BY MONICA DRAKE

 

The month of September does not only signify going back to school and a new semester of classes.  The fall season also comes with its fair share of mysteries, murders, surgeries, marriages, pregnancies, affairs, gossip and of course, ballroom dancing.

 

“THE OFFICE”

“The Office,” credited for making “That’s what she said” a nationally-used phrase, started its sixth season Thursday, Sept. 17.  

 

“The Office” is a comedy about the employees at Dunder Mifflin Paper Supply Company in Scranton, Pennsylvania and their 9-5 office jobs. It airs every Thursday night at 9 p.m. on NBC. 

 

Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) are two characters, and they recently got engaged last season. Last season’s cliff hanger was them finding out that she’s pregnant.  

 

“GREY’S ANATOMY”

“Grey’s Anatomy” is ABC’s contendor to “The Office,” also airing at 9 p.m. on Thursdays.  “Grey’s Anatomy” started its sixth season on Sept. 24.  

 

Last season, the show  ended as George (T.R. Knight) and Izzy (Katherine Heigl) were both clinging to life. George was hit by a bus while trying to save a stranger’s life and Izzy flat-lined after a season-long battle with skin cancer that had spread to her brain.

 

In this season’s premiere, Izzy survived, her tumor shrinking significantly, while George did not. 

 

    Season six will focus on the characters coping after George’s death, Izzy’s cancer survival as well as her new marriage to Dr. Alex Karev (Justin Chambers), and the merging of Seattle Grace Hospital with Mercy West, which will result in staff reduction. 

 

“DANCING WITH THE STARS”

For those of you who are not fans of dramatic and depressing television shows, “Dancing with the Stars” started Sept. 21 and airs Mondays at 8 p.m., with the results on Tuesdays at 9 p.m.  

 

On TV Guide’s list of most popular shows, “Dancing with the Stars” acquired the number one spot.  This season’s contestants are pop star Aaron Carter, NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, ultimate fighting champion Chuck Liddell, singer Mya, Olympic Gold Medal swimmer Natalie Coughlin, former U.S. House majority leader Tom Delay, actress Debi Mazar, singer Donny Osmond, model Joanna Krupa, model and fashion designer Kathy Ireland, singer/reality TV star Kelly Osbourne, professional snow boarder Louie Vito, host of Iron Chef America Mark Dacascos, and actress Melissa Joan Hart.

 

NEW SHOWS

New television series have also begun this fall.  Some of the most hyped new series are “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “Glee” and “Vampire Diaries.”

 

“NCIS: LA” airs every Tuesday at 9 p.m. on CBS. 

 

“Glee” airs every Wednesday at 9 p.m. on FOX and features McKinley High teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) and his attempts to save the school’s glee club.

 

Thanks to “Twilight,” the CW also caught the vampire bug with its new show “The Vampire Diaries.” “The Vampire Diaries,” based on the book series by L.J. Smith, is about two vampire brothers, one good and one evil, and their polarized beliefs, to suck blood or not to suck blood. It airs Thursdays at 8 p.m.

 

 

“MAD MEN”

By KATIE WOLF

Managing Editor

 

Mad Men is a throwback to the days when office mini bars were expected, smoking in the conference room was accepted, and businessmen relied on their “girls” to hang up their coat and hat. The show focuses on an advertising agency, Sterling Cooper, set in fast-paced 1960s New York City. The show has picked up speed in its third season, with scenes like an office accident involving a drunken secretary, lawnmower and a man’s foot; and the closeted art director getting caught with the male bellhop on a business trip. Mad Men continues to push the envelope, sometimes with subtly, other times with a bang. This season is set in 1963, and the possibilities are endless with the issues of civil rights, the Vietnam War, and of course, the Kennedy assassination.

 

“ONE TREE HILL”

By colleen J. miller

Editor in Chief

 

“One Tree Hill,” well, this show has been in a quick decline for the last two seasons. It’s the same feeling I had after Aaron Spelling died and “Seventh Heaven” went for an unexpected 11th season after the series finale. Am I still supposed to be confused about whether or not P. Sawyer is dead? And the series hottie, Chad Michael Murray (as Lucus Scott), appears to not be coming back either. Some of the remaining characters are enough to stick around for, like the raspy-voiced fashion designer Brooke Davis played by Sophia Bush. Others not so much, and it seems like the creators are trying to make up for the loss by re-introducing a few minor characters like the woman Nathan allegedly slept with on the road and Haley’s hot sister. The season didn’t kick off with much, and moves slower than a daytime soap opera.