Fall TV 2010: New and returning shows premiering this week

One Tree Hill
Tuesdays on CW at 7pm
The gang returns from Julian's movie premiere in Utah with he and Brooke now engaged and Haley knocked up. Meanwhile, Nathan's preparing to leave for training camp and Katie attacks Clay and Quinn at gunpoint.

Life Unexpected
Tuesdays on CW at 8pm
Change is in the air as Ryan and Cate return from the honeymoon to find the radio station much altered in their absence. Baze tries to put his feelings for Cate behind him by hooking up with one of his new bartenders. Lux and Bug consider the future of their relationship, as a new fella shows up in Portland to buddy up with our girl.

Survivor Nicaragua
Wednesdays on CBS at 7pm
It's a battle of the ages as tribes are divided between old and young. Don't think the whippersnappers have it in the bag, though, NFL coach Jimmy Johnson's here to play for the over 40 crowd.

Outlaw
Premieres Wednesday on NBC at 9pm but will air regularly air Fridays at 9pm
Jimmy Smits is television royalty and networks seem to have no trouble churning out at least semi-passable legal procedural, so why is this one very blah. Smits stars as uber-conservative Supreme Court Justice Cyrus Garza who had a nasty gambling habit, a devil may care temperament and, since the loss of his father in car accident, something of a midlife crisis. It's the latter that causes Garza to throw his political interests to the wind and cast a swing vote to allow a death row inmate a retrial, just before announcing his resignation from the highest court in the land. After this gesture, he sets out trying to make a difference in the world by playing lawyer to the less fortunate, starting with the man whose life he just extended. Smits is carrying the full weight of this show on his back and, as talented and watchable as he may be, the man needs his help. Garza is surrounded by perky young aids including a sassy private investigator who might be a fun character if she weren't so damn impressed with herself (Carly Pope), a stick-in-the-mud who spends the pilot trying to prove that he's not attracted to her (Jesse Bradford) and swooning schoolgirl type whose totally enamored with Garza (Ellen Davis Woglom). If this show is ever going to outshine its dismal Friday time slot, these other characters need to start pulling their weight as the sweat from Smits's brow alone is not going to propel this thing much further.

Top Chef: Just Desserts
Premieres Wednesday on Bravo at 10pm but will regularly air at 9pm
There have been a lot of complaints about the current season of Top Chef due to its fairly unimpressive collection of chefs and it's sudden enhanced interest in the catty, underhanded antics found on the networks lesser reality programs (Peagate, anyone?). If these things have been bugging you on Top Chef: DC, I implore you, steer clear of Top Chef: Just Desserts. This crop of pastry chef contestants are either instantly forgettable or infuriating. A simple scene where the chefs are introduced to their new living quarters quickly becomes something out of The Real World as one competitor invokes his chronic insomnia as a reason for why he should get first pick of beds and another declares that he must have control over the thermostat otherwise he won't be able to sleep. The cooking competitions, themselves, don't impress much either as, aside from some overly-showy usage of edible glitter, the chefs don't produce desserts that appear especially unique between the lot of them. With so many shows focusing on cakes, chocolate and pastries on other networks, you have to wonder why Top Chef decided this was territory they wanted to stick their flag into and, after watching the premiere episode, I really wish they hadn't.

The Apprentice
Premieres Thursday on NBC at 7pm but will regularly air at 9pm
Feeling down about how many people have lost their jobs in the current economy, The Donald is here to help. Meaning, he's going to make sure that one of 16 candidates in this competition is no longer on the unemployment roles. As for the other 15, well, we can't expect the man to help everyone.

It's Always Sunny in Phildelphia
Thursdays on FX at 9pm
Everybody's favorite political incorrect bar rats are back. Expect more of the same debauchery-filled humor they've been dishing out for the last five seasons.

The League
Thursdays on FX at 9:30pm
The new season begins with a trek to Las Vegas for a special fantasy football draft that ends up taking place in a hotel pool.