Fall TV: This season's returning shows and schedule changes

Chicago Tribune

"Chuck"

Returns Sept. 29 on NBC

This otherwise charmingly goofy adventure show has had a problem: What if the spy secrets that had been accidentally downloaded into the hapless Chuck Bartowski's brain became outdated? That issue will be addressed head-on, as it were, in Season 2, creator Josh Schwartz said in July at the Television Critic Association's press tour. "When the government rebuilds the (espionage-related) Intersect computer, Chuck will become expendable and it will be left to Casey, Adam Baldwin's (secret agent) character, to 'disappear' him, as they say in the NSA."

"Dexter"

Returns Sept. 28 on Showtime

Jimmy Smits joins the addictive drama as Miami district attorney Miguel Prado. "He and Dexter set something in motion neither can pull back," executive producer Clyde Phillips said at a July Comic-Con panel.

"Dirty Sexy Money"

Returns Oct. 1 on ABC

More dirt, more sex, more money. That's what the show's cast and producers promised at a July TCA panel. "I think that we need to see Nick give into some more temptation," said Peter Krause, who plays Nick George, an attorney for New York's super-wealthy Darling clan. Lucy Liu also joins the cast as a crafty woman who works her way into the Darlings' inner circle.

"Eli Stone"

Returns Oct. 14 on ABC

Last season, lawyer Eli Stone (Jonny Lee Miller), was having mysterious visions, but he didn't know if they were the result of an aneurysm or the consequence of being a prophet. This season, this will be cleared up. Also, the show has had a couple of casting coups: Katie Holmes guest stars in the second episode as an attorney, and Sigourney Weaver guest stars as a therapist treating Eli.

"Life"

Returns Sept. 29 and Oct. 3 on NBC

Donal Logue ("Grounded for Life") has joined the cast as Capt. Brian Tidwell, Detective Charlie Crews' new boss. Tidwell brings a "brash, no-nonsense, New York sensibility into a department that is very much Los Angeles," executive producer Rand Ravich told critics in July. As for the conspiracy Crews was investigating - he was imprisoned for murders he didn't commit - Ravich says that will be part of this season. "Life" airs twice a week when it returns, on Mondays and Fridays - but only for two weeks. Those dates are Sept. 29, Oct. 3, Oct. 6 and Oct. 10. Then the show airs only on Fridays.

"Private Practice"

Returns Oct. 1 on ABC

Creator Shonda Rhimes told critics at TCA that the show, a spinoff of "Grey's Anatomy" that centers on Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh), would begin to focus more on medical issues and ethical dilemmas, and less time on coffee talk about angst.

"Pushing Daisies"

Returns Oct. 1 on ABC

ABC wanted this fanciful fantasy to be more grounded in its second season, while creator Bryan Fuller didn't want to change "the fundamental DNA of the show" too much, Fuller told USA Today. Fuller said the show's blend of whimsy and crime-solving remains intact.

Schedule changes

Here's a quick list of scripted shows that have moved to new nights:

"Boston Legal" (returns Sept. 22 on ABC for its final season) now airs on Mondays.

"Without a Trace" (returns Sept. 23 on CBS) now airs on Tuesdays.

"The New Adventures of Old Christine" (returns Sept. 24 on CBS) now airs on Wednesdays.

"Lipstick Jungle" (returns Sept. 24 on NBC) now airs on Wednesdays.

"Bones" (returned Wednesday with a two-hour episode on Fox) now airs on Wednesdays.

"The Unit" (returns Sept. 28 on CBS) now airs on Sundays.

"24" will return on Mondays on Fox, but not until January.