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The leaves are changing and the temperatures are dipping. This can only mean one thing.
No, not ‘time to stash away flip-flops for next spring.’ It means fall television is finally here.
Pulse takes a look at some of the season’s best shows and how they have started.
Gossip Girl
Monday nights at 8 on The CW
The teenagers of the Upper East Side have left high school to enter the frightening world of college. Luckily they all ended up at New York University, or at least stuck around the city.
The season started slow with Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg) up to her old tricks, trying to ruin as many social lives as possible.
Sexual tensions are thick as relationships go up and down with the frequency of a yo-yo, but this is expected from the show now in its third season.
For “Gossip Girl” fans that are less than impressed with the season’s first three episodes, have faith. Creator Josh Schwartz has never started out strong, dating back to his beginnings on “The O.C.”, but the man always finishes with a flourish.
The Office
Thursday nights at 8 on NBC
Not since its second season has “The Office” started out with such consistency.
The first two episodes of this season were jam packed with humor, heart and sadness, but mostly laughs.
Big shakeups are happening at Dundler Mifflin and this means some people (Dwight) are going to be feeling less than okay. If the show’s writers continue to keep putting characters outside of their normal comfort zones (Toby goes on a stakeout mission during the second episode) expect the show to remain as fresh as ever.
Also, the season premiere’s cold open was one of the best of the show’s run. Full of physical comedy, something the show usually strays from, it made for hilarious television.
How I Met Your Mother
Monday nights at 7 on CBS
After seasons of having its two female leads bow out for a time because they were pregnant, “How I Met Your Mother” is back to full strength.
While Neil Patrick Harris gets the most recognition from this ensemble cast, the two women (Cobie Smulders and Alyson Hannigan) are the catalysts for all of the action the men engage in.
The season’s first two episodes have embraced what has made this show one of network TV’s greatest sitcoms for the past few years.
These are five people who are in the midst of getting older no matter how hard they try not to. They are still dealing with the ins and outs of relationships, new jobs and, well, more relationships.
It is only two episodes in, but this season is shaping up to be one its best yet.
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Thursday nights at 9 on FX
It is remarkable that this show is entering its fifth season.
Each episode ratchets up the ridiculous factor as if the writer’s are having a contest to see who can induce more cringe-worthy laughs.
The season began with “the gang” attempting to exploit the mortgage crisis. Their plans included flipping a house with a family still living in it and Dee’s (Kaitlin Olson) attempt at surrogate motherhood in their never ending quest for cash.
The show has not had a weak season yet and with a cast willing to do pretty much anything for a laugh, this is a “can’t miss” show week in and week out.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Sunday nights at 9 on HBO
Two years have passed since “Seinfeld” creator Larry David played himself in HBO mainstay “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Lucky for fans the time away did not reduce the show’s outrageous and aggravating humor in the slightest.
Oh yeah, there is also the small fact the “Seinfeld” cast will be reuniting throughout the season.
Larry’s big mouth and untrustworthy nature is still getting him into all sorts of trouble.
This show, as it enters its seventh season, is still doing a masterful job at milking scenarios for all they are worth. A show about a guy pissing people off sounds like a one-off, bad Saturday Night Live sketch, but David is enough of a comic genius to keep it going.
