TV or not TV, that is the question

As winter couch potato season sets in, even the residents of a vacation paradise like ours may find the pleasures of the indoors, including the undiscovered landscape of the new TV season, starting to beckon.

True, in the past few years, the lines between summer reruns and new fall programming have blurred. Still, come autumn, the networks bend over backwards to lure new viewers, and this fall we have a mélange—something old, something new, some things boring, some things true. Herewith a guide for those sampling the new season’s wares.

Monday

Personally, I’m still a big fan of the CBS line up. Returning amusements “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS 8:00 p.m.) gains momentum, along with an Emmy nod, and I look forward to the antics of our new friends. “Accidentally On Purpose” (CBS 8:30 p.m.) starring the effervescent Jenna Elfman, makes me nervous. I like her, I really do, yet the jury remains out on whether she has attached herself to another clunker, and only time will tell.

The creative team behind both “Two and 1/2 Men” and “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS 9:00 and 9:30 p.m.) continues its love affair with audiences and awards ceremonies. “Men” is enjoying it’s post-honeymoon heyday and not only relies on the strength of it’s leads, Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer, but also smartly employs some of the best character actors in the business, while “Bang” relies not on star power, but the classic ensemble. Jim Parsons became conspicuous momentarily with his Emmy nod recently, but it is the strength of the group as a whole, rather than the individual, that makes this comedy stand out.

Tuesday

I’m officially over “NCIS” and it’s newest incarnation, “NCIS - Los Angeles” (CBS 8:00 and 9:00 p.m.), but opposite The CW’s “90210” and “Melrose Place,” in the same time slot, I’m not sure where to turn. Being over 40 has its drawbacks sometimes. Although the new Jay Leno (NBC 10:00 p.m.) show runs nightly, I suppose we have to include him somewhere, so Tuesday it is. I imagine his contract is multi-year, so America will have to endure, or just change the channel.

Wednesday

Between a plethora of reality programming and so-so sitcoms, it is with great relief that the much anticipated “Glee” (FOX 9:00 p.m.) appears (in my humble opinion) to be living up to the hype. Fast-paced, funny and fresh, this musical-within-a-show shines with new faces, sparkling dialog and an innovative slant on the ho-hum. Thank you. PBS has launched the new “Great Lodges of the National Parks (check local listings) and is so worth catching. Millions of acres of this country belong to us, its citizens, and it’s high time we were all made aware of how rich in diversity this beautiful country is. If the only way to see it is from your living room, so be it—at least Public Broadcasting is sharing these glorious national treasures with us. Oh, and Leno is on at 10:00 p.m.

Thursday

The CW appears to have another hit for its target audience: the younger set. “Vampire Diaries” airs at 8:00 p.m. and is all the rage at the water cooler, only the coolers are in high school hallways. “Fringe” is back, for some reason (FOX 9:00 p.m.) and these both compete with the lineup over at NBC. Between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m., NBC assaults the viewer with SNL sketches (?) and on both sides of the popular “The Office” attempts to keep us there with snoozefest “Parks & Recreation” and the (most likely already canceled) “Community with Chevy Chase.” Is that why they’re shoving old SNL reruns at us earlier in the evening? No matter, won’t matter, mark my words. One word: “Leno.”

FRIDAY

Yes, the powers that be still believe that anyone willing to buy what their advertisers wish to sell are not home watching TV on Friday nights. Evidently, anyone between the ages of 18 and 39 are all out shopping, eating, drinking and buying, leaving the rest of us to slowly creep toward our demise, death ‘round every corner. Naturally, the Friday night programming reflects this and gives us ghosts, ghosts and hmmm—ghosts, since the nets clearly think we gray-hairs already have one foot in the grave.

While “Ghost Whisperer” (CBS 8:00 p.m.) boasts the many charms of the stunning Jennifer Love Hewitt, I still have not forgiven them for “jumping the shark” with Melinda’s husband, Jim. I still watch—but am waiting to find out it was a dream. On the same network at 9:00 p.m., the ghosts tackle crime with Patricia Arquette on “Medium,” and while sometimes scary, it’s still the mystery that stars and I’m not bored—yet.

Not to be outdone, the Travel Channel offers us “Ghost Adventures” for two full hours from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. Based on “real life” stories and places, this “actuality” programming is at least unscripted, something different, and clearly is helping the Friday night viewer prepare to “cross over”… Leno may be the death of me yet.

Saturday And Sunday

Attend a harvest festival. Go fishing. Play pool. Read a book. See a play. Bake a pie or—watch some TV. It’s really up to you.