CBS

Big Bang Theory – The nerds return for more fun.

This show has wisely mixed things up, with the focus nearly equal between the guys and the girls.  The additions of Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik to the cast have made a strong show even stronger.  There was one occassion where the show fell victim to the main charge of its critics, where it laughed at nerds instead of with them.  Hopefully that was a blip and not a tonal shift.

How To Be A Gentleman –  This looks to be horrible.  I doubt it lasts through November sweeps.

And it didn’t.

Person Of Interst – Michael Emerson’s first post-Lost series.  That alone is enough of a reason to give this a chance.

This is not really a bad show, but it isn’t really a good one and it seems like a total waste of Michael Emerson’s talents.  It looks like they may be mixing things up a bit by bringing Taraji P. Henson into the fold, so maybe that will help.

The Mentalist – Based on the premiere, it will be more of the same from The Mentalist.  It’s a good enough show, but I can see it burning out quickly if they don’t shake things up sometime soon.

More of the same indeed.  The addition of one of the kids from the new Melrose Place as the new boss is kind of weird, but beyond that, nothing really new.

NBC

Community – Back for a surprising third season.  John Goodman has joined in a recurring role, and, so far, looks to have brought his A-game. 

Well, John Goodman only appeared 2 or 3 times, but this season has been bizarrely brilliant.  Of course, this means that NBC has pulled it from the schedule, claiming it will return at some undetermined point in the future.  I know 3 seasons is more than most series see, but losing this show will hurt more than most.

The Office – This show is starting to show its age, and time will tell if James Spader is able to fill the shoes of the departed Steve Carell.

This is a tough one.  It seems like the first half of the season was filled with episodes written for Steve Carell, and the just replaced Michael Scott with Andy Bernard.  Spader has been oddly good, but he hasn’t really been brought in to replace Carell.

Whitney – Whitney Cummings plays Whitney Cummings.  The first episode suffered somewhat from both pilot-itis as well as all of the best jokes being overplayed in the commercials.  I like Cummings in her roast and Howard Stern appearances, so I’ll give this one a chance.

Not good, but not horrible.  It is moving to Wednesday, where there may be less expectations.

Prime Suspect – Maria Bello stars in this remake of the British hit.  The original was released in 1991, which may explain why the plot of a female detective having to break through the old boys club feels 20 years old.

Decent enough show, but it was done in by the adherence to women in the workplace plots that would have felt forced 10 years ago.  It finished its run this past weekend.

Changes to the lineup include the delayed debut of 30 Rock due to Tina Fey’s pregnancy, the swap of Up All Night from Wednesdays for Whitney, and the debut of The Firm, which is a continuation of the old Tom Cruise movie.  Early reviews have not been kind, and with good reason.  This show fails at having any sort of internal logic, with characters doing stupid things just to move the plot along.

FOX

Bones – Bones returns in November following the World Series with a pregnant Emily Deschanel shaking up the status quo.  The season finale seemed to imply that Booth is the father, but that remains to be seen.

So Booth indeed is the father, and no real explanation was given to their relationship.  We were supposed to just assume they were sleeping together all along, I guess.  Anyway, this is also taking a pregnancy-caused hiatus, which will coincide with the extra airtime American Idol sucks up when it first premieres, so we should get to meet baby bones a little later this spring.

ABC

Charlie’s Angels – Another remake, with the action moving from LA to Miami.  With Minka Kelly and Rachel Taylor on board as two of the Angels, I’ll be giving this a shot.  Although it would have been interesting to see what Nadine Velazquez could have done with a role had she not been killed off in the pilot.

A critical and ratings dud that has already been cancelled.

Grey’s Anatomy – This will likely be the last season for Patrick Dempsey’s McDreamy, and possibly also for Ellen Pompeo as well.  Beyond that, it will likely be the same rollercoaster of hookups and breakups.

Not sure if anybody is actually leaving, but the rollercoaster has been going both up and down.  Still pretty enjoyable.

Private Practice – Never great and never bad, it just kind of is.

Same diagnosis, although the Addison wants a baby plot can certainly end anytime now.  Either give her one or don’t, but stop stringing it along.

CW

The Secret Circle – I only watched the pilot because of Britt Robertson, who charmed in last year’s Life Unexpected.  I’m not sure how long I’ll give this, but it will get a shot.

Entertaing enough, but nothing of real substance here.  If a conflict forced me to make a choice, this would easily lose out.