“Criminal Minds”
Wednesday 9pm, CBS
CBS had to do some quick thinking to salvage this show, one of its schedule-defining procedurals. Over the summer, star Mandy “Battleship” Patinkin apparently decided he was kind of over it all and didn’t bother reporting to work when shooting started on this new season. After a brief work shutdown, word came that Battleship was out and Joe Mantegna was in. Mantegna seems like a nice guy, but that can only be seen as a step down for the show. Patinkin is the star of stage, screen and TV! Mantegna is…the voice of Fat Tony on “The Simpsons.” Actually, that’s a pretty cool gig when you think of it. You win this round, Mantegna! Enjoy that easy police show money.
“The Office”
Thursday 9pm, NBC
TV’s best comedy always comes through with some great season-ending cliffhangers, and season 3’s was a doozy. After Michael, Jim and Karen all went up to New York for a big corporate job, they discovered that the gig in question belonged to Michael’s girlfriend, Jan, who was then unceremoniously fired. A final twist saw the job going to none other than Ryan, formerly known as The Temp, who had spent all year getting his MBA. At first I thought it was a joke, but no…apparently Ryan is now Michael’s boss. Which should be hilarious. Of course, the bigger news is arguably that Jim finally worked up the courage to ask Pam out on a date. If this Jim and Pam thing sticks—and I’m hearing that it will—expect to do a lot of squealing this season.
“Desperate Housewives”
Sunday 9pm, ABC
This is a critical year for the housewives. After being overexposed and overpraised with season 1, failing miserably with the poorly planned season 2, and having more misses than hits in season 3, season 4 has to work. Part of the plan seems to be bringing in fresh blood, as new neighbors played by TV poison Dana Delaney and Nathan Fillion (“Drive,” “Firefly”) are moving in. Rumor has it that a gay couple also makes Wisteria Lane a little more fabulous. And those of you left dangling by Edie’s suicide attempt at the end of last season, rest assured that Nicolette Sheridan is apparently on for the whole shebang.—Eric Rezsnyak
