The new fall season is almost here. Starting next week, the cable and broadcast networks will be begin rolling out new episodes of all the shows that survived the writers-strike-afflicted 2007-2008 season, giving us the chance to get acquainted with some old friends -- and reacquaint ourselves with more than a few characters who we met only fleetingly last fall. Here, then, are the top ten returning shows that were most looking forward to seeing.
We admit it -- we are nowhere near caught up with
The Shield.
This is unfortunate, because we can't think of a drama more likely to explode in an apocalyptic cacaphony of violence and emotion in its final season this side of network-mate Damages. Not since the final season of Buffy have we been less sure of the survival of the main characters in a series in its final episodes. After 6 years of building bad blood on both sides of the law, Vic Mackey's come closer than ever to giving up his badge -- and he's got one fewer ally on the force -- so we're expecting a hell of a lot of grudges to get worked out this year. So much so that we may not even bother catching up with Season Six, just so we don't miss anything.
The Shield (Tuesdays at 10PM) premieres Tuesday, September 2 at 10 PM EST on the FX Network
TOP TEN RETURNING SHOWS FALL 2008
#1. "30 Rock" & "Terminator"
#2. "Dexter"
#3. "Gossip Girl"
#4. "Pushing Daisies"
#5. "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"
#6. "Heroes"
#7. "Dirty Sexy Money"
#8. "House"
#9. "Entourage" / "Californication"
#10. "The Shield"