It’s a big night, so get that DVR warmed up . . .
Watch it
“The Office” (9 p.m., NBC). Season premiere. The sixth season kicks off with Jim and Pam expecting a baby and Michael digging around for juicy gossip while spreading some himself. The series wasn’t always at the top of its game last season, but even an off episode is better than almost any other sitcom.
“Community” (9:30 p.m., NBC). Series premiere. Joel McHale of “The Soup” stars in this highly anticipated comedy about a motley study group at a community college. It’s getting great reviews, despite the fact that it co-stars Chevy Chase, who is scientifically proven to have been unfunny since 1989.
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (10 p.m., FX). Season premiere. Picture the “Seinfeld” gang, only lower-class, meaner and even more self-absorbed. It’s sick, twisted and spit-milk-out-your-nose hilarious. Tonight the gang tries to cash in on the housing crisis by flipping a foreclosed house, and Dee tries to become a surrogate octomom.
“Survivor” (8 p.m., CBS). Season premiere. The 19th(!) incarnation of “Survivor” kicks off in Samoa. Russell H. is getting a lot of hype as being the show’s most evil villain ever. Seriously – almost every video on CBS’s “Survivor” Web site touts his evilness. Is he really that bad or is it all a bunch of hype? I think either way, you’ll be sick of him by the end of the episode.
Record it
“Fringe” (9 p.m., Fox). Season premiere. I gave up on this show after a handful of episodes last year, but apparently as soon as I did, it got progressively better. I know I should watch it, but I don’t know where I’ll find the time. So forgive me if it sits unwatched in my DVR for a while. Tonight we’ll learn more about the parallel universes.
“Parks and Recreation” (8:30 p.m., NBC). Season premiere. This not-spinoff from the creators of “The Office” stumbled through its six-episode first season in the spring. But word is, the series has received a few tweaks and is much improved. Among the changes: Amy Poehler’s Leslie has been made less of a punching bag and more a character you can root for. I’m willing to give it a second chance. Besides, it co-stars Aziz Azari, who is never not funny.
“Archer” (10:30 p.m., FX). Series premiere. An animated show about a spy who’s a world-class jerk. It’s been described as James Bond meets “Arrested Development.” Sounds weird enough to be interesting. I’ll write more about this later today.
Giants vs. Dodgers (7 p.m., CSN-BA). They’re replaying the Brian Johnson game from 1997. Possibly the best – and certainly most memorable – regular-season Giants game of my life.
Skip it
“The Vampire Diaries” (8 p.m., The CW). Lame. At least Ian Somerhalder is believable as a vampire. He’s much too pretty to be human. Like the blond elf dude in “Lord of the Rings.” But never mind that, there are waaaay too many good shows on at this hour to waste your time here.
