“GOSSIP GIRL”
Love. Lies. Scandal. Debauchery. If the first two episodes of “Gossip Girl” are any indication of how the rest of the sixth season will go, the final season is set up for a beautiful resolution. Blair’s saucy rebuttals, Chuck’s precious plaid suits, Dan’s self-righteous bitterness (not to mention that haircut – come on, Dan, did you get attacked by a weedwacker over the summer?), Nate’s undeniable charm and Serena’s long legs are all back for the show’s final run around the block. But will faithful fans be satisfied? Will Blair and Chuck finally work things out, or will she choose Dan “Lonely Boy” Humphrey? Will Serena ever learn her pouty lips only bring trouble? Will Rufus and Lily reconcile their differences once and for all, or will Lily remain a frigid gold-digger, piggy-backing on Bart Bass’s success forever? Executive producer Josh Schwartz has promised to give us answers, but only time will tell if they are the answers we desire.
“GREY’S ANATOMY”
Warning: This season of “Grey’s Anatomy” is not for the faint of heart. Many a time have I walked into my friends’ bedrooms only to find them sobbing into their sheets, completely distraught over the latest passing of a beloved “Grey’s” character. With two serious deaths preceding the current season, this fall promises to be an emotional roller coaster for long-time “Grey’s” viewers. “Grey’s Anatomy” writers have their work cut out for them in order to lift the spirits of viewers from the funereal pits they were tossed into last season. The ninth season finds all of the characters going their separate ways and completing fellowships in different locations, which leaves much to be desired by fans who just want a reunion of their favorite doctors. Despite the melancholy start, expectations for this season are sky-high. Hold onto your hats, folks, it’s going to be a bumpy, tear-streaked ride.
 
“ONCE UPON A TIME”
If you’re a college-age girl still fantasizing about white horses, poison apples and Prince Charming, then “Once Upon A Time” is for you. With all the fairy-tale fluff of a classic Disney film without the embarrassing reputation that comes with being “that girl” who knows every word to “Part of Your World,” “Once Upon A Time” is a whirlwind drama about what happens when fiction and reality become indecipherably intertwined. This fall finds last season’s characters recoiling after the curse on Storybrook is broken. It also introduces new characters, revitalizing classic children’s heroes, heroines and villains like Hook, Mulan, Ariel, Aladdin, Jafar and Jack (the one from the beanstalk) in a way that only “Once Upon A Time” can without getting too cheesy and cliché.
 
 
Guy Shows by Alex Monié
 
“WALKING DEAD”
In an age of vampires and werewolves taking over every screen, zombies are still the way to go. “Walking Dead” is starting its third season this month and is looking to keep up the intense zombie thriller it has established the last two years. The show focuses on a group of survivors struggling to find supplies and shelter safe from “walkers,” the undead who have risen again. Last season ended with the main group of the show losing their only reliable shelter and several members of their group. Season three picks up several months into the future with the group still on the run. Desperate and scared, the remaining survivors attempt to take refuge in a prison over-run with walkers. What “Walking Dead” does perfectly is balance the human drama between the survivors with plenty of zombie action to fill the gaps.
“HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER”
For a comedy, “How I Met Your Mother” is probably the most stressful show on television. In 2005, it was a show about a man dealing with his best friends getting engaged and looking for the woman of his dreams. Now on its eighth season, Ted’s story of finding his future wife has never been closer to an end. Last season ended with Marshall and Lilly having their first child and the audience learning about the relationship between Robin and Barney may not be completely over. This is still Ted’s story, though, and hopefully we will see the mysterious Mrs. Mosby by the end of the season. “How I Met Your Mother” has one of the best-developed group of characters on television and is just as funny as when it began eight years ago.
“ARROW”
“Arrow” looks to rekindle the spark “Smallville” had over a decade ago with Oliver Queen, or Arrow, as the hero. Oliver Queen’s story starts with him being a spoiled billionaire who shipwrecks on an island. Upon returning five years later, Queen looks to turn his life around and seek vengeance for those who need it. It seems like “Arrow” hopes to have the same tone as “Batman Begins,” which gave legitimacy to all of the superhero media being produced these days. What this could be is a great jumping point for an eventual Justice League movie. “Arrow” could set up a whole new world for these comic book characters, something the Batman trilogy failed to do. It is not impossible, but will it have enough steam to last for 11 seasons like “Smallville”?