Hollywood Deep

Hayden Panettiere, The Cheerleader on “Heroes”

OK the television season officially starts this week. There have been a few shows that have already premiered, but tonight the flood gates open. The highlights of the week for me and some of my favorite shows “Heroes” Monday night, “Boston Legal” Tuesday night, “The Office” Thursday night. Not much for me on Wednesday night, “Bionic Woman” looks like it could be interesting. Friday and Sauturday nights there is absolutely nothing on, rent a DVD or go to the movies. Sunday is for football and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” HBO & Larry David’s classic comedy series is back, also one of my favorites.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Ken Burns has a documentary airing on PBS, “The War”, about World War 2, for 15 hours over seven nights. It started last night, on PBS Sunday through Wednesday, then September 30 to October 2, at 8 p.m. EDT; check local listings.) Burns is a master filmmaker, his documentaries are by far the best in the business. A guy like Michael Moore should bow down to him, and tune in to learn something.
Here are the shows that open up tonight, a pretty solid lineup.

Monday Night September 24, 2007
8:00 p.m. (ABC) “Dancing With the Stars.” Among the new dance competitors as this season begins: a billionaire (Mark Cuban), a former Spice Girl (Melanie Brown, aka Scary Spice), Jennie Garth (of “Beverly Hills, 90210″), Marie Osmond and model Josie Maran. Can be fun especially early in the season, it takes itself too seriously as the season wears on.

8:00 (CBS) “How I Met Your Mother.” The third season begins with the reintroduction of the show’s long-shelved theme: learning how Ted met his future spouse. Tonight, he meets a lovely young woman, played by guest star Mandy Moore.
A good show to watch once in a while, there are some good laughs there. Who would have known Doogie Howser was so funny?

9:00 (NBC) “Heroes.” We pick up the action on this series four months after it left off – and because NBC didn’t provide a preview, I’ll be watching just as eagerly as you. And some new characters are introduced this season, including Nick D’Agosto, who proves that Hayden Panettiere’s cheerleader character is vulnerable to at least one thing: young love.
I loved “Heroes” last year, it turned into one of my favorites. There is a lot going on story wise, so you really have to pay attention and not miss an episode. Set the TIVO machine.

9:00 (CBS) “Two and a Half Men.” This show’s fifth-season opener acknowledges the growth of Jake: He’s old enough now to be entering that hormone-fueled holding tank known as junior high school – and Uncle Charlie has words of questionable wisdom.
As much as I like to think Charlie Sheen is arrogant and annoying, I can’t help but like him in this role. Some really great laughs, and you don’t need to see every episode to keep up.

10:00 (CBS) “CSI: Miami.” This unfathomably popular forensics spinoff series returns for its sixth season. Take away the leaden one-liners leading into the opening credits, and David Caruso’s aria-like removal and replacement of sunglasses, and what have you got? Not much, except for an absurdly plotted mystery series with maddeningly inconsistent characters.
I was never a real big CSI fan. The original show is the best version. CSI MIAMI is the worst of the lot. Still a quality production. I usually watch it when reruns of the other shows are on.
…TV DEEP!

Technorati Tags: Hayden Panettiere, “Heroes”, “Boston Legal”, “The Office”, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”, HBO, Larry David’, Ken Burns, Michael Moore, “Dancing With the Stars.”, “How I Met Your Mother.”, Doogie Howser, “Two and a Half Men.”, Charlie Sheen, “CSI: Miami.”, David Caruso