The US fall season really kicks into gear this week. Some of the more interesting shows aren’t returning until 2008, but here’s what I’ll be watching in the meantime:

Monday

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 8:00pm) — I do not miss an episode of Jason Segel.

• Aliens in America (CW, 8:30pm) — The pilot I saw was sweet and funny, and that was before Scott Patterson joined the cast.

• Heroes (NBC, 9:00pm) — OMG I want to like this show but instead I actually hate its guts.  Maybe Kristen Bell and David Anders will make it better.

• Weeds (Showtime, 10:00pm) — already in progress.

• Californication (Showtime, 10:30pm) — le ditto.

Tuesday

• Reaper (CW, 9:00pm) — The pilot was great, but I’m a little concerned about the show having enough there there. Replacing Nikki Reed with Missy Peregrym is a good step.

Wednesday

• Pushing Daisies (ABC, 8:00pm) — I actually really disliked the pilot for this show. It was too fucking saccharine and had absolutely no bite. But, I did like Bryan Fuller’s other shows, so I’m hopeful that this will get some edge. It may be the first show canceled by my TiVo, however.

• America’s Next Top Model (CW, 8:00pm) — I never miss Miss Tyra.

• Private Practice (ABC, 9:00pm) — And this could be the second one for which I drop my season pass. I really like Tim Daly and Chris Lowell (Piz!).

• Bionic Woman (NBC, 9:00pm) — Katee Sackhoff and Michelle Ryan are bionic, and Katee’s evil!, and then they fight each other! In the rain! On a roof! I love this show already.

• Gossip Girl (CW, 9:00pm) — Team Serena! Blake Lively is wicked.

Thursday

• Smallville (CW, 8:00pm) — I hate this show, but I love comic books. Green Arrow is going to be back for part of the season (Justin Hartley is also on the CW’s midseason sitcom Eight Days a Week, which is fantastic, fyi). More importantly, Laura Vandervoort is joining up as Kara Zor-El, a.k.a. Supergirl. At my house, we have must see TV in the form of Instant Star, a Canadian teen show on The N, on which Vandervoort plays dumbfuck Sadie. I’m not going to let Vandervoort besmirch Kara behind my back, so therefore, I have to watch Smallville. And now you know.

• 30 Rock (NBC, 8:30pm) — Sorry, that’s the Emmy-award winning Best Comedy, 30 Rock.

• Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 9:00pm) — While the show obviously had a bit of a downturn last season, I’m reasonably confident it’ll get its stuff back together for season 4.

• The Office (NBC, 9:00pm) — I’m very curious to see how the office dynamics change due to Ryan’s new position.

Friday

• Friday Night Lights (NBC, 9:00pm) — I didn’t watch this show until the summer, at which point I blazed through it. So good. It’s not too late, either. We have the DVDs ready to lend out.

Saturday is not for television.

Sunday

• Life Is Wild (CW, 8:00pm) — Leah Pipes is a strong protagonist in the pilot — whiny enough to be believable, but very capable of growth. Stephanie Niznik from Everwood replaced the original mom, and she’s always great. Atandwa Kani has the loveliest accent. Mostly, I just like the animals.

• Brothers & Sisters (ABC, 10:00pm) — I got hooked on this one last year during the game night episode.