The new television season is now a few weeks old, and I think I’ve finally come to a decision about what I am going to dedicate my evenings to watching. Of course, there’s old staples like LOST, House, Veronica Mars, and The Office, all of which have returned in fine form, but the intrigue is always in new programming. Though they seem to be struggling for ratings, NBC has put out some of the better new shows this year (of course, they had the most open time slots; witness the quality programming already mentioned and you see why the peacock had to lose so many of its shows). I’ve already stated my approval of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and will continue to watch even if it seems unlikely to make it through the season. After the jump are my thoughts on the rest of what I’ve been able to catch of the network’s new offerings.

Heroes (Mondays, 9 p.m.) - Like X-Men for those of us who didn’t grow up knowing who Stan Lee was, Heroes focuses on individuals spread across the world who figure out that they’ve developed special abilities. It seems that it’s happening at just the right time, too, because New York City is on the verge of exploding or some such danger. Intriguing, engaging, and with a writing staff who know how to deliver one hell of a cliffhanger, Heroes is certainly the most addicting show of the new season, and is a viable candidate for “best new show.” If only they could get rid of that narrator and the Ali Larter character…

Friday Night Lights (Tuesdays, 8 p.m.) - Uninitiated by the book or the film, I started watching this show On Demand a little worried that I’d be in over my head, even if it started from scratch. Truth is, the developers turned the idea into an exceedingly watchable show. Once you get past the Texas accents, the show pulls you in and you find yourself rooting for Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his Panthers. NBC recently announced that they ordered nine more episodes of the show, giving it the rest of the season to catch on with viewers. I certainly hope it does.

30 Rock (Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m.) - Alec Baldwin alone make this show worth watching; it’ll be up to Tina Fey and the rest of her cast to make it watchable. Tracy Morgan has been nothing but obnoxious through two weeks, but the mania translated into decent humor in the show’s second episode. 30 Rock needs to step up its game to be worthwhile viewing.

20 Good Years (Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m.) - …is awful. I expected better of Jeffrey Tambor.

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