My favorite comedy show ( 2nd only to Arrested Development ) starts up again for season 4 tonight.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. On F/X at 10 and then another new episode at 10:30. If you've got cable, check it out.

SNL last week had some good points - but it was hampered by Michael Phelps. I know it's tradition to have an athelete host form time to time. This guy though was not fun to watch at all. It was good to see Nicholas Fehn on Weekend Update. That bit kills me. Amy Pohler is leaving in October. Kristen Wiig will step up and get some major attention this season. She deservs it. Extremely funny. SNL has a new guy they are featuring that may have been an excellent draft pick; Bobby Moynihan. We'll see. They've got a killer cast. Seth Meyers may be in over his head as head writer again this year though.

I know we've talked about SNL before - and I fully understand why some people have given up on it. I haven't though. I still really like it.

30 Rock and The Office are primed and ready to kill again this year.

Weeds on Showtime fell off this year, but the last episode had a good tone to it and set up the season finale well this next week. Justin Kirk ( Andy Botwin ) steals every scene he is in.

I'm still pissed and depressed that Phil Hartman is dead.

The " Minisodes " for Rescue Me were better than average. They got killed by the writer's strike. But will be back for, I think 22, new episodes in early 2009. Rescue Me also has THE best Music Supervisor in the business - Alexandra Patsavas. Absolutely brutal ear. Amazing choices. ( She also does Mad Men ).

Lost ended on a VERY high note ( They moved the island...let me say that again...THEY MOVED THE ISLAND ). I'll be all over it next season.

There are some others out there too that I'm eager to see ( again, or for the first time ). But for now, I'm glad to wallow in It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

So, where does it rate with Arrested Development/30 Rock/Curb Your Enthusiasm/Scrubs/House/The Wire?

I saw a short profile of it in USA Today, but I'm not sure if I should rent the DVDs . . . I was let down by a bunch of turkeys recently: Riches, The Shield and surprisingly, Firefly.

God, The Riches was unwatchable for me. The whole thing was just...ugly.

Arrested Development rewarded you for paying attention. You don't have to do that with Sunny. There are some funny running jokes and creative characters though.

30 Rock is good because it's often topical and self-effacing. Sunny is not that way.

Curb Your Enthusiasm was a one man show. Cringe inducing. Some people don't like that. I did most of the time. Sunny is absurd. Not Monty Python abstract absurd - just silly and occasionally catchy.

Scrubs' pacing was quick. The flashback scenes always got me. Sunny is very in the moment with much less self-awareness.

I do not like House.

The Wire is one that I have chosen to save watching in its entirety on DVD when this final season gets released. Too many people have told me that its too good to not see. I just haven't gotten around to it. I will soon though.

OK, "Sunny" is on my to-rent list.

The Wire's final season was released last month.

Let me just say this: The Wire -- best TV series ever. I mean, several notches above the next best, The Sopranos.

The Wire fantastic television,But not even the Best show on HBO ,which would of course be Deadwood. I have enjoyed Weeds, and also The Riches but am still totally fucking pissed off the Showtime canceled "Huff" which was a great show.........

I too look forward to this time of year. I have thus far been umimpressed with the new JJ Abhrams Fringe on Fox. I will stick in there as JJ is indeed a genious.

So far the brightest new show as far as I have seen is Sons of Anarachy on FX.

While the first season of Mad Men on AMC was pure genuis they have yet to pick it up yet but there are still a few episodes left.

Can't wait for new seaon of Lost and Breaking Bad to start.

On a side note I have been frustrated in recent years when I "get into" and enjoy a new series that is intriguing to only to have it canceled prematuraly.

Deadwood
Bobby and Me
Jericho.

I have also discovered some not so new shows and am loving them thanks to the DVR. Chelsea Lately, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Three Sheets, Wall Street Warriors, and Bobby G Venture Capitalist.

I would also like to see an HBO or Showtime hire on Anthony Bourdain for an original or reality based program. He is a very talented individual who is somewhat muzzled on the Travel Channel.

Classic television fans gather 'round. Here are some new bits from old favorites.

Ever wanted Ron Howard, Andy Griffith and Henry Winkler to get back together one last time in their old roles on the small screen? Enjoy.

Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Carl Reiner, Garry Marshall, Larry Gelbart, Valerie Harper, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara got together on a project and it Aint Funny.

Count me as one of those who thinks SNL sucks and has for a long time, with only occasional bright spots (e.g. Justin Timberlake hosting a year or two back). This show does not deserve to have the same name as the show that John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Al Franken, Dana Carvey, and Phil Hartmann made famous.

Some of the political bits this fall (Fey as Palin of course) have been really good and of course shot ratings up through the roof. But the rest of the show bites, and after the election, expect the ratings to go into the toilet again, because only teens and drunk college kids up late Saturday nights want to watch a lousy show.

I don't watch any prime time TV shows and don't even have cable. I know The Office and 30 Rock are probably excellent shows, but I don't like the idea of "following" TV shows. I just don't care enough. I'll probably catch them in a few years in syndication. The only regular show I dig is The Daily Show which I watch on the internet from time to time - it's of course extremely topical and brilliantly done.

Andrew

I don't normally follow shows either because I watch mostly news and sports, but one show I'm DVR'ing on a regular basis is "Intervention" on A&E. It's the most gripping drama on TV. My wife can't even watch it it's so intense. She says it's depressing. I'm amazed by it.

It is very intense. And while " Intervention " is not heavy handed in it's approach, it makes me very glad that I never got sucked into being addicted to drugs. I know that a show like that can be preachy or whatever - but it does serve an additional good purpose for me.

By the way, Sunny in Philly is having a REAL rough year. Very forced. Not that funny.

I do not think I have laughed less at a season of SNL than this year. I don't know how the dynamics all work, but Seth Meyers ( Head Writer this year again ) is not happening for me. Hell, even the ripe political race is coming off unfunny. There is NO doubt, to me, that this is an extremely talented cast. The writing is suffering though.

And I don't remember what the name of the show is, but a new one that has Jay Mohr is one that I am keeping my eye on. I REALLY like Jay Mohr. He deserves a better vehicle.

The Office is hitting ALL the right notes this year. They've warmed up and have some incredibly funny lines.

Animal Cops is still depressing as Hell. Detroit and Huston; QUIT NEGLECTING YOUR PETS. Geeze.

Bill Maher has had some high points this season.

HBO's The Life and Times of Tim is pretty funny. Very dry.

But the comeback of the year has GOT to be Family Guy. I was a fanatic. Then they lost me for a season or two. This year though has been SO well written. I laugh my ass off.

Mad Men will get watched when I can sit down with all the episodes on On Demand. Rick Emerson likes it. I like Rick Emerson. Chances are I will like Mad Men.

After the election, I cannot wait to skip news channels. I have OD'd.

Bill Maher and Suze Orman. Other than that, we skip around a lot. I'd watch more Metal Mania on VH1 Classic if I was not married, that's for sure.

Dexter

The Jay Mohr show was so lame, no laughs whatsoever. Cringe-inducing. Fake laugh track. Awful.

I gave Mad Men a shot. It didn't work. Returned the DVD back to Hollywood Video mostly unwatched.

I did however, enjoy Frontline this week and a rerun of a 2-parter on LBJ, both on PBS.

wow. personally I think Mad Men is a show in a class all by itself top notch acting ,writing. just good tv

Jeopardy! Fifth Grader, live sports and Sportscenter, and lately my fiancee has gotten me interested in the CSI's.

That's it. I'm a sitcom guy, but there aren't any good ones anymore.

Used to love the Simpsons, but now there are so many recent pop-culture references that I have no clue about, it mostly goes over my head.

Got tired of King Of The Hill, same jokes over and over.

Eleventh Hour on CBS is so much better than Fringe on Fox.

Sleeper this season is Life on Mars on ABC awesome show with Harvey Kietel and Micheal Imperioli.

Kath & Kim is a great compliment to The Office.

Family Guy has been great so far this new season.

You know you're over the hill when..... The Simpsons goes over your head. lol.

Really like The Mentalist. Simon Baker is my new heartthrob. Numb3rs and NCIS just keep getting better. Tivo House and The Closer.

Never found a reality show I like, and am ashamed to admit that as hard as I try I just dont like The Office.

(Oh yeah, and I adore the HD PBS replay of "Baking With Julia".... the foodie equivalent of midnight mass with the pope.)

It's rare I watch anything new on TV anymore but one series just sucked me in while channel surfing one night. MAD MEN is a real study of attitudes in an early 1960's ad agency. It's also very well written and acted, as well as fun to look at the surroundings.