Time to set those TiVos: What we’re watching

There's no official holiday to commemorate it, but it's become a fall tradition for TV watchers to sit down and program their DVR with both the new and returning shows they hope to find time to watch. We asked six writers to share three of the shows they'll be recording this season.

Bringing baby to ‘The Office’
I’m both excited and worried about the return of NBC’s “The Office.” (Thursdays, 9 p.m., NBC.) I’m concerned that Pam and Jim’s impending baby will wreck the crazy Dunder-Mifflin adult-focused atmosphere in the way babies have wrecked everything from “Mad About You” to “Roseanne.” But I’m going to trust that the brilliant writers and the cast of other, non-childbearing characters (More Creed! More Andy!) will keep things Scranton-riffic.

Loved Julianna Margulies on “ER,” didn’t care about her on “Canterbury’s Law,” but I’ll give her a shot on “The Good Wife.” (Tuesdays, 10 p.m., CBS.) Margulies plays a cheating politician’s wronged wife who returns to defense attorney work, but knows everyone is gawking at her thanks to hubby’s indiscretions. The pilot is promising, especially if you’ve ever wondered what’s churning inside those silent, steaming wives.

“Goodbye, Chocolate People,” baby Stewie chirps as Cleveland Brown and his son drive away from Quahog, R.I., and Seth MacFarlane’s “Family Guy.” Cleveland’s heading to “The Cleveland Show” (Sundays, 8:30 p.m., Fox), with a new wife, her kids, and some weird neighbors, including a bear family. (Arianna Huffington provides the bear wife’s voice.) If “Family Guy’s” flashback filled, pop-culture-jammed style appeals to you, you’ll likely say “Cleveland rocks.”   —Gael Fashingbauer Cooper

Lizard babies live!
I am not too proud to admit that I watched some of the original "V" miniseries on NBC back in the day, and now that it's reemerging on ABC, I will be there to see just how lizard babies can be incorporated into our less forgiving plotline environment. Remaking the lizard-baby show (it's all I remember!) is a commendably audacious project.  (Tuesdays, 8 p.m., ABC)

Slideshow   New fall shows: Some soar, others stink Did "Melrose Place" really need to be remade? Is "Cougar Town" as bad as the title suggests? We review the new fall shows. more photos

The rise of the DVR and the online episode cache has made me much more likely to watch plot-heavy, continuing dramas. I like a story I don't totally understand, and like a lot of other people, I'd like it if “Flash Forward" turned out to be as perplexing and satisfying as the better parts of "Lost." The implications of getting a glimpse at your future seem promising, as is the creepiness factor of a shared traumatic experience such as a minutes-long blackout. (Thursdays, 8 p.m., ABC)

There is very solid buzz behind “Modern Family,” the ABC family comedy with Ed O'Neill, and I'm on board. Despite an instinctive suspicion of O'Neill based on "Married With Children," I'm open-minded, and I'd love to see ABC produce some good comedies, since they've been focusing so heavily on dramas in recent years. (Wednesdays, 9 p.m., ABC)  —Linda Holmes

‘Fringe’ benefit
As someone who watches both “Gossip Girl” and “Greek,” I just can’t resist The CW’s “The Beautiful Life,” (Wednesdays, 9 p.m., CW), which follows the lives of a group of female and male models who all live together in New York.  Especially since it features former  “O.C.” star Mischa Barton. Please let this mean that chairs will be thrown!

Jason Schwartzman has been one of my favorites since his role in “Rushmore.”  In HBO’s new “Bored to Death” (Sundays, 9:30 p.m., HBO), Schwartzman plays a guy who pretends to be a private detective and “Hangover” star Zach Galifianakis is the pal who thinks he’s crazy. If this quirky comedy is half as funny as “Eastbound & Down,” sign me up.

Last season, I fell hard for “Fringe” (Thursdays, 9 p.m., Fox) And, yes, thanks to star Joshua "Dawson's Creek" Jackson, my sister and I still call it “The Pacey Show.” But the real reason I tune in is for John Noble’s Dr. Walter Bishop, one of TV’s most original and fun creations. Anna Torv’s Olivia is even starting to grow on me.    —Paige Newman

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