Fall TV

It's that lovely time of year when the air begins to cool, the leaves die in spectacular visual fashion, the kids return to school, I begin thinking about Christmas shopping and Halloween costumes, and, best of all, the TV shows we know and love return for our entertainment.  What shows are you looking forward to this year?  Here is my list, photos courtesy of various network websites:

"The Office"- NBC's most popular 1/2 hour comedy returns for its 8th season, without the great Michael Scott. Longtime fans were sad to see him go, he was really the focal point of the show, even when he wasn't the focus of each episode.  He will be missed, but I look forward to seeing just how the writers manage to replace him with James Spader as the new boss.  Will he be quirky?  Undoubtedly.  Will he be as nutty as Michael?  I hope not.  I hope they let his character be unique, but still entertaining.  I am not a huge Spader fan, so he will have to win me over, but I have faith in the writers.  And if it doesn't work, this show had a good run, and it wouldn't be the end of the world for it to wrap up while it's "ahead". New episodes premiere on September 22, at 8:00 p.m.

ABC's crime comedy-drama, "Castle". I love this show.  I am a fan of the star, Nathan Fillion, but I also have grown to really love the other actors/characters on the show.  I look forward to seeing how they resolve the season-ending cliff-hanger from last spring, where Kate was hospitalized.  I wrote about it here. It should be an exciting beginning to the fourth season of this entertaining show.  "Castle" returns on September 19th at 9:00 p.m.

Another winner from ABC is the more traditional-format sitcom, "The Middle", starring Patricia Heaton and Neil Flynn.  The kids are exceptionally well cast, and the show is, in my opinion, the funniest half-hour on TV right now.  I laugh out loud more than once during every episode.  The show's creators and writing team have managed to perfectly capture life in middle class, mid-life America right now.  If you haven't seen this show, get renting or streaming and catch up.  This year begins the

third season of larger-than-life adventures for the Heck family.  Seriously, check it out. Especially those who currently have or have raised teenage boys will love it.  Or awkward early-teenage girls. Or any kids, for that matter.  Or no kids-- you were kids once, right?  You'll enjoy this show.

The show I am most excited about, though, is "Psych", which airs on USA. This show is the funniest HOUR on TV, and my only complaint is that they are making us wait clear until October 12 for it to return.  After which, I will have to watch it on Hulu.com, because we no longer have a satellite.  Not that I'm complaining, I'm just so glad Hulu is there for me.  I love the characters and I am so excited to see what happens now that Shaun and Juliet are officially a couple.  It's been a fun ride so far, with many a crime solved in entertaining and crazy ways.  I can't wait for Season 6...  If you haven't watched this show, but you love obscure '80's references and fake psychics (this show came first, by the way, and has poked fun at "The Mentalist"...), you will love this show.