By BRENDAN LOSINSKI

Staff Intern

TV fans around the country can begin to relax this week, as many of their favorite programs will begin returning to the airwaves. 

When the Writer’s Guild of America strike started last November, viewers watched as their favorite shows were taken off the air until all that was left was three months of reruns, game shows, and reality TV.

Although some programs like ABC’s “Lost” and NBC’s “Law & Order” had enough episodes filmed to last through much of the strike, most had their seasons drastically cut short or interrupted. 

Since the strike ended February 12, networks have begun to bring back fan favorites.

CBS is the first to bring back many of its shows. On March 17, their comedies “Two and a Half Men,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “How I Met Your Mother” returned each with nine episodes that will be ready in time to make it back to the airwaves. 

“CSI: Miami” also returned this week starting an eight-episode run. CBS’s mainstay “CSI” will not return until April 3.

NBC will also be bringing back many of their most popular programs. “The Office,” “30 Rock,” “My Name is Earl,” “Scrubs” and “ER” will all be returning April 10, at their normal Thursday time slots. 

“Scrubs” may be short lived however, as there are only a handful of finished episodes and there have been disagreements between the show’s producers and the studio. 

“Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” will return the following week on April 15.

ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” has already aired the first of at least four episodes that are ready for return to TV. Those waiting for “Desperate Housewives” and “Ugly Betty” will have to wait a little longer as they are slated to return April 13 and April 24, respectively. 

Fox’s new program “Back to You” delivered a handful of episodes to fans in February, and will be returning with more on April 16. 

The crime drama “Bones” is to return April 14 and the disgruntled medical genius “House” is scheduled to come back April 28. 

Some programs won’t be returning as quickly. The new “Grey’s Anatomy” spin-off “Private Practice” won’t be returning until the fall, and neither will “Heroes” and “Pushing Daisies.” Jack Bauer of “24” won’t be busting terrorists again until 2009.