Aly Michalka, Robbie Jones and Ashley Tisdale star in "Hellcats"

As promised, here is the official schedule The CW released yesterday. We made a few predictions as to how it would shake out on Wednesday, and it looks like a couple of our wild guesses actually came to pass.

The development I am the most curious to discuss with fellow viewers is The CW’s decision to  move “Supernatural” to Fridays.  “Smallville” seemed to do OK there during the ‘09-10 season, so it’s not the worst thing to happen…still, this Winchester fan is a tad concerned. (Not to mention a bit miffed to have to sacrifice her Friday nights due to her allegiance to Sam and Dean…darn.)

All times are ET/PT. New series are in bold. Descriptions taken from the network press release follow.

MONDAY

8 PM    “90210″

9 PM     “Gossip Girl”

TUESDAY

8 PM    “One Tree Hill”

9 PM    “Life Unexpected”

WEDNESDAY

8 PM   “America’s Next Top Model”

9 PM   “Hellcats”

THURSDAY

8 PM     “The Vampire Diaries”

9 PM     “Nikita”

FRIDAY

8 PM   “Smallville”

9 PM    “Supernatural”

New series descriptions

“HELLCATS” is a coming-of-age story about Marti Perkins, a young, pre-law student at Lancer University in Memphis, Tennessee.  Marti is cool, hip and alt, but her world flips upside down, literally and figuratively, when she loses her scholarship, and realizes the only way she can stay in school is by reigniting her dormant teen gymnastic skills to win a place on Lancer’s legendary cheerleading team, The Hellcats.  Against her every instinct, Marti goes for it and makes the squad, and is thrust into a world of camaraderie, backstabbing and the intersection of sports, backroom academia and big money.  Marti’s new roommate, Savannah Monroe, a petite, peppy Texan, is among the diverse cast of athletes, undergrads, family and friends, all set on the sprawling campus of a powerhouse college football program in the deep South.

“NIKITA” When she was a deeply troubled teenager, Nikita was rescued from death row by a secret U.S. agency known only as Division, who faked her execution and told her she was being given a second chance to start a new life and serve her country.  What they didn’t tell her was that she was being trained as a spy and assassin.  Ultimately, Nikita was betrayed and her dreams shattered by the only people she thought she could trust.  Now, after three years in hiding, Nikita is seeking retribution and making it clear to her former bosses that she will stop at nothing to expose and destroy their covert operation.  For the time being, however, Division continues to recruit and train other young people, erasing all evidence of their former lives and turning them into cold and efficient killers.  One of these new recruits, Alex, is just beginning to understand what lies ahead for her and why the legendary Nikita made the desperate decision to run.

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Jessica Lowndes, AnnaLynne McCord, and Jessica Stroup return in "90210."

The CW will not officially reveal its schedule until Thursday morning, which is when yours truly will be on a plane. Not to worry; the blog will be updated with the official schedule soon after it is released.  Besides, enough information has trickled into the trades for us to talk about a few important details and make some educated guesses as to where new series will land on the schedule. Or, we should say, the first version of its schedule, because almost every network tweaks its lineup once the upfronts come to a close.

Before we get to the new stuff, here’s a round-up of the current news: “One Tree Hill”  was officially picked up earlier this week, joining previously announced CW renewals “90210,” “Life Unexpected,” “The Vampire Diaries,” “Gossip Girl,” “America’s Next Top Model,” “Supernatural,” and “Smallville.” Additionally, the CW confirmed today that “Smallville’s” 10th season will be its last.

Gone from the schedule (thereby proving there is a Higher Power that cares for us all) are “Melrose Place,” “High Society,” “Fly Girls” and this season’s “here today, gone tomorrow” prizewinner, “The Beautiful Life: TBL,” which barely made it out of the gate. Their departure from the TV landscape will doubtless be mourned by…someone.

On the other hand, if they hadn’t been cleared away, The CW wouldn’t have any place to put its new additions, “Nikita” and “Hellcats.”

“Nikita” is a reboot of the franchise that began with Luc Besson’s (freaking awesome) cult action film “La Femme Nikita,” which was remade for American audiences as the awful “Point of No Return” starring Bridget Fonda.  The character of Nikita resurfaced in a Canadian-produced action drama that ran for about five seasons on USA Network, and was played by Peta Wilson. Maggie Q takes over the role in the new version, which also has her going rogue.

The first TV version of “La Femme Nikita,” it must be mentioned, was part of a late-’90s, early ’00s girl power trend on television that included “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Xena: Warrior Princess,”  and “Alias.” Considering that we live in a time in which Paris Hilton, the Kardashians and  “Girls Gone Wild” are celebrated pop culture fixtures, returning “Nikita” to TV is — in concept — a breath of fresh air.

On the other hand, it’s on The CW. If someone doesn’t screw it up, there’s still the question of whether it’ll pull the ratings to survive. With McG as an executive producer, there is hope.

“Nikita” is joined on the schedule by “Hellcats,” a drama about competitive cheerleading starring Aly Michalka and Ashley Tisdale. If “Nikita” is a nod to what The CW used to be (in its previous incarnations, UPN and the WB), “Hellcats” seems to fit in perfectly with what the tiny broadcast network is now.

Question is, where will they appear on the schedule? Currently there are two obvious opportunities, one on Wednesday nights, and one on Fridays, where “Smallville” has been able to hold on to its audience.   The CW’s schedulers have been known to slide veterans into different timeslots in the hope of finding a perfect pairing so really, it’s foolish to guess what the network’s lineup will look like. But why should that stop us?

Keep reading after the jump for our scheduling guesswork.

MONDAYS

The one-two punch of “Gossip Girl” and “One Tree Hill” seemed to work out just fine this season in spite of creative problems with the former’s story arc. “OTH” is a veteran whose audience has grown up and stuck with it, and the trend-setting “Gossip Girl” is now as acceptable among adults as it is with tween and teens. We doubt the network will mess with this.

TUESDAYS

Since “Life Unexpected” was a late addition to this season’s schedule, it’s highly possible that it will move to Wednesdays in order to team up “Hellcats” and “90210.”

WEDNESDAYS

On the other hand, if “Hellcats” is as bitchy as it sounds, coupling it with “America’s Next Top Model” wouldn’t be the worst idea.

Bloody lust is so sexy. Paul Wesley stars in "The Vampire Diaries."

THURSDAYS

Here’s where things get a bit dicey. “The Vampire Diaries” is this season’s clearest hit, not only among new shows but in the context of the schedule at large. It finally gave The CW a real presence on Thursday nights.  At the same time, it’s probably popular enough to take its audience with it if it were to move. The obvious destination for it would probably be Friday.

Please. Not going to happen.

“Supernatural” is another veteran series that paired beautifully with “Smallville” on Thursdays in season past. One should not be surprised if The CW decides to reunite old friends  — especially considering that the repeats of this past season’s episodes will air at 9 o’clock Fridays this summer. “Supernatural’s” audience probably won’t be too excited to see its show move to Fridays next fall, but they’re (we’re!) passionate, and most of them (us!) will follow.  That leaves 9 o’clock Thursdays open for “Nikita” to slide in,  and with potent “Vampire” as its lead-in, “Nikita” would have one of the best slots on the CW’s schedule.

FRIDAYS

On the flipside, “Smallville” fans could already be familiar with “Nikita’s” mythology, so the network could opt to create an end-of-the-week destination for action genre viewers.

Now it’s your turn.  Have any guesses as to how the deck will be shuffled?

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William Shatner stars in the new comedy "$#*! My Dad Says."

Guess what’s no longer fashionable this year among CBS’s programming executives? Stability.

Year after year, CBS touted the potency of its schedule, explaining that its across-the-board strength made it unnecessary to make any drastic changes. There is something to be said for that, even in the new world of shifted viewing. People create habits around their weekly TV consumption, and the last thing a successful network wants to do is make it hard for audiences to find their favorite shows.

On the other hand, in any cutthroat business, one would be stupid not to leap into an opening when one sees it. CBS’s decision to move top-rated comedy “The Big Bang Theory” from Monday nights at 9:30 to Thursdays at 8 just makes sense. CBS’s Monday night block remains solid, and with NBC trying to maintain its Thursday night comedy perch with series that  receive much higher critical praise than ratings, why not trump the Peacock by offering a comedy that’s set to finish the 2009-2010 season firmly in the Nielsen top 20 as competition?

The hope is that “Big Bang” will serve as a potent lead-in to “$#*! My Dad Says,” a new comedy from “Will & Grace” executive producers David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, starring William Shatner. “$#*!” has already gotten a great deal of attention thanks to the Twitter feed that inspired it, in which struggling writer Justin Halpern logs the colorful observations made by his 74-year-father.

“Big Bang” isn’t the only major move from Monday nights. “CSI: Miami,” currently airing Mondays at 10, moves to Sundays in the same timeslot. Wednesday night’s “CSI: NY” moves to 9 p.m. Fridays, bumping “Medium” up to 8 o’clock…and “Ghost Whisperer” into Cancellation Land. Reality stalwart “Survivor” is moving up from Thursday nights to Wednesdays at 8. In fact, the only lineup that remains unchanged is Tuesday’s.

New dramas include “Hawaii Five-O,” “The Defenders” and “Blue Bloods,” all of which are being tested in 10 p.m. slots. Meanwhile Chuck Lorre, the executive producer behind “Big Bang” and “Two and a Half Men,” is becoming to CBS what Seth MacFarlane is to Fox, introducing yet another comedy, “Mike & Molly,” to Monday nights. The previously announced “Criminal Minds” spinoff, starring Forest Whitaker, is on deck for midseason.

Earlier this week CBS cleaned house, slicing a number of underperformers from its schedule including “Accidentally On Purpose,” “Gary Unmarried,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “Cold Case,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine,”  “Numb3rs,” and late season entry “Miami Medical” from the schedule. (“Three Rivers,” which premiered last fall, dried up a long time ago.)

CBS’s fall schedule is below, with new series highlighted in bold. All times are ET/PT.

MONDAY

8 PM   “How I Met Your Mother”

8:30 PM  “Rules of Engagement”

9 PM “Two and a Half Men”

9:30 PM  “Mike & Molly”

10 PM  “Hawaii Five-O”

TUESDAY

8 PM “NCIS”

9 PM “NCIS: Los Angeles”

10 PM “The Good Wife”

WEDNESDAY

8 PM “Survivor”

9 PM “Criminal Minds”

10 PM “The Defenders”

THURSDAY

8 PM  “The Big Bang Theory”

8:30 PM “$#*! My Dad Says”

9 PM  “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”

10 PM “The Mentalist”

FRIDAY

8 PM  “Medium”

9 PM  “CSI: NY”

10 PM “Blue Bloods”

SATURDAY

8-10 PM  “Crimetime Saturday” (aka procedural repeats)

10 PM   “48 Hours Mystery”

SUNDAY

7 PM “60 Minutes”

8 PM  “The Amazing Race”

9 PM  ” Undercover Boss”

10 PM “CSI: Miami”

Keep reading after the jump for descriptions of the new series, taken from the press release.

COMEDIES

$#*! MY DAD SAYS, based on the popular Twitter feed by Justin Halpern, stars Emmy Award winner William Shatner as Ed Goodson, a forthright and opinionated dad who relishes expressing his unsolicited and often wildly politically incorrect observations to anyone within earshot.  Nobody is immune from Ed’s rants, including his sons, Henry, a struggling writer-turned-unpaid blogger; and Vince (Will Sasso), the meek half of his husband/wife real estate duo with domineering Kathleen (Nicole Sullivan).  When Henry finds he can no longer afford to pay rent to his pretty roommate — and secret admirer — Sam (Stephanie Lemelin), Ed reveals a soft spot and invites Henry to move in with him. Henry agrees, knowing that the verbal assault will not abate and now there will be no escape.  Describing their father/son relationship is tricky – but Ed will easily come up with a few choice words.  E

MIKE & MOLLY is a comedy from Chuck Lorre (“Two and a Half Men,” and “The Big Bang Theory”) about a working class Chicago couple who find love at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting.  Officer Mike Biggs (Billy Gardell) is a good-hearted cop who sincerely wants to lose weight.  Mike’s partner, Officer Carl McMillan (Reno Wilson), is a thin, fast-talking wise-guy, who despite his teasing encourages Mike on his road to slimness and romance.  While speaking at an O.A. meeting, Mike meets Molly Flynn (Melissa McCarthy), an instantly likeable fourth-grade teacher with a healthy sense of humor about her curves.  For Molly, focusing on smart choices isn’t easy because she lives with her sexy older sister, Victoria (Katy Mixon), and their mother, Joyce (Swoosie Kurtz), both of whom flaunt their healthy appetites and slender figures.  Mike also faces temptation at the diner he and Carl frequent, where they’ve become friends with the Senegalese waiter, Samuel (Nyambi Nyambi), who finds trying to eat less a foreign concept.  For Mike and Molly, thanks to their mutual love of pie and the desire to resist it, finding each other may have been worth the “weight.”

DRAMAS

HAWAII FIVE-0 is a contemporary take on the classic series about a new elite federalized task force whose mission is to wipe out the crime that washes up on the Islands’ sun-drenched beaches.  Detective Steve McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin), a decorated Naval officer turned cop, returns to Oahu to investigate his father’s murder and stays after Hawaii’s governor persuades him to head up the new team: his rules, her backing, no red tape and full blanket immunity to hunt down the biggest “game” in town.  Joining McGarrett is Detective Danny “Danno” Williams (Scott Caan), a newly relocated ex-New Jersey cop who prefers skyscrapers to the coastline but is committed to keeping the Islands safe for his 8-year-old daughter; and Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim), an ex-Honolulu Police Detective wrongly accused of corruption and relegated to a federal security patrol, who is also a former protégé of McGarrett’s father.  Chin’s cousin, Kono (Grace Park), is a beautiful and fearless native, fresh out of the academy and eager to establish herself among the department’s elite.  McGarrett vows to bring closure to his father’s case while the state’s brash new FIVE-0 unit, who may spar and jest among themselves, is determined to eliminate the seedy elements from the 50^th state.

THE DEFENDERS stars Jim Belushi and Jerry O’Connell in a comedic drama about two colorful Las Vegas defense attorneys who go all-in when it comes to representing their clients.  Nick and Pete are the local go-to guys with an eclectic client list who are still looking to hit their own jackpot.  Leading the law firm of Morelli & Kaczmarek are Nick Morelli (Belushi), an earnest, hard-charging attorney who represents his clients to the best of his ability, no matter how big or small the case, and his partner, Pete Kaczmarek (O’Connell), whose passion for the law is matched only by his love of fast cars, beautiful women and expensive clothes.  Joining them in their growing law practice is new associate Lisa Tyler (Jurnee Smollett), an enthusiastic young attorney looking to put her exotic dancing days behind her; and their young assistant, Sophie (Tanya Fischer), a spunky and sweet ingénue who is eager to please her bosses.  As Lady Luck shines on their legal careers, the partners have their hands full when it comes to their personal lives.  While Pete is busy cruising the Vegas Strip for his latest romantic conquest, Nick is focused on repairing his fractured marriage to his estranged wife, Jessica (Gillian Vigman), while remaining present in the life of their young son.  No matter the offense, Nick and Pete aim to prove that when the stakes are high they’re willing to bet the house on the clients they defend in Sin City.

BLUE BLOODS is a drama about a multi-generational family of cops dedicated to New York City law enforcement.  Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck) is the New York Chief of Police and patriarch of the Reagan brood, which he heads as diplomatically as he does the force, even when dealing with the politics that plagued his unapologetically bold father, Henry (Len Cariou), during his stint as Chief. A source of pride and concern for Frank is his eldest son Danny (Donnie Wahlberg), a seasoned detective, family man and Iraqi War vet who on occasion uses dubious tactics to solve cases.  The sole Reagan woman in the family, Erin (Bridget Moynahan), is a N.Y. Assistant D.A. and newly single parent, who also serves as the legal compass for her siblings and father.  Jamie (Will Estes) is the youngest Reagan, fresh out of Harvard Law and the family’s “golden boy.”  However, unable to deny the family tradition, Jamie decided to give up a lucrative future in law and is now a newly minted cop, a career change seemingly supported by his beautiful girlfriend, Sydney Davenport (Dylan Moore), a first year lawyer. Jamie’s life takes an abrupt turn, however, when he’s asked to become part of a clandestine police investigation even his father knows nothing about, and one that could impact the family’s legacy.

MIDSEASON

CRIMINAL MINDS SPINOFF stars Academy Award-winner Forest Whitaker in a drama about an elite team of agents within the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit who use unconventional methods of investigation and aggressive tactics to capture the nation’s most nefarious criminals.  Unit chief Special Agent Sam Cooper (Whitaker) is a mentally and physically fierce natural leader who is not afraid to put his career on the line in order to stand by his convictions.  Cooper strives to avoid political bureaucracy and has handpicked an eclectic group of profilers to work outside the confines of Quantico:  Former British Special Forces soldier Mick Rawson (Matt Ryan), confident and handsome, works as a highly-skilled marksman with an undiluted eye for rooting out evil; John “Prophet” Sims (Michael Kelly), a former convict with a street-smart edge and a calm, Zen-like presence, who is determined to make amends for past sins; and Gina LaSalle (Beau Garrett), an attractive, tough agent armed with a cunning sense of perception.  This exceptional group of FBI operatives is strong in their beliefs and steadfast in their mission to bring the country’s most dangerous criminals to justice.

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Julie Benz and Michael Chiklis star in the new series "No Ordinary Family." Photo by Eric McCandless, courtesy of ABC.

With a few exceptions, ABC generally has no problem shuffling its schedule around each fall. Unless we’re talking about a series that serves as an important tentpole such as “Grey’s Anatomy,”  “Desperate Housewives,” or  “Dancing with the Stars,” no show is too good to escape a few timeslot swaps.

This is particularly true when you also consider the network’s fondness for gorging on pick-ups. The 2010-2011 season, for example, will see ten new ABC shows premiere. Ten.

Yet the schedule for the coming season also shows plenty of evidence of stability. If it ain’t broke, ABC sure as heck isn’t going to fix it.  And unlike past seasons, if a program clearly isn’t working, it’s not on the schedule. Nobody should be shocked to notice the absence of “Scrubs” from the fall schedule, for example.  Ditto for the sadly performing “Happy Town” or the late spring entry “Romantically Challenged. ” The cancellation of “FlashForward” must be a downer for a number of fans, but honestly, ABC gave it a shot.  As much as we loved “Ugly Betty,” we love the idea of series regular Vanessa Williams joining the cast of “Desperate Housewives” even more. And yes, we adored comedy underdog “Better Off Ted.” Instead of watching it continue to fade into oblivion, however, let’s consider ourselves to be better off with fond memories of its short-lived brilliance.

But let’s look at what is working for the Alphabet…

Wednesday nights. At long last, ABC has a comedy block worth cherishing, which is why “Modern Family” and “Cougar Town” are staying right where they are, at 9 and 9:30p.m. “The Middle” made less noise on Wednesdays, but performed well enough to remain in play, while new series “Better Together” (description below) is hammocked between it and “Modern” at 8:30. New legal drama “The Whole Truth” follows at 10.

“Castle” on Mondays. The 10 o’clock slot is a tough one on most nights of the week, but until “Castle” came along none of the other networks could find anything to go up against “CSI: Miami.” Nathan Fillion’s vehicle sputtered at first, but toward the end of the season it managed to crack the Nielsen top 20 a few times.  More importantly, “Castle’s” ratings gains gave ABC its first successful crime procedural in several seasons.

Thursdays and Sundays.  The Shonda Rhimes one-two punch of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice” remain in place at 9 and 10p.m., with new drama “My Generation” kicking off the night at 8. The network’s  Sunday lineup of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Brothers & Sisters” remains intact.

This leaves Tuesdays and Fridays as ABC’s 2010-2011 experiments. Of the two nights Tuesdays is the higher stakes enterprise, highlighted by “No Ordinary Family,” probably best described as a live-action version of The Incredibles. “Dancing’s” results show follows at 9 with the faux-documentary style police drama “Detroit 1-8-7″ at 10.

“V,” by the way, has been pushed back to midseason, the same time of year we’ll see new shows starring Elisha Cuthbert (“Happy Endings”), Matthew Perry (“Mr. Sunshine”), and a new medical drama from Shonda Rhimes (“Off the Map”) about sexy doctors in the jungle. We suspect a few of them will be forced to go shirtless from time to time. This is only a guess.

The Friday night lineup and the rest of the schedule follows. New series are in bold. (And yes, Friday’s new entry “Secret Millionaire” is the same series that ran during the 2008 holiday season on Fox.)

MONDAY

8p.m.   “Dancing with the Stars”

10p.m.  “Castle”

TUESDAY

8p.m.  “No Ordinary Family”

9p.m.   “Dancing with the Stars: Results Show”

10p.m. “Detroit 1-8-7”

WEDNESDAY

8p.m. “The Middle”

8:30p.m. “Better Together”

9p.m. “Modern Family”

9:30p.m. “Cougar Town”

10p.m.  “The Whole Truth”

THURSDAY

8p.m.  “My Generation”

9p.m.  “Grey’s Anatomy”

10 p.m.   “Private Practice”

FRIDAY

8p.m. “Secret Millionaire”

9p.m. “Body of Proof”

10p.m. “20/20”

SATURDAY

8p.m.  “Saturday Night College Football”

SUNDAY

7p.m.  “America’s Funniest Home Videos”

8p.m.  “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

9p.m.  “Desperate Housewives”

10p.m. “Brothers & Sisters”

Descriptions of the new series, taken from the network press release, come after the jump.  (Please note:  if a show is not listed on the above schedule, it is set to premiere during midseason.)

DRAMA

“BODY OF PROOF”

Dr. Megan Hunt (Dana Delany) was in a class of her own, a brilliant neurosurgeon at the top of her game. But her world is turned upside down when a devastating car accident puts an end to her time in the operating room. Megan resumes her career as a medical examiner, determined to solve the puzzle of who or what killed the victims. Her instincts are sharp, but she’s developed a reputation for graying the lines of where her job ends and where the police department’s begins. It turns out her career isn’t the only thing that will need to be rebuilt; Megan’s family has taken a backseat to her ambition, and now she’s discovering there’s a lot of work to do when it comes to dissecting her relationships with the living.

“DETROIT 1-8-7”

What does it take to be a detective on America’s most dangerous streets? Get ready to be part of the action when a documentary crew rolls with some of Detroit’s finest, offering an insider’s glimpse behind the curtain of a Homicide Unit. The cameras unearth the crisis and revelation, heartbreak and heroism of these inner city cops — moments of raw exposure when they address us directly, as well as private moments when they forget they’re being filmed.

There’s the damaged but driven Detective Louis Fitch, a wily homicide vet who is the most respected
– and most misunderstood — man in the division; Detective Damon Washington, Fitch’s new partner, who finds the first day on the job is a trial by fire, complicated by the imminent birth of his first child; Detective Ariana Sanchez, sexy, edgy and beautiful, who has emerged from a rough background to become a rising star in the department; Narcotics undercover cop John Stone, a streetwise smooth talker, clever and quick with a smile made for the movies, who is teamed with Sanchez — a combustible pairing rife with conflict and sexual tension; Sergeant Jesse Longford, a 30-year veteran struggling with his impending retirement from the force and the city he loves, who, together with his partner, Detective Aman Mahajan — a fully Americanized son of Indian immigrants — form an amusing mismatch of experience and enthusiasm, intellect and instinct, old school and new world, but whose combined skills have never encountered a case that couldn’t be cleared; and all are headed by Lieutenant Maureen Mason, a strong-willed single mom struggling to balance home and work.

The men and women of Detroit Homicide are as smart and tough as they come. They have to be, working the neighborhoods of the once and future Motor City, a rebounding bastion of middle America still saddled with the highest murder rate in the country.

“MY GENERATION”

What a difference ten years can make. In 2000, a documentary crew follows a disparate group of high schoolers from Greenbelt High School in Austin, TX as they prepare for graduation, then revisits these former classmates ten years later as they return home to rediscover that just because they’re not where they planned doesn’t mean they’re not right where they need to be.

These students couldn’t wait to graduate and head out into the real world. But the world they were entering got very real very fast. As these classmates return home to revisit their old hopes for their future, they’ll discover that, even if you don’t get exactly what you thought you wanted out of life, it’s not too late to get what you need.

“NO ORDINARY FAMILY”

The Powells are about to go from ordinary to extraordinary. After 16 years of marriage, Jim and Stephanie’s relationship lacks the spark it once had, and their family life now consists of balancing work and their two children, leaving little time for family bonding. During a family vacation set up by Jim in an attempt to reconnect, their plane crashes into the Amazon River. But this is where the fun starts for the Powells, as they soon discover that something’s not quite right. Each of them now possesses unique and distinct superpowers. But saving and savoring their family life will be equally important, as they try to find purpose for their new powers and embark on a journey to find out what defines and unifies them. The Powells are a totally relatable family who happen to be a little bit amazing.

“OFF THE MAP”

Executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice”) and creator Jenna Bans (“Grey’s Anatomy”) bring you an uplifting medical drama that explores how far you have to go to truly heal.

Welcome to “la ciudad de las estrellas” (the city of stars), a tiny town in the South American jungle which has one understaffed, under-stocked medical clinic. That’s where idealistic young Dr. Lily Brenner just landed, along with fellow doctors Mina Minard and Manny Diaz. All of these young doctors are running away from personal demons, but they aren’t the only ones with emotional baggage. Take the legendary and enigmatic Ben Keeton, who was the youngest Chief of Surgery at UCLA. He walked away from it all to found the clinic. Together with his right-hand doctor, Otis Cole, he’ll teach these newcomers how to save lives in the most challenging environment they’ve ever worked in.

In this ensemble drama, five doctors who have lost their way will go to the ends of the earth to try to remember the reasons why they wanted to become doctors in the first place.

“THE WHOLE TRUTH”

This unique legal drama chronicles the way a case is built from the perspective of both the defense and prosecution. Showing each side equally keeps the audience guessing, shifting allegiances and opinions on guilt or innocence until the very final scene.

Kathryn Peale, the product of a New England background and a sheriff father, is the Deputy Bureau Chief in the New York State District Attorney’s office. Jimmy Brogan, born and raised in Hell’s Kitchen and a friend of Kathryn’s since their days at Yale Law School, is one of New York’s rising criminal attorney stars. Buoyed by their respective teams, these evenly matched lawyers — each with a strong streak of competitiveness, a fervent belief in their clients and an equally intense passion for the law —go about creating two different stories from the same set of facts. As this up-close, behind-the-scenes look at the legal process mirrors the excitement of a championship match, it becomes evident that truth has nothing to do with innocence or guilt — at the end of every trial, the only thing that matters is what the jury believes.

COMEDY

“BETTER TOGETHER”

Maddie and Ben have been dating for nine years. They know each other inside and out, a relationship marked by contentment and affection, seeing their commitment to one another as a “valid life choice,” something they proclaim often — and often loudly. Maddie’s younger sister, Mia, has been dating Casey for seven weeks. With a shared c’est la vie attitude, Mia and Casey are smitten with each other, and thrilled to explore the oh-so-many things they don’t know about each other yet. But when they announce they’re getting married and having a baby, it’s news that throws Maddie for a loop. Surprisingly, the girls’ parents, Vicky and Joel, couldn’t be more pleased. Married 35 years, they have recently adopted a carpe diem sort of philosophy, rather like Mia’s, maybe because they’re getting older and lost a good portion of their savings when the economy tanked. With three very different relationships tightly intertwined in one family, will it be free thinkers vs. over-thinkers, or will each couple begin to see things a little bit differently?

“HAPPY ENDINGS”

Forget who gets to keep the ring – when a couple splits, the real question is, who gets to keep the friends? In this modern comedy, a couple’s break-up will complicate all of their friends’ lives and make everyone question their choices. When life throws you for a curve, hold on tight to the people you love. Every circle of friends has someone who’s the gravitational center. For years, perfect couple Dave and Alex drew their friends in and held them together. Now that they’ve split, does this group have the stuff to stay together? Or do Max, Brad, Jane and Penny have to choose sides? Suddenly every event is a negotiation… like, who gets to go on the annual ski trip? There are a lot of big questions to be answered, but this group has been together so long, somehow, little by little, they’ll figure out how to hold on, even though their center is split up. It helps that Dave and Alex have agreed to stay friends. But there will definitely be other complications down the road – like Penny’s long-suppressed feelings for Dave. What is the waiting period for dating a friend’s ex? This show isn’t afraid to ask the embarrassing personal questions that inevitably arise in every long-term, close-knit group of friends.

“MR. SUNSHINE”

Matthew Perry stars as Ben Donovan, the self-involved manager of a second-rate San Diego sports arena who begins to re-evaluate his life on his 40^th birthday. Working alongside him is his boss and arena owner, Crystal — attractive, powerful and highly erratic; Alice — the cute, tomboyish marketing director and Ben’s friend with benefits; Alonzo – a former basketball player, handsome and unbelievably happy; Ben’s assistant, Heather – pretty, sweet, but terrifying because she once lit a boyfriend on fire; Crystal’s son, Roman – sweet-faced, clueless and Ben’s newest employee; and a hapless operations crew whom Ben refers to collectively as the “Steves.”

ALTERNATIVE SERIES

“SECRET MILLIONAIRE”

“Secret Millionaire” is a one-hour alternative series that follows some of America’s wealthiest people for one week as they leave behind their lavish lifestyles, sprawling mansions and luxury jets, conceal their true identities, and go to live and volunteer in some of the most impoverished and dangerous communities in America. Surviving on welfare wages, their mission is to discover the unsung heroes of America — deserving individuals who continually sacrifice everything to help those in need. Throughout this incredible experience, the Secret Millionaires will attempt to remain undiscovered, coming face to face with extraordinary and amazing people battling the odds every day of their lives. On the final day, in an emotional and dramatic climax, they reveal their true identities. Ultimately, the millionaires will each give away at least $100,000 of their own money, changing lives forever.

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Will Arnett and Keri Russell star in "Running Wilde."

In years past, Fox had a habit of sending a slew of non-starters out for the fall season,  along with “House,”  its undisputed scripted hit, and “Bones,” which in recent seasons has become a strong performer.   As a result, it was hard to take most of what Fox had to say about its fall season seriously at the upfronts because it was generally accepted that most of the new shows wouldn’t make it past the holidays. Fox didn’t truly enter the game until midseason, when “American Idol” and “24″ began their premiered.

This started to change last year once “Bones”  began holding its own on Thursdays. Paired with the struggling but creatively solid “Fringe,” the dramas gave the network its most solid toehold outside of “Idol.”  Then “Glee” came along with its critical acclaim, awards and coolness factor. Suddenly Fox has no reason to wait for January,  and its four new comedies and three dramas sound like real contenders.

Out of these seven new series, three (drama “Lonestar” and comedies “Raising Hope” and “Running Wilde”) premiere in the fall. The comedy entries are worth noting because along with “Glee,” which airs at 8 p.m. Tuesdays with the new series at 9 and 9:30, they represent Fox’s attempt to build a lighter weeknight block to rival what ABC has created on Wednesdays with “Modern Family,” “The Middle” and “Cougar Town.” Naturally Fox is not crazy enough to put these comedies directly against ABC’s  Wednesday night tent; not only are they untested, but Fox hasn’t launched a successful half-hour comedy that isn’t a cartoon since…can you remember? We can’t.

One move on the schedule may worry fans a bit, and for good reason: “Human Target” now airs on Friday at 8p.m. with “The Good Guys,” which gets its first run this summer, following at 9p.m.  Tonally speaking, these two series go together quite well. The problem is that on Fox’s schedule, the Friday night slot is still the place where series go to die. (Remember “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”? “Dollhouse”?)

Viewers will also notice that “American Idol’s” results show is now only half an hour long.  Perhaps Fox is preparing for the inevitable day when “Idol” will — shock — no longer be the powerhouse on its schedule. And perhaps that day is closer than we imagine, with Simon Cowell soon to exit the series.

But, back to the new blood. Fox’s third addition for fall is “Lonestar,” a primetime soap with Texas oil as a backdrop. That airs on 9p.m. Mondays following “House.”

The rest of the new series, including executive producer Shawn Ryan’s (‘The Shield”) new series “Ride-Along,” will premiere in midseason. (Premiere date and timeslot for  “Terra Nova” is TBD.)

Fans are in the process of bidding farewell to “24,” and you won’t see “Past Life” or “Sons of Tucscon” return to the fall 2010 schedule. Word is that the ax also has fallen on “The Wanda Sykes Show.”

Here is the schedule as listed on the Fox press release. All times are ET/PT, and new series are in bold.

MONDAY

8PM  “House”

9PM  “Lonestar”

TUESDAY

8PM  “Glee

9PM “Raising Hope”

9:30PM “Running Wilde”

WEDNESDAY

8PM “Lie to Me”

9PM “Hell’s Kitchen”

THURSDAY

8PM “Bones”

9PM “Fringe”

FRIDAY

8PM  “Human Target”

9PM  “The Good Guys”

SATURDAY

8PM “Cops”

8PM “Cops”

9PM “America’s Most Wanted”

SUNDAY

7PM  “The OT’

8PM “The Simpsons”

8PM “The Cleveland Show’

9PM  “Family Guy”

9PM  “American Dad”

MIDSEASON:

MONDAY

8PM “House”

9PM “Lonestar/ “Ride-Along”

TUESDAY

8PM         “American Idol”

9:30PM  “Running Wilde”/ “Mixed Signals”

WEDNESDAY

8PM “Raising Hope”

8:30PM “American Idol: Results”

9PM “Glee”

THURSDAY

8PM “Bones”

9PM  “Fringe”

FRIDAY

8PM  “Human Target”

9PM   “Kitchen Nightmares”

SATURDAY

8PM “Cops”

8:30PM “Cops”

9PM  “America’s Most Wanted”

SUNDAY

7PM “The Simpsons” (repeats)

7:30PM  “American Dad”

8PM “The Simpsons”

8:30PM “Bob’s Burgers”

9PM “Family Guy”

9:30PM “The Cleveland Show”

Read descriptions of the new series, taken from the network’s press release, after the jump.

The following new comedies will premiere this fall on FOX:

RAISING HOPE

RAISING HOPE is a new single-camera family comedy from Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia (“My Name Is Earl”) that follows the Chance family as they find themselves adding an unexpected new member into their already terribly flawed household. At 23 years old, JIMMY CHANCE (Lucas Neff, “The Beast”) is going nowhere in life. He skims pools for a living, parties every night and still lives at home with his family, including his MAW MAW (guest star Academy Award and Emmy Award winner Cloris Leachman); his mother, VIRGINIA (Martha Plimpton, “How to Make It in America”); his father, BURT (Garret Dillahunt, “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” “Damages”); and his cousin, MIKE (Skyler Stone, “The Mentalist,” “Dollhouse”). Jimmy’s life takes a drastic turn when a chance romantic encounter with LUCY (guest star Bijou Phillips, “Choke,” “Almost Famous”) goes awry once he discovers she is a wanted felon. Months later, when Jimmy pays a visit to the local prison, he discovers Lucy gave birth to their baby, who he is now charged with raising. At home with his new daughter, Jimmy’s family is less than enthusiastic about a new addition to the household. His parents, who had him when they were 15, never knew anything about raising a child and have no interest in trying again. If Jimmy can work up the nerve to ask her out on a date, he might get some help from SABRINA (Shannon Woodward, “The Riches,” “ER”), a sardonic checkout clerk he met at the supermarket. Cousin Mike is only concerned about how the baby is going to affect their social life, and out-of-touch Maw Maw is no help either. But Jimmy is determined to take care of his baby – whom Virginia thinks they should name HOPE. With very few useful skills but their hearts in the right place, will the Chance family be successful when they step into the unpredictable and immensely challenging world of parenting?

RUNNING WILDE

From the Emmy Award-winning creator and the star of the critically acclaimed FOX series “Arrested Development” comes RUNNING WILDE, a romantic comedy starring Will Arnett (“Arrested Development,” “30 Rock”) as STEVE WILDE, a filthy-rich, immature playboy trying desperately to win (or buy) the heart of his childhood sweetheart, EMMY KADUBIC (Keri Russell, “Waitress,” “Felicity”), the über-liberal humanitarian who got away – all told through the perspective of a 12-year-old girl. Steve Wilde has never performed a selfless act. But why should he – he’s rich! The son of an oil tycoon, Steve hasn’t had to work a day in his life and has always gotten everything he’s wanted – with one exception: the love of Emmy. The daughter of a former Wilde housekeeper, Emmy is an earnest do-gooder who has spent her adult life trying to save the world. And though Emmy is content living with an indigenous tribe in the Amazon rainforest, her 12-year-old daughter, PUDDLE (Stefania Owen, “The Lovely Bones”), just wants to be a normal kid experiencing her adolescence in a normal place. And she would speak up except for the fact that she hasn’t spoken in years. When Wilde Oil’s expansion in the rainforest threatens her adopted tribe, Emmy decides to attend Steve’s self-thrown “Humanitarian of the Year” award ceremony in hopes of convincing him to help her cause…and also maybe because she still has a thing for Steve. But same-old Steve is unwilling to help because fighting Wilde Oil (a/k/a Dad) means putting his meal ticket in jeopardy. Rather than run the risk of letting Emmy slip away again, Steve pulls out all the stops to win her heart. To do so, he enlists the only other people in his life who can help: MIGO SALAZAR (Joe Nuñez, “Superbad,” “Prison Break”), Steve’s employee/sidekick/errand-boy, and GERTIE STELLVERTRETTER (Jayne Houdyshell, “Law & Order”), Steve’s nanny-turned-head-of-security as well as the biggest protector of Steve…and her own job. Despite having everything he ever wanted, Steve knows he can’t buy love and happiness, which falls in sharp contrast to Emmy, who has nothing but love and happiness. So with Emmy committed to doing good for nothing, and Steve being a good for nothing, will this hopelessly mismatched pair ever be able to reconcile their differences?

The following new drama will debut this fall on FOX:

LONESTAR

From Chris Keyser and Amy Lippman, the creators of “Party of Five”; Marc Webb, the director of “(500) Days of Summer”; and creator Kyle Killen, comes LONESTAR, a provocative soap set against the backdrop of big Texas oil. ROBERT/BOB ALLEN (newcomer James Wolk) is a charismatic and brilliant schemer who has meticulously constructed two lives in two different parts of Texas. He’s juggling two identities and two women in two very different worlds – all under one mountain of lies. As “Bob,” he lives in Houston and is married to CAT (Adrianne Palicki, “Friday Night Lights”), the beautiful daughter of CLINT (Jon Voight, 24, “Midnight Cowboy”), the patriarch of an ultra-wealthy Texas oil family. More than 400 miles away in the suburban west Texas town of Midland, he’s “Robert,” living a second life with his sweet, naïve girlfriend, LINDSAY (Eloise Mumford, “Mercy,” “Law & Order: SVU”). In Midland, he plays the perfect boyfriend while secretly bilking local investors of their savings. In Houston, he’s a devoted husband, charming Cat and her family to cement his position in the rich family business he aims to clean out. Bob has lived both lives successfully for years without arousing any suspicions…so far. While one brother-in-law, DREW (Bryce Johnson, “Popular,” “The Mentalist”), admires Bob, his other brother-in-law, TRAMMELL (Mark Deklin, “Nip/Tuck,” “Desperate Housewives”), is suspicious of his motives. Bob begins to fear his secret lives may unravel. With the cons closing in on him, Bob is divided by his love for two women; his loyalty to his father and mentor, JOHN (David Keith, “An Officer and a Gentleman,” “The Class”); and his respect for his father-in-law, Clint. Now as he tries to hold his two lives together, while fending off angry investors and the suspicions of those around him, Bob puts it all on the line hoping he can beat the odds, leave the schemes behind and keep two separate relationships afloat.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20^th Century Fox Television, Depth of Field Productions, Keyser/Lippman Productions

CREATOR/WRITER: Kyle Killen

The new animated comedy joining the FOX schedule in mideason is:

BOB’S BURGERS

BOB’S BURGERS is a new animated series about a man, his family and a burger joint. A third-generation restaurateur, BOB BELCHER (H. Jon Benjamin, FAMILY GUY, “Archer”) runs Bob’s Burgers with the help of his wife and their three kids. Bob has big ideas about burgers, condiments and sides, but only a few thoughts on customer service and business management. Despite his greasy counters, lousy location and occasionally spotty service, Bob is convinced his burgers speak for themselves. Even though business is slow, Bob gets to work with his family. His wife, LINDA BELCHER (John Roberts, “The Christmas Tree,” “Jackie & Debra”), supports Bob’s dream through thick and thin (but truth be told, she’s getting a little sick of the thin). Their eldest daughter, TINA (Dan Mintz, “Important Things with Demetri Martin,” “The Andy Milonakis Show”), is a 13-year-old hopeless romantic with minimal social skills. Middle child GENE (Eugene Mirman, “Flight of the Conchords,” “Aqua Teen Hunger Force”) is an aspiring musician and a prankster who serves up more jokes than burgers. Their youngest, LOUISE (Kristen Schaal, “Flight of the Conchords,” “Modern Family”), is the most enthusiastic about her dad’s business, but an off-balance sense of humor and her elevated energy level make her somewhat of a liability in the kitchen. Beyond the restaurant is a city rich with character. Next door to Bob’s is It’s Your Funeral Home and Crematorium; down the street is Wonder Wharf, the oceanside amusement pier; and a few blocks away is Wagstaff Middle School, where Bob and Linda’s kids go to school. And across the street is Jimmy Pesto’s Pizzeria, Bob’s Burgers’ main competition and the thorn in Bob’s side.

The two new dramas slated for midseason debuts are:

TERRA NOVA

From executive producers Steven Spielberg, Peter Chernin, Brannon Braga (24, “Star Trek: Enterprise”) and David Fury (“Lost,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) comes an epic family adventure 85 million years in the making. TERRA NOVA follows an ordinary family embarking on an incredible journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of a massive experiment to save the human race. In the year 2149 the world is dying. The planet is overdeveloped, overcrowded and overpolluted. With the majority of plant and animal life extinct, devotion to science has brought mankind to the brink of destruction, but has also provided its only hope for salvation. Knowing there is no way to reverse the damage to the planet, a coalition of scientists has managed to open up a fracture in the space-time continuum, creating a portal to prehistoric Earth. This doorway leads to an amazing world, one that allows for a last-ditch effort to save the human race…possibly changing the future by correcting the mistakes of the past. The series centers on the Shannon family as they join the tenth pilgrimage of settlers to TERRA NOVA, the first colony of humans in this second chance for civilization. JIM SHANNON, a devoted father with a checkered past, guides his family through this new land of limitless beauty, mystery and terror. Jim’s wife, ELISABETH SHANNON, is a trauma surgeon chosen through a global lottery as a new addition to Terra Nova’s medical team. JOSH SHANNON is their son, mourning the girl he left behind, as he’s torn between two role models – his father and the charismatic COMMANDER FRANK TAYLOR, the leader of the settlement, and the heroic first pioneer through the time portal. MADDY SHANNON, Jim and Elizabeth’s teen daughter, is as independent and adventurous as her parents, but her distrust of authority soon leads her on a dangerous path. In addition to blue skies, rolling rivers and lush vegetation, TERRA NOVA offers new opportunities and fresh beginnings to its recent arrivals, but the Shannons have brought with them a familial secret that may threaten their citizenship in this utopia. Additionally these adventurers soon discover that this healthy, vibrant world is not as idyllic as it initially appears. The areas surrounding Terra Nova are filled with dangerous dinosaurs, and other prehistoric threats, as well as external forces that may be intent on destroying this new world before it begins. But perhaps even more threatening than what lies outside the protective walls is the Shannons’ realization that something sinister may be happening inside TERRA NOVA as not everyone on this mission has the same intentions of how best to save mankind.

RIDE-ALONG

The city of Chicago is a paradox that serves as the setting for RIDE-ALONG, a new drama from Shawn Ryan (“The Shield,” “The Unit”). During a ride-along, a civilian spends a shift in the passenger seat of a squad car, observing the work day of a police officer. But in this series, the audience is the passenger, taking an unpredictable ride through the streets of Chicago and navigating crime and corruption with the most respected – and notorious – cops in the city. JAREK WYSOCKI (Jason Clarke, “Public Enemies,” “Brotherhood”) is a local legend and larger-than-life veteran of the Chicago Police Department. Like the city of Chicago, Jarek is razor blades and brass knuckles wrapped in politeness and egoless charm – a man who throws away partners the way others throw away tissues. TERESA COLVIN (Jennifer Beals, LIE TO ME, “The L Word”) arrived at the pinnacle of the Chicago Police Department in a short period of time. She’s determined to implement changes before the mud that is Chicago politics clogs her office. As a result of Teresa’s difficult choices, she has made some powerful enemies along the way, including two street gangs, the police officers’ union and a city alderman who proves to be a dangerous adversary. Jarek’s new partner, CALEB EVERS (Matt Lauria, “Friday Night Lights”), is a smart and observant young detective who desperately wants to prove himself. He is savvier and more observant than most people give him credit for, and just might make the perfect yin to Jarek’s yang. Also in Jarek’s charge is his niece, VONDA WYSOCKI (Devin Kelley, “Tease”), a rookie beat cop whose father, Jarek’s brother, was killed in the line of duty when she was young. Jarek keeps close tabs on her and is less than thrilled to discover she’s falling for her partner, ISAAC JOINER (Todd Williams, “In Plain Sight,” “CSI”), a charismatic cop who takes unnecessary risks on the job that land him and Vonda in some dangerous situations. ALDERMAN RONIN GIBBONS (Delroy Lindo, “Kidnapped”) is a building-magnate-turned-politician who has ruled his ward with a velvet glove for three decades. Jarek and Teresa are convinced Gibbons and his cohorts, including LIAM HENNESSEY (Billy Lush, “The Black Donnellys”), an Irish tough guy in Gibbons’ construction empire, are dirty to the core, but they’ve never had the evidence to prove it. When a murder investigation leads them to Gibbons, they are determined to bring him to justice and clean up Chicago – if that’s even possible.

The following new comedy will premiere in the spring:

MIXED SIGNALS

MIXED SIGNALS is a new comedy series about three longtime friends and their attempts to reconcile the irreconcilable: to balance their relationships with their need for freedom. The series reveals how friendships and romances enhance – and further complicate – the lives of men and the women who love them. ETHAN (Kris Marshall, HUMAN TARGET, “My Family”) is the perpetual bachelor. He loves women, and when he’s in, he’s all in – at least for three weeks. Charming, genuine and hopelessly independent, Ethan is finding out that as he gets older, the pool of women who are willing to take things day by day is rapidly evaporating. ADAM (Nelson Franklin, “The Office,” “I Love You Man”) recently moved in with his girlfriend, CALLIE (Alexandra Breckenridge, FAMILY GUY), and is learning how vastly different “she comes over a lot” and “she lives with me” really are. Adam is discovering there isn’t much “me” time any more, there’s only “us” time. MIKE (David Denman, “The Office”) is a married lawyer still trying to figure out the male-female dynamic. He wants nothing more than to be a good family man to his wife, LISA (Liza Lapira, “Dexter,” “Dollhouse”), and his infant son, but he’s also trying to carve out a little space for himself. Currently that space is in his car, where he watches action movies in 15-minute chunks while telling his wife he’s stuck in traffic.

Editor’s note: This week brings the network upfronts, which take place in New York. The upfronts are a traditional industry practice in which networks unveil their fall schedules to advertisers, hoping to get them to commit ad dollars to blocks of programming ahead of their premiere. To regular viewers, however, this is the week during which we find out whether our favorite programs will be coming back in the fall.

IMDb’s TV blog will be regularly updated with information on the day the networks unveil their schedules. NBC and Fox are up first.

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IMDb’s TV blog will be regularly updated with information on the day the networks unveil their schedules. NBC and Fox are up first.

Although NBC officially presented its fall schedule to advertisers on Monday, the big news already hit the airwaves last Friday when various industry news outlets reported that long-running series “Law & Order” was getting the ax. While this was not surprising from a ratings standpoint (viewership for first-run episodes has been feeble this season, to put it kindly) it was a shock to those who believed NBC would at least let Dick Wolf achieve his goal of breaking the record set by “Gunsmoke,” which ran for 20 seasons. Alas, “Law & Order” will only tie that record, leaving “The Simpsons” as the only series to go beyond that mark.

Shocking news, yes; whether it is good or bad is a matter of personal opinion. Same goes for the cancellations of “Trauma,” “Mercy” and “Heroes,” all of which had their share of die-hard fans…just not enough of them. The light in all of this darkness, however, is that NBC seems confident that it has a strong schedule for the fall — and for the first time in a long time, that declaration does not on the face of it seem laughable.

Better still is the news that cult-fave spy comedy “Chuck” has a place on that schedule, remaining on Mondays at 8 p.m.

NBC is serious about strengthening its Thursday comedy presence, keeping its block largely intact save for the addition of new comedy “Outsourced.” According to reports “Parks & Recreation,” which vastly improved in it second year, is set to return in midseason. (Or sooner, if “Outsourced” doesn’t work.) Additionally, the network is maintaning the evening’s tone at 10p.m. with the introduction of the hour-long comedy “Love Bites,” starring Becki Newton (of “Ugly Betty”) and Jordana Spiro (of “My Boys”) as two of the last remaining single girls in their group of friends.

More excitement is brewing about the new J.J. Abrams action series “Undercovers,” starring Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as ex-spies pulled back into the game when a friend disappears. That leads in to the still-potent “Law & Order: SVU,” which will be followed by Dick Wolf’s latest entry in to the franchise, “Law & Order: Los Angeles,” which sounds like the same formula on a different coast.

Here’s NBC’s Fall 2010 schedule and short descriptions of its new series, taken from the network’s press release. All times listed are ET/PT and new series are in bold. As always, feel free to share your take on NBC’s new schedule in the comments area.

MONDAY
8-9 p.m. -  “Chuck”
9-10 p.m. –  “The Event”
10-11 p.m. -  “Chase”

TUESDAY
8-10 p.m. – “The Biggest Loser”
10-11 p.m. – “Parenthood”

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. – “Undercovers”
9-10 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
10-11 p.m. – “Law & Order: Los Angeles”

THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. – “Community”
8:30-9 p.m. – “30 Rock”
9-9:30 p.m. -  “The Office”
9:30-10 p.m. -  “Outsourced”
10-11 p.m. -   “Love Bites”

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. – “Who Do You Think You Are?”/”School Pride”

9-10 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”
10-11 p.m. – “Outlaw”

SATURDAY
Encore programming

SUNDAY
7- 8:15 p.m. — “Football Night in America”
8:15-11:30 p.m. — “NBC Sunday Night Football”

SUNDAY MIDSEASON (beginning March 2011)
7-8 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”
8-9 p.m. – “Minute to Win It”
9-11 p.m. – “The Celebrity Apprentice”

Descriptions of the new series are after the jump.

New Dramas

‘THE EVENT’ — “The Event” is an emotional, high-octane conspiracy thriller that follows Sean Walker (Jason Ritter, “The Class”), an Everyman who investigates the mysterious disappearance of his fiancée, Leila (Sarah Roemer, “Disturbia”), and unwittingly begins to expose the biggest cover-up in U.S. history.  Sean’s quest will send ripples through the lives of an eclectic band of strangers, including: newly elected U.S. President Martinez (Golden Globe nominee Blair Underwood, “In Treatment”); Sophia (Emmy Award nominee Laura Innes, “ER”), who is the leader of a mysterious group of detainees; and Sean’s shadowy father-in-law (Scott Patterson, “Gilmore Girls”).  Their futures are on a collision course in a global conspiracy that could ultimately change the fate of mankind.  Ian Anthony Dale (“Daybreak”) and Emmy winner Željko Ivanek (“Damages”) also star in the ensemble drama. 

‘UNDERCOVERS’ – Acclaimed writer/producer/director J.J. Abrams (“Star Trek,” “Fringe,” “Lost,” “Alias”) serves as co-writer, executive producer – and also directs – his first direction of a TV series pilot since “Lost” in “Undercovers” with executive producer/writer Josh Reims (“Brothers and Sisters”).  “Undercovers” is a sexy, fun, action-packed spy drama that proves once and for all that marriage is still the world’s most dangerous partnership.  Outwardly, Steven Bloom (Boris Kodjoe, “Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion,” “Soul Food,” “Resident Evil: Afterlife”) and his wife, Samantha (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, “Doctor Who,” “Bonekickers”), are a typical married couple who own a small catering company in Los Angeles and are helped by Samantha’s easily frazzled younger sister, Lizzy (Jessica Parker Kennedy, “Smallville”).  Secretly, the duo were two of the CIA’s best spies until they fell in love on the job five years ago and retired.  When fellow spy and friend Nash (Carter MacIntyre, “American Heiress”) goes missing while on the trail of a Russian arms dealer, the Blooms are reinstated by boss Carlton Shaw (Gerald McRaney, “Deadwood”) to locate and rescue Nash.  The pair is thrust back into the world of espionage as they follow leads that span the globe — and Steven and Samantha realize that this supercharged, undercover lifestyle provides the excitement and romance that their marriage has been missing.  Also starring is Ben Schwartz (NBC’s “Parks and Recreation”). 

‘THE CAPE’ — “The Cape” is a one-hour drama series starring David Lyons (“ER”) as Vince Faraday, an honest cop on a corrupt police force, who finds himself framed for a series of murders and presumed dead. He is forced into hiding, leaving behind his wife, Dana (Jennifer Ferrin, “Life on Mars”) and son, Trip (Ryan Wynott, “Flash Forward”). Fueled by a desire to reunite with his family and to battle the criminal forces that have overtaken Palm City, Faraday becomes “The Cape” his son’s favorite comic book superhero — and takes the law into his own hands.  Rounding out the cast are James Frain (“The Tudors”) as billionaire Peter Fleming — The Cape’s nemesis — who moonlights as the twisted killer: Chess; Keith David (“Death at a Funeral”) as Max Malini, the ringleader of a circus gang of bank robbers who mentors Vince Faraday and trains him to be The Cape, Summer Glau (“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) as Orwell, an investigative blogger who wages war on crime and corruption in Palm City; and Dorian Missick (“Six Degrees”) as Marty Voyt, a former police detective and friend to Faraday.

‘CHASE’ – “Chase” is a fast-paced drama from Emmy Award-winning executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer (“CSI” franchise, “The Amazing Race,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” films) and executive producer Jennifer Johnson (“Cold Case”) that drops viewers smack into the middle of a game of cat-and-mouse as a team of U.S. marshals hunts down America’s most dangerous fugitives.  Kelli Giddish (“Past Life”) stars as U.S. Marshal Annie Frost, a cowboy boot-wearing deputy whose sharp mind and unique Texas upbringing help her track down the violent criminals on the run.  Cole Hauser (“K-Ville”), Amaury Nolasco (“Prison Break”), Rose Rollins (“The L Word”) and Jesse Metcalfe (“Desperate Housewives”) also star as members of Frost’s elite team. 

‘OUTLAW’ – Starring Emmy Award winner Jimmy Smits (“NYPD Blue,” “The West Wing”), “Outlaw” is a new drama from executive producer John Eisendrath (“Alias,” “Felicity,” “Playmakers”).  Cyrus Garza (Smits) is a U.S. Supreme Court justice who abruptly quits the high-level position.  A playboy and a gambler, Garza had always adhered to a strict interpretation of the law until he realized the system he believed in was flawed.  Now that he’s quit the bench and returned to private practice, he’s determined to represent “the little guy” and use his inside knowledge of the justice system to take on today’s biggest legal cases — and he’s making plenty of powerful people unhappy along the way.  Jesse Bradford (“The West Wing”), Carly Pope (“24″), Ellen Woglom (“Californication”) and David Ramsey (“Dexter”) also star.

‘HARRY’S LAW’ — Emmy Award-winning creator David E. Kelley (“The Practice,” “Boston Legal”) brings his unique storytelling to “Harry’s Law,” a series about fate and the people it brings together, starring Academy Award winner Kathy Bates (“Misery,” “About Schmidt”).  Harriet (Bates), Matthew (Ben Chaplin, “Me and Orson Wells”) and Malcolm (Aml Ameen, “Kidulthood”) couldn’t be any more different.  Harriet is a curmudgeonly ex-patent lawyer who, having just been fired from her cushy job, is completely disillusioned with her success and looking for a fresh start.  Her world unexpectedly collides with Malcolm’s — a young man trying to figure out life. When he finds out Harriet is a lawyer, he begs her to represent him in an upcoming criminal case.  Matthew, a dreamer at heart and also recently fired from his job as a high school teacher, is introduced to Harriet through Malcolm, a previous student of his. When these three cross paths, they realize they’re all looking for a fresh start.  Now, the most unlikely of people are starting a law practice in the most unlikely of places–a rundown shoe store.  “Harry’s Law” also stars Brittany Snow (“Hairspray”) as Harriet’s assistant, Jenna Backstrom and Beatrice Rosen (“Dark Knight”) as Eve, a high school French teacher.

‘LAW & ORDER: LOS ANGELES’ – The new “Law & Order: Los Angeles” is a procedural crime drama that will follow the theme and storylines similar to the “Law & Order”-brand series on the streets of Los Angeles.

New Comedy Series

‘PERFECT COUPLES’ — “Perfect Couples” depicts the misadventures of three engaging couples as they struggle to find out what makes the ideal relationship — and how to maintain it through humorous trial-and-error.  The series explores their heroic journey in search of the perfect relationship without destroying each other in the process.  Dave (Kyle Howard, “My Boys”) and Julia (Christine Woods, “Flash Forward”) are the relatable, normal couple, but Julia’s hope of remaining the cool, low-maintenance chick is tested by Dave’s attempts to keep both his wife and his needy best friend Vance (David Walton, “Heist”) equally happy.  Vance, along with the neurotic Amy (Mary Elizabeth Ellis, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), are the high-passion, high-drama couple who bring out the best and worst in each other.  The third duo features Rex (Hayes MacArthur, “She’s Out of My League”), a reformed party guy, and, and his wife, Leigh (Olivia Munn, “Attack of the Show”), who considers herself as the group’s mother hen.  Believing that they are relationship experts, Rex and Leigh have attended every class and seminar on relationships — and regard themselves as the “perfect couple.” 

‘OUTSOURCED’ — “Outsourced” is a comedy where the Midwest meets the exotic East in a hilarious culture clash. The series centers on the all-American company Mid America Novelties that sells whoopee cushions, foam fingers and wallets made of bacon — and whose call center has suddenly been outsourced to India. Todd Dempsy (Ben Rappaport, off-Broadway’s “The Gingerbread House”) is the new company’s manager who learns that he’s being transferred to India to run the operation.  Overwhelmed, Todd discovers that his new staff needs a crash course in all things American if they are to understand the U.S. product line and ramp up sales from halfway around the world. But as strange as America seems to his eclectic sales team, Todd soon realizes that figuring out India will be more than a full-time job. Rizwan Manji (“Privileged”), Sacha Dhawan (BBC’s “Five Days II”), Rebecca Hazlewood (BBC’s “Doctors”), Parvesh Cheena (“Help Me Help You”), and Anisha Nagarajan (Broadway’s “Bombay Dreams”) also star as members of Dempsy’s off-shore team; Diedrich Bader (“The Drew Carey Show”) and Jessica Gower (Network Ten’s “The Secret Life of Us”) additionally star.

‘THE PAUL REISER SHOW’ — “The Paul Reiser Show” is a new single camera comedy from Emmy and Golden Globe nominated comedian-author-producer-actor Paul Reiser (“Mad About You”) and writer-producer Jonathan Shapiro (“Life”).  The show stars Paul Reiser as…Paul Reiser.  It’s been a few years since Paul’s hit TV series went off the air. Since then, he’s been enjoying the quiet life at home with his lovely wife and kids and generally minding his own business.  Lately, however, Paul has been thinking that it’s time he did something new, something meaningful.  As to what that next thing might be, he has no idea.  In his quest to figure it out, Paul is helped and hindered by his new “friends.”  Like most men his age, Paul didn’t choose these friends.  They’re the husbands of his wife’s friends, the dads of kids that his boys go to school with. Thrown together by circumstance, Paul and his friends form an unlikely comradeship — and a horrible basketball team.  In addition to Reiser, Ben Shenkman (“Angels in America”) stars as Jonathan, Omid Djalili (“The Infidel”) as Habib, Duane Martin (“All of Us”) as Fernando, Andrew Daly (“MADtv”) as Brad, Amy Landecker (“A Serious Man”) as Claire, Brock Waidmann as Zeke and Koby Rouviere (“Greenberg”) as Gabe.

‘FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS’ — From Oscar and Emmy winner Brian Grazer (“A Beautiful Mind,” “Arrested Development”), “Friends With Benefits” is a half-hour comedy revolving around a group of twenty-something singles as they navigate the difficult, and often confusing, world of dating.  Ben Weymouth (Ryan Hansen, “Party Down”) is on the hunt for the perfect woman who meets his unique set of standards, while his best friend, Sara Maxwell (Danneel Harris, “One Tree Hill”), is just looking for a man to settle down with and raise a family.  Ben and Sara have fallen into the habit of turning to each other for moral and physical support as they wait for Mr. and Ms. Right to arrive.  Their friend Aaron (Fran Kranz, “Dollhouse”), a romantic at heart, doesn’t approve of Ben and Sara’s complicated friendship, but he, along with womanizer Hoon (Ian Reed Kesler) and straight shooter Riley (Jessica Lucas, “Cloverfield”), are all distracted with their own dating trials and tribulations. 

New One-Hour Comedy Series

‘LOVE BITES’ – From Emmy Award-winning writer-producer Cindy Chupack (“Sex and the City”), “Love Bites” is an hour-long romantic comedy anthology series featuring three loosely connected, modern stories of love, sex, marriage and dating. Each episode contains multiple vignettes, all illuminating the theme of love with an edgy, irreverent spin.  Becki Newton (“Ugly Betty”) stars as Annie and Jordana Spiro (“My Boys”) stars as Frannie, the last two single girls standing after all of their friends get married. Annie is an infectiously bubbly optimist and Frannie is an always-a-bridesmaid realist. Their story will anchor the series, while other romantically-challenged characters will come and go each week.  The pilot’s guest cast includes Jennifer Love Hewitt (“Ghost Whisperer”), Greg Grunberg (“Heroes”), Craig Robinson (“The Office”), Jason Lewis (“Sex and the City”), Lindsay Price (“Lipstick Jungle”), Larry Wilmore (“The Daily Show”), Charlyne Yi (“Knocked Up”), Pamela Adlon (“Californication”), Stacy Galina (“Hidden Hills”), Brian Hallisay (“Privileged”), Kyle Howard (“My Boys”) and Steve Howey (“Bride Wars”). 
New Alternative Series

‘SCHOOL PRIDE’ – From executive producers Cheryl Hines (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and Denise Cramsey (“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and “True Beauty”), “School Pride” is a proactive, alternative series that tells the stories of communities coming together to renovate their aging and broken public schools.  While transforming the school, the community also restores its sense of value and school pride.  The cameras follow students, teachers and parents as they roll up their sleeves and rebuild their own schools, concluding with the unveiling of a brand new, completely transformed school.  They are motivated by a quartet of community organizers and personalities — SWAT Commander Tom Stroup, interior designer Susie Castillo (“House of Payne”), comedian and former substitute teacher Kym Whitley (“Til Death”) and political correspondent Jacob Soboroff (“AMC News”).  Together, the team of experts will lead the community through the makeover process.  Months later, cameras will revisit the school to discover the lasting effects of the transformation — a renewed sense of school pride and an increase in student achievement scores.  “School Pride” is produced by Horizon Alternative Television.

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Bradley Whitford and Colin Hanks in "The Good Guys"

On Tuesday morning Fox released its summer line-up, and it includes a few mixed blessings.

First things first: among the announcements was news that “Glee’s” season finale will air on June 8 at 9PM ET/PT — a great way to kick off the summer, don’t you think? “Glee” will air in repeats at 8 PM Wednesdays starting on June 16.

Summer stalwart “So You Think You Can Dance” returns to the schedule with a two-hour premiere on May 27, and “Hell Kitchen” begins its off-season cycle with a two-hour premiere on June 10.

Here’s where things get interesting. Remember when Fox confused viewers with its wan commitment to “Lie to Me” by ordering more episodes right before disappearing it from the midseason schedule?  The network was saving it for a summertime run, it seems.  “Lie to Me” will be paired with the new hour-long comedy from “Burn Notice” creator Matt Nix, “The Good Guys,” on Mondays starting June 7.

Audiences will have an opportunity to see a preview of “The Good Guys” (formerly known as “Code 58“) on Wednesday, May 19, which is smack dab in the middle of sweeps and the final rounds of “American Idol.”  You may recall that Fox reaped huge rewards by using the same strategy to introduce us to “Glee.”

But this is why we mentioned “mixed blessings” in that first paragraph — that preview is in the 8 o’clock slot, which means it won’t be getting any benefit of an “Idol” lead-in. (Not that having “Idol” as a lead-in guarantees success anyway; it worked for “Glee,” a musical comedy, for obvious reasons. It has not worked for a number of canceled Fox experiments, including this one. )

That means “The Good Guys” and “Lie to Me” must succeed or fail pretty much on their own, which is a difficult enough task during the regular season. During the summer, when viewership is lower?…Well, we’re just glad Shawn Ryan,  “Lie to Me’s” incredibly talented showrunner (who previously executive produced “The Shield” and “The Unit“) has another cop series in the pipeline called “Ridealong.”

On paper, summertime has the benefit of lower competition. Reality series thrive during the warmest months, largely due to their relatively lower production costs. But it’s still a tough place for scripted programs to find a foothold. Even if networks and audiences are changing their attitudes about summer scheduling, it is still the season for burning off episodes of  series that didn’t work during the regular season.  That’s why a handful of “Past Life” episodes are being dumped on to Fridays starting May 28.

Keep reading for the full schedule, as listed on the official press release.

MONDAY

Mondays, beginning June 7:

8:00-9:00 PM              LIE TO ME (Summer Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM            THE GOOD GUYS (Series Premiere)

****************************

TUESDAY

Tuesday, June 1:

8:00-9:00 PM              SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE

9:00-10:00 PM            GLEE

Tuesday, June 8:

8:00-9:00 PM              SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE

9:00-10:00 PM            GLEE (Season Finale)

Tuesdays, beginning June 15:

8:00-10:00 PM            SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE

***************************

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday, May 19:

8:00-9:00 PM              THE GOOD GUYS (Series Preview)

9:00-10:00 PM            AMERICAN IDOL

Wednesdays, June 2 and 9:

8:00-10:00 PM            SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE

Wednesdays, beginning June 16:

8:00-9:00 PM              GLEE (Time Period Premiere) (Encores)

9:00-10:00 PM            SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (Time Period Premiere)

***************************

THURSDAY

Thursdays, beginning May 27:

8:00-10:00 PM            SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (Season Premiere)

Thursdays, beginning June 10:

8:00-10:00 PM            HELL’S KITCHEN (Season Premiere)

***************************

FRIDAY

Friday, May 28:

8:00-10:00 PM            PAST LIFE (Two-Hour Summer Premiere)

Fridays, June 4 and 11:

8:00-9:00 PM              PAST LIFE (Time Period Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM            HOUSE (Time Period Premiere) (Encores)

Fridays, beginning June 18:

8:00-9:00 PM              BONES (Time Period Premiere) (Encores)

9:00-10:00 PM            HOUSE (Encores)

***************************

SATURDAY

Saturdays (no change to lineup):

8:00-8:30 PM             COPS

8:30-9:00 PM              COPS

9:00-10:00 PM            AMERICA’S MOST WANTED

11:00 PM-Midnight     THE WANDA SYKES SHOW

Midnight-12:30 AM     ANIMATION DOMINATION (Encores)

***************************

SUNDAY

Sundays, beginning June 6:

7:00-9:30 PM              ANIMATION DOMINATION

9:30-10:00 PM            SONS OF TUCSON

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In the channel’s executive session, HBO co-president Richard Plepler and Michael Lombardo, president of its programming group and West Coast operations, officially gave the green light to another season of “Entourage,” a third season of “True Blood” and a sophomore season for “Hung.”

The sheer heat that this summer’s “True Blood”  episodes are putting out makes its renewal a no-brainer.  Ditto for “Entourage,” even if it’s getting a touch long in the tooth by cable TV standards.  But “Hung’s” quick renewal comes as something of a surprise, as it’s barely halfway through its first season.

Could this be a sign that the premium channel is actually thriving in spite of the recession?  Well, Lombardo says, yes. Sort of.

“No business is recession proof,”  he admitted, but described HBO’s business as resilient.  According to Lombardo, they don’t have lots of money to spend, but what he calls an “enviable” amount.  The “cocooning” trend has been good to the channel, according to the execs; DVD sales are doing well, and viewership is up across the board.

“Unfortunately, that has not resulted in the coffers opening wider for original programming,” added Plepler.

But it hasn’t resulted in heartbreaking slices to its content either. “Big Love,” for example,  will be back in January.  The seventh season of  “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is coming September 20, coupled with the arrival of “Bored to Death,” a new comedy starring Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis.

HBO was not ready to commit to another season of “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency,” but execs advised reporters not to write any eulogies just yet. Their hesitance to renew has more to do with the sudden passing of series creator Anthony Minghella last spring. Minghella sculpted the direction for the first season and directed the pilot before he died, and execs stressed the need to find the right showrunner to take his place before committing to season two.

As for a third season for “Flight of the Conchords,” Lombardo said that’s entirely up to Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie. “We’re waiting, and as soon as they tell us they’re ready, we’d be thrilled,” Lombardo says.

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"Glee" joins Fox's fall schedule Sept. 16.

So, you think you can “Dance” again this fall?

Or would you rather watch B-List celebrities do it?

That, my friends,  is the question you must ask yourselves as you peruse Fox’s fall schedule,  released  earlier this week.

“So You Think You Can Dance” kicks off on Wednesday, Sept.  16 — leading into the official premiere of  “Glee.”   By adding a fall cycle of “Dance,” heretofore a summertime series, Fox is pitting its performance episodes against the results edition of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” on Tuesday nights.

Wisely, the upcoming season of “Dance” is premiering a week before “Dancing with the Stars,” which starts Monday Sept. 21.

Meanwhile, “House” starts its sixth season with a two-hour premiere on Sept. 21.

The network also will throw “Bones” and “Fringe” into the lucrative and highly competitive Thursday night fray on Sept. 17.  “Dollhouse” returns at 9 p.m. the following night, Sept. 18. Unfortunately it has two comedies,  the  zombie known as “‘Til Death” and the untested “Brothers” as a lead-in…on Friday night. Good luck, Joss!

Be that as it may:  Seth MacFarlane further solidifies his dominance over Fox’s Sunday night line-up with the premiere of “The Cleveland Show” at 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 27, following “The Simpsons” at 8 and leading into the “Family Guy” season premiere at 9.

The full Fox premiere schedule can be found after the jump.

Saturday, Sept. 12

8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT            COPS (Season Premiere)

8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT            COPS (All-New Episode)

9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT          AMERICA‘S MOST WANTED (Season Premiere)

Wednesday, Sept. 16

8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT            SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT          GLEE (Series Premiere)

Thursday, Sept. 17

8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT            BONES (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT          FRINGE (Season Premiere)

Friday, Sept. 18

8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT            BROTHERS (Series Premiere)

8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT            ‘TIL DEATH (Season Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT          DOLLHOUSE (Season Premiere)

Monday, Sept. 21

8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT          HOUSE (2-Hour Season Premiere)

Sunday, Sept. 27

8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT            THE SIMPSONS (Season Premiere)

8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT            THE CLEVELAND SHOW (Series Premiere)

9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT            FAMILY GUY (Season Premiere)

9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT          AMERICAN DAD (Season Premiere)

Monday, Sept. 28

8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT            HOUSE (All-New Episode)

9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT          LIE TO ME (Season Premiere)

Tuesday, Sept. 29

8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT            HELL’S KITCHEN (All-New Episode)

9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT          SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (Time Period Premiere)

Tuesday, Oct. 27

8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (Time Period Premiere)

Saturday, Nov. 7

11:00 PM-Midnight ET/PT   THE WANDA SYKES SHOW (wt) (Series Premiere)

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John Lithgow. Courtesy of Wire Image/Dimitrios Kambouris.

When the TV news cameras come calling, people tend to describe any serial killers discovered to be living in their area as polite, private but personable, a guy seemingly incapable of hatcheting humans into ground chuck. No, not in a million years, they say, and to think all that was happening two doors down? Shocking.

That’s why it makes perfect sense for “Dexter’s” producers to have tapped the ever-so-pleasant John Lithgow to portray a man with the same grisly hobby as our favorite Miami Police Department blood-spatter analyst. Lithgow is set to appear in all 12 of season four’s episodes.

According to  Showtime’s press release, Lithgow will play Walter Simmons, “an unassuming, mild-mannered suburbanite who has been living a dual life as one of America’s most prolific and deadliest serial killers.  Dubbed the “Trinity Killer” because of his proclivity to kill in threes, he relocates to Miami after being tracked by F.B.I. Special Agent Frank Lundy (Keith Carradine).”

Naturally dear Dexter, a murderer who takes pride in his work, is bound to feel a special connection and fascination with Mr. Simmons.

One also wonders if the “trinity” business is part of a larger theme for season four, what with Dexter on the verge of fatherhood, and his dad’s spirit looming large in his thoughts. Father, son, unholy ghost…and the Trinity Killer? Can’t wait to see what happens.

“Dexter’s” fourth season kicks off on Sept. 27 on Showtime.

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