dancing competition.
The buzz: Bristol Palin. The Situation. Enough said.
You might like this if you like: Dancing? Celebrity trainwrecks?

House, FOX, Mondays at 8, 9/20
Stars and how you know them: Hugh Laurie (Jeeves and Wooster, A Bit of Fry and Laurie), Lisa Edelstein (West Wing), Robert Sean Leonard, Jesse Spencer (Neighbours), Omar Epps (ER), Jennifer Morrison (Star Trek)
What it is: A possibly crazy doctor diagnoses weird stuff.
The buzz: House and Cuddy are finally getting together this season, so some people are thrilled and the rest are convinced the show will be awful now.
You might like this if you like: Medical shows? Frankly, you probably already know if you like this.

How I Met Your Mother, CBS, Mondays at 8, 9/20
Stars and how you know them: Josh Radnor, Jason Segal (Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared), Cobie Smulders (Veritas: The Quest), Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser, Dr. Horrible), Alyson Hannigan (Buffy, American Pie)
What it is: A guy takes YEARS AND YEARS to tell his kids the story of how he met their mother. What it actually is: A sitcom about a bunch of friends in their twenties.
The buzz: It's widely accepted that this show went off the rails last season. The showrunners seem to have realized this, and promise that things will get better. We'll see.
You might like this if you like: Relationship sitcoms, quirky humor, Friends

Rules of Engagement, CBS, Mondays at 8:30, 9/20
Stars and how you know them: Patrick Warburton (Venture Bros., Family Guy), Megyn Price (Grounded for Life), Oliver Hudson (Dawson's Creek), Bianca Kajlich (Rock Me, Baby), David Spade (SNL, Just Shoot Me, 8 Simple Rules)
What it is: Couples and their single friend have relationships and, um, stuff.
The buzz: I had no idea what this was about or who was in it until I just looked it up, so I'm going to go ahead and say that people don't talk about it much.
You might like this if you like: Relationship sitcoms

Fall TV Handbook: Sundays at 10

The shows: Bored to Death, Brothers and Sisters, CSI: Miami, Eastbound and Down, The Walking Dead

What I'm doing: DVRing Brothers and Sisters, trying The Walking Dead.

Bored to Death, HBO, Sundays at 10, 9/26
Stars and how you know them: Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover, Tru Calling), Ted Danson (Becker, Cheers), Jason Schwartzman (Marie Antoinette, Darjeeling Limited)
What it is: A writer moonlights as an unlicensed private detective.
The buzz: I actually had no idea what this was about until I was writing this, so apparently I don't hear much about it. I think it has a following, though.
You might like this if you like: "Offbeat comedies," I guess.

Brothers and Sisters, ABC, Sundays at 10, 9/26
Stars and how you know them: Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal), Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under), Sally Field (Steel Magnolias, The Flying Nun), Dave Annable (Reunion), Ron Rifkin (Alias), Patricia Wettig (thirtysomething), Matthew Rhys
What it is: A family drama full of secrets and hysterical dinners. Hysterical in both senses of the word, actually.
The buzz: This show has been foundering for a couple of seasons. Keep watching if you're already hooked, but I certainly wouldn't pick it up now.
You might like this if you like: Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy

CSI: Miami, CBS, Sundays at 10, 10/3
Stars and how you know them: David Caruso (NYPD Blue), Emily Proctor (West Wing), Adam Rodriguez (Ugly Betty, Roswell), Rex Linn
What it is: Crime Scene Investigations in Miami.
The buzz: Lots of people love this. Some seem to be sick of David Caruso, I think.
You might like this if you like: Procedurals. Other CSI shows.

Eastbound and Down, HBO, Sundays at 10:30, 9/26
Stars and how you know them: Danny McBride (Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder)
What it is: A burned-out major leaguer becomes at phys ed teacher at his old school.
The buzz: See exactly what I said about Bored to Death.
You might like this if you like: Will Ferrell? He produces.

*Walking Dead, The, AMC, Sundays at 10, 10/31
Stars and how you know them: Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually, Wuthering Heights)
What it is: Zombies!
The buzz: Virtually everyone on the Internet is losing their minds over this already, and it hasn't even aired. And it's already been renewed for a second season. The Halloween premiere is clever. I don't even LIKE zombies, and I'm going to try this.
You might like this if you like: Uh, zombies? Horror?

Fall TV Handbook: Sundays at 9

The shows: American Dad, Boardwalk Empire, Desperate Housewives, Family Guy, Undercover Boss

What I'm doing: Hey, another hour when there are no shows I want to watch! This is kind of reassuring.

American Dad, FOX, Sundays at 9:30, 10/3
Stars and how you know them: Seth MacFarlane (All these Fox shows)
What it is: Apparently it is an absurdist right-wing CIA thing. I actually had no idea until I looked it up.
The buzz: People don't talk about this much. But maybe I just don't pay attention.
You might like this if you like: Family Guy, etc.

*Boardwalk Empire, HBO, Sundays at 9, 9/19
Stars and how you know them: Steve Buscemi (The Sopranos, 30 Rock, every movie ever), Michael Pitt (Dawson's Creek), Kelly Macdonald (State of Play, No Country for Old Men), Michael Shannon (Jonah Hex, The Runaways), Dabney Coleman (The Guardian)
What it is: Gangsters and politicians in Atlantic City during Prohibition.
The buzz: Everyone who has seen screeners says this is AMAZING. I would definitely be watching it if I got HBO; unfortunately I have to wait for DVD.
You might like this if you like: Deadwood, The Sopranos, historical dramas

Desperate Housewives, ABC, Sundays at 9, 9/26
Stars and how you know them: Teri Hatcher (Lois & Clark), Felicity Huffman (Sports Night), Marcia Cross (Melrose Place), Eva Longoria Parker, Brenda Strong, Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty)
What it is: A soapy suburban drama
The buzz: This show had lost a lot of steam, but people are saying it might get good again with the addition of Vanessa Williams.
You might like this if you like: Soaps, Brothers and Sisters, The Gates (minus the supernatural element)

Dexter, Showtime, Sundays at 9, 9/26
Stars and how you know them: Michael C. Hall (Six Feet Under), Jennifer Carpenter, Lauren Velez (Oz), James Remar (tons of movies and guest spots)
What it is: A serial killer hunts down criminals.
The buzz: Everyone loves this show, except the people who think it's too gory. I've never seen it because I don't have Showtime.
You might like this if you like: Mysteries with a heavy heaping of violence, I guess.

Family Guy, FOX, Sundays at 9, 9/26
Stars and how you know them: Seth MacFarlane (I hadn't realized he was involved in ALL these shows), Alex Borstein (MADtv), Seth Green (Buffy), Mila Kunis (The '70s Show)
What it is: Grown-up cartoon about a dysfuctional family
The buzz: Again, everyone in the universe except for me seems to like this.
You might like this if you like: Oh, all these Sunday Fox shows.

Undercover Boss, CBS, Sundays at 9, 9/26 at 10
Stars and how you know them: N/A
What it is: Executives go "undercover" to see what life is like for everyday workers in their companies.
The buzz: This seems to be a "love it or hate it" kind of thing.
You might like this if you like: Barbara Ehrenreich? I don't know.

Fall TV Handbook: Sundays at 8

The shows: The Amazing Race, The Cleveland Show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Simpsons

What I'm doing: Nothing! Whoa. This might be the only hour when I have no interest in any of the shows.

Amazing Race, The, CBS, Sundays at 8, 9/26 at 8:30
Stars and how you know them: Host Phil Keoghan. You know him from . . . this.
What it is: Teams travel around the world completing various challenges.
The buzz: I think everyone knows enough about this that no one bothers talking about it much anymore. But it lost the reality Emmy for the first time this year, which isn't necessarily the best sign.
You might like this if you like: Reality competition shows? Travel? You probably already know if you like this.

Cleveland Show, The, FOX, Sundays at 8:30, 9/26
Stars and how you know them: Animated - shares a lot of voice talent with other Fox Sunday night shows.
What it is: A Family Guy spinoff about their neighbor and deli owner, apparently.
The buzz: Honestly, I rarely hear anything about this, and it's not my kind of thing.
You might like this if you like: Family Guy.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, ABC, Sundays at 8, 9/26
Stars and how you know them: Ty Pennington, from Trading Spaces
What it is: Pennington, guest celebrities, and various other folk renovate the homes of deserving families around the company.
The buzz: This is a pretty reliable feel-good show, although the novelty is pretty much gone by now.
You might like this if you like: Home renovation shows, and/or shows about people overcoming obstacles.

Simpsons, The, FOX, Sundays at 8, 9/26
Stars and how you know them: You know them all from THIS, I promise, but they do have good guest stars. I think the Glee kids are going to be on.
What it is: OH COME ON.
The buzz: People continue to be really into this, and it sort of mystifies me, frankly.
You might like this if you like: I bet you already know whether you like this. I am likely the only person in the universe who doesn't.

Fall TV Handbook

Over the next few days, we'll have a series of posts looking at the fall TV schedule hour by hour. I'll let you know which shows are up against each other, who the stars are, what sort of buzz I'm hearing about each show, and what sort of audience might like each show. I'll also tell you my plans for the hour, and then you can all start worrying about how much TV I'm trying to watch. (Hi Mom!) Rest assured that a) I'll give up on most of the new shows after an episode or two and b) just being I'm DVRing something doesn't mean I'm actually watching it. (I still have stuff from last season on the TiVo.)

As in the index, I'll link you to each show's official page, give you scheduling and premiere info, and put a star before the new shows. I know titles should be italicized, but when I'm naming so many titles over and over I'm just not going to risk the coding errors. All times are Eastern. Any questions? Let me know. Enjoy!