With a change of season upon us, a new television season comes right along with it with plenty of old standbys and some new blood, too.
There is even a new network this season in the form of the CW, created from the merger of the WB and UPN, located on the WB's former home on the dial.
Returning Favorites
These are the shows that already have a faithful audience.
Fans of these shows have been anticipating the re-emergence of these television hits for months, and now their wait is finally over.
Lost
Wednesdays, 9 p.m., ABC
Season Premiere: Oct. 4
4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42. What do those numbers really mean? Will fans ever find out? Beats me.
The drama about plane crash survivors stranded on an island where nothing seems to be a coincidence is sure to offer many more strange happenings.
The only not-so-good part about this season's return is that only six or seven original episodes will air at the beginning of the season.
The remaining new episodes will air in February and run with no repeats until the May season finale.
Desperate Housewives
Sundays, 9 p.m., ABC
Season Premiere: Sept. 24
Whether you hate these women or love them, the ladies of "Desperate Housewives" are returning to Wisteria Lane in full effect this month for a third season of suburban scandals.
In the season opener, Xiao-Mei is getting ready to give birth and Bree and Orson are getting engaged.
Other returning ABC shows include: "Grey's Anatomy," "The Bachelor," "Boston Legal"
Everybody Hates Chris
Sundays, 7 p.m., CW
Season Premiere: Oct. 1
Chris Rock's childhood is the inspiration behind the premise of this hit show gearing up for its second season.
The comedian narrates the funny and tenderhearted coming-of-age sitcom about a teenager growing up as the eldest of three children in Brooklyn, N.Y., in the early 1980s.
America's Next Top Model
Wednesdays, 8 p.m., CW
Season Premiere: Sept. 20
Tyra and her clan of fashionistas are back for yet another season of one of America's highest rated reality television shows.
Last season, Danielle took the title. This year, 13 more hopefuls will vie for the top spot in a series of modeling challenges and photo shoots, with an elimination each week.
Who will be America's next top model?
Other returning CW shows include: "Veronica Mars," "One Tree Hill," "7th Heaven," "Gilmore Girls"
House
Tuesdays, 8 p.m., FOX
Season Premiere: Sept. 5
After a mind-bending season finale, "House" returns to the line-up and House (Hugh Laurie) returns to work after he suffered multiple gunshot wounds last season.
He may or may not have a new, more tender approach to his patients, and though he'll be a kinder, gentler House in the first episode, it remains to be seen whether it will continue into the season.
Other returning FOX shows include: "Family Guy," "Prison Break," "Nanny 911"
My Name is Earl
Thursdays, 8 p.m., NBC
Season Premiere: Sept. 21
The critically-acclaimed and Emmy-winning sitcom "My Name is Earl" shows just how funny the idea of karma can be.
After winning a small lottery, Earl (Jason Lee) comes to a realization that he must transform his good luck into a life-changing event by righting all the wrongs from his past.
Helping him get right again this season are his unlucky brother Randy, the sex-kitten Catalina and Darnell, the owner of the Crab Shack where Earl drinks regularly. And we can't forget his ex-wife Joy (Jamie Presley), who makes this show even more entertaining.
Other returning NBC shows include: "Law & Order," "The Office," "Scrubs," "Deal or No Deal"
CSI
Thursdays, 9 p.m., CBS
Season Premiere: Sept. 21
The team is back this season with all new episodes in this popular crime-drama series.
The story lines always have their twists, and viewers this season will once again try to solve the mystery of "who did it" as they watch their favorite characters bring down the bad guys.
Other returning CBS shows include: "Cold Case," "Criminal Minds," "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
New Arrivals
In a matter of weeks or months, these new shows could either become major hits or major flops.
Although some of these shows are already creating a buzz in the industry, viewers will still be taking a chance when tuning in this fall.
The networks are again keeping their fingers crossed, hoping to avoid pink slips with these new arrivals.
The Nine
Wednesdays, 10 p.m., ABC
Series Premiere: Oct. 4
ABC is hoping this new ensemble drama will create the same buzz other ensemble shows like "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost" did.
The premise: What happens after nine people are taken hostage for 52 hours in a bank robbery?
The show leaves out most of those 52 hours in the bank, opting to show only flashbacks.
The core of this suspenseful drama lies in how the trauma has brought some of the characters closer together and driven others apart.
Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip
Mondays, 10 p.m., NBC
Series Premiere: Sept. 18
Matthew Perry, America's favorite "Friend," stars in this smart and edgy show about the behind the scenes drama that unravels daily on the set of a fictional late-night popular comedy sketch show.
The Game
Mondays, 8:30 p.m., CW
Series Premiere: Oct. 1
Former "Sister, Sister" star Tia Mowry is all grown up and for the first time on network television, not playing a twin.
This time around she's playing the girlfriend of NFL player Derwin.
Her character, Melanie Barnett, discovers the power that NFL wives and girlfriends have over "the game" by nabbing their men the best agents, endorsements and merchandising deals.
While not a promising show according to some industry insiders, fans of Tia Mowry may want to give it a trial tune-in.
Ugly Betty
Thursdays, 8 p.m., ABC
Series Premiere: Sept. 28
"The Devil Wears Prada" comes to television in this comedy/drama that doesn't star Anne Hathaway or Meryl Streep. However, the premise is the same.
Smart but unattractive Betty is hired to work at a glamorous fashion magazine because she's the only woman, and editor-in-chief Daniel Meade won't bed her.
To view all the returning favorites and the new arrivals you can't wait to watch, log on to tvguide.com.
Tune in next week for a reprinting of the College channel guide.
