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Expect the lovely Amanda Peet to light up Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip this fall. CTV will broadcast this NBC show on Sundays, starting Sept. 17.
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It's painfully unfair that during summer's hottest months, when you want to stay inside to escape the heat and humidity and the ear-splitting buzz of those monstrous cicadas, there's absolutely diddly-squat to watch on TV.
Then: Autumn! Temperatures that don't make you shrivel like a salted leech the second you walk outdoors. Leaves turning all shades of glorious colour. Parks and pools suddenly less crowded. And all the TV shows you wish you could have watched during the summer suddenly back on the air and luring you indoors with their siren call. Curses.
Yesterday, Global, CTV and CBC announced the premiere dates of most of their new and returning shows. Rather than just regurgitate the whole list -- check their respective websites, you lazy lot -- we've assembled our own highlight reel.
Plan your fall TV viewing accordingly, and perhaps get an extension cord long enough to let you watch outside. Best of both worlds.
MONDAYS
- Prison Break (Global, returns Aug. 21 at 8 p.m.) The show enters its Dr. Richard Kimball phase as Michael, Linc and the rest of the gang go on the lam.
- The Class (CTV, debuts Sept. 18 at 8 p.m.) From the people who brought you Friends and Mad About You comes a series that's like, well, Friends meets Mad About You, by way of a high school reunion. Colour us curious, if not convinced.
TUESDAYS
- House (Global, returns Sept. 5 at 8 p.m.) Hugh Laurie's crotchety physician and his put-upon staff are back like a rash.
- Standoff (Global, debuts Sept. 5 at 10 p.m.) Expert FBI hostage negotiators by day, lovers by night. It'll be interesting to see if this one can talk its way into audiences' hearts.
WEDNESDAYS
- Kidnapped (Global, debuts Sept. 20 at 10 p.m.) Rich New York family plus kidnapped son equals skeletons peeking out of the closet. Dana Delany and Timothy Hutton star.
- Lost (CTV, returns Oct. 4 at 9 p.m.) Despite last season's head-scratcher of a season finale, fans will be returning en masse to see what the heck is up with those giant magnets.
- Dragon's Den (CBC, debuts Oct. 4 at 8 p.m.) Will CBC's melding of The Apprentice and American Inventor work? Probably not. But it'll be interesting to see it try.
THURSDAYS
- Survivor: Cook Islands (Global, debuts Sept. 14 at 8 p.m.) Another group of fame-whores get shipped off to the tropics to starve and squabble for our amusement.
- Grey's Anatomy (CTV, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m.) It's OK to admit you love this show about doctors playing doctor. Honest.
- Shark (Global, debuts Sept. 21 at 10 p.m.) There's some cicada-level buzz around CBS' James Woods/Spike Lee drama, about a cutthroat defence attorney who decides to switch to the prosecution side.
FRIDAYS
- Ghost Whisperer (CTV, returns Sept. 22 at 8 p.m.) Forget Law & Order, Close To Home, Las Vegas and Crossing Jordan: We need only two reasons to tune into this guiltiest of Friday night pleasures, and Jennifer Love Hewitt has them both.
SATURDAYS
- 30 Rock (CTV, debuts Oct. 14 at 9:30 p.m.) A bright light in the withered wasteland of Saturday night TV? Saturday Night Live alum Tina Fey writes, produces and stars in this TV show about a TV show.
SUNDAYS
- Family Guy (Global, returns Sept. 10 at 9 p.m.) The Griffins are back in the fifth season of Seth MacFarlane's politically-incorrect animated gem, and we can't wait.
- Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip (CTV, debuts Sept. 17 at 10 p.m.) From the creators of The West Wing comes another show-about-a-show. This time it's Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet and Bradley Whitford behind the scenes of an SNL-type series.
- Brothers & Sisters (Global, debuts Sept. 24 at 10 p.m.) The cast alone (Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths and Sally Field) is enough to pique our curiosity about this family drama.
TO BE ANNOUNCED
A slew of returning shows don't have a firm date pegged yet.
But intriguing new series like Canadian Oscar winner Paul Haggis' The Black Donnellys are still on the way this fall, and 24, The Office and My Name Is Earl will all be back. Stay cool.
