TV hits return tonight
“Heroes” is back, as well as “Ugly Betty,” “The Office” and “How I Met Your Mother”
Remember television?
I think I do. But it’s been so long since I’ve seen a fresh new show, I’ve all but forgotten about my TV.
First came the writers’ strike, which stopped production on my favorite shows and effectively crippled the spring season. Then the networks bored me with their traditional summer season of reruns and forgettable reality shows.
TV returns with a vengeance this week, which means it’s time for me to dust off the ol’ remote and get clicking.
It all starts tonight with “Heroes,” returning for a third season that will hopefully redeem the regrettable lapse that was Year Two.
As the title “Villains” would suggest, “Heroes” appears to be moving into darker territory as our main characters start gunning for each other, serial killer Sylar surfaces in the States and tormented researcher Mohinder heads down a frightening new path. Could another world-ending crisis be in the offing? It’s a case of good versus evil, sweet versus sexy.
Also tonight are “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC), “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS) and “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS). It’s a cornucopia of light-weight delights.
On Tuesday, we’ve got the premiere of CBS’s “The Mentalist.” Simon Baker stars as a fake psychic who uses his powers of observation to solve crimes in California. I’ll watch for sexy blond Mr. Baker’s sake but the premise bores the hell out of me — basically, it’s “Psych” without the sass and silliness.
Wednesday offers the unavoidable: NBC’s “Knight Rider” remake, in which a former Army Ranger (Justin Bruening) teams up with souped-up sports car KITT. Half the fun should be checking out the eye candy — human and automotive alike.
ABC’s “Ugly Betty” (fashion! romance! Betty!) and NBC’s “The Office” (uncomfortable emotions wrapped in a cozy blanket of cluelessness) both premiere on Thursday, ensuring that I will be glued to the couch for a few hours. But Friday is free — for now.