This TV season hasn't generated a lot of buzz, but there are plenty of reasons to come back to the TV set. This month alone, without breaking a sweat or making an exhaustive list,or including AMC's ongoing "Mad Men," I counted 15. Here they are, in order of telecast. Mark your calendars, and plan accordingly...
Sept. 9 -- Glee premieres. This Fox series just repeated its sneak-preview pilot, and next week launches for real as a regular Fox series. It's a dance-filled, music-filled, smile-filled story about a high school performing arts troupe, and it's edgier and funnier than that might sound.
Sept. 13 -- True Blood season finale. I can't wait. This HBO series has provided me as much viewing joy as any TV series this summer. Make that this year.
Sept. 14 -- The Jay Leno Show. His first night on NBC in prime time. You HAVE to watch, just to see whether he pulls it off. At least I do.
Sept. 17 -- Fringe season premiere. Last season, this Fox series ended with a history-warping alternate timeline setting, a world in which, among other things, the Twin Towers remain standing. What's next? No idea -- which is why you need to tune in.
Sept. 17 -- Community premieres. This NBC ensemble comedy, featuring Chevy Chase as one of many people looking for new directions at a community college, has a way to go, but it's good enough, at the start, to sample and support.
Sept. 18 -- Dollhouse returns. This Fox series by Joss Whedon got better as its freshman season progressed, so a new year should begin on a high note. Here's hoping.
Sept. 20 -- Curb Your Enthusiasm season premiere. The much-promoted Seinfeld story line doesn't kick in for a few episodes, but no matter: This HBO Larry David series is TV comedy at its highest watermark. Welcome back, Larry. I've never missed an episode, and don't intend to start now.
Sept. 21 -- House returns. And he's still in that mental institution, playing One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to the clinic's staff. Great premise -- and a great starting point for another fine year with Hugh Laurie and company.
Sept. 21 - Heroes returns. Last season, this NBC drama was very dissatisfying, but maybe there will be an instant course correction this season. I'll tune in to see... but my patience is wearing thin.
Sept. 22 -- The Good Wife premieres. Julianna Margulies stars as the wife of a politician (Chris Noth) who is imprisoned for various nefarious misdeeds, and the opening hour of this new CBS series has you empathizing strongly with her, and eager to see more. Not many new dramas this season achieve that successfully.
Sept. 23 -- Modern Family premieres. This ABC series may be the one new broadcast TV comedy that breaks out quickly, and with good reason. Three very different families, each with its own characters, problems and lovable quirks. Stars include Ed O'Neill.
Sept. 24 -- Flash Forward premieres. Is this ABC series, pictured at the top of this column, the next Lost? No one knows yet. But if it is, you'd better be around from the beginning. It's hard to jump on these TV trains once they've left the station.
Sept. 26 -- Saturday Night Live returns. It's not an election year, but still...
Sept. 27 -- Ken Burns' The National Parks premieres. The most beautiful, inspiring documentary series since Planet Earth. And it's not just about the parks and its creatures, but also about the people responsible for setting aside these lovely lands for public use.
Sept. 27 -- Dexter returns. It's about time -- and, like HBO's True Blood, this Showtime series is all about diving into a weekly dose of TV wow.