Tonight is revved up, ready to roll new shows

LITTLE ROCK — I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

If you recorded all the good stuff airing on TV tonight, you’d have at least one worthwhile program to watch each night the rest of the week.

First of all, if animation is your preference, most of the Fox Sunday night lineup kicks in with fresh stuff. Pull out today’s TV Week insert to read my roundup.

Next comes the return of several network favorites and one new series.

The evening is topped off by the second season of the best drama on television, at least according to last Sunday’s Emmy awards. I tend to agree.

Leaving Fox to TV Week, let’s take a look at the rest of the evening’s lineup chronologically.

7 p.m. Once Upon a Time (ABC). If you missed the first season of this charming and creative drama, watch the recap at 6 p.m. to get caught up.

In tonight’s new season premiere, all the fairy tale characters living in the present begin to remember their pasts.

Back in the fairy tale world, a beauty named Aurora is awakened by Prince Phillip.

The Amazing Race (CBS). The long-running show is back on top, having nailed another Emmy last week for best competition series. Top Chef won last year - the only year the statuette hasn’t gone to the globetrotters.

8 p.m. Revenge (ABC). Wait. How is Emily’s (Emily VanCamp) mother alive? Well, that puts a whole new twist on the tale.

This season, Emily’s unhinged mama (Jennifer Jason Leigh) joins the show. It’s summer again in Southhampton as the soapy stuff swells among the swells.

The Good Wife (CBS). One of the best network dramas around, last season ended with Alicia (Julianna Margulies) considering returning to her husband (Chris Noth) and Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) nervously awaiting the arrival of her mysterious husband. Yes, husband.

The series will see several new faces this season, including Kristin Chenoweth,Nathan Lane and Maura Tierney.

Dexter (Showtime). You either love this gripping psychological drama or you’re repulsed by the basic premise that the protagonist is, bottom line, a serial killer.

He only kills serial killers, but still.

Yes, and Breaking Bad is, bottom line, about a meth dealer. Neither fact keeps these shows from being riveting adult dramas. The violence is never gratuitous and the draw is about how the actions affect the characters.

This season should prove even more fascinating because Dexter’s (adopted) sister Deb had come to the church to tell him she loved him and witnessed his execution of the Doomsday Killer.

Bonus: Chuck’s Yvonne Strahovski joins the series.

9 p.m. 666 Park Avenue (ABC). A new wannabe thriller finds Terry O’Quinn and Vanessa Williams as the owners of a swanky (yet sinister) New York Upper East Side apartment building. The hosts can make your dreams come true, but at what Faustian cost? Just consider the street address.

The pilot left me underwhelmed. I’ll give it one more try.

The Mentalist (CBS). It’s Season 5 and, yes, yes, Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) is still hot on the trail of serial killer Red John. Jane needs to hire Dexter and be done with it.

Homeland (Showtime). Finally we get to the best drama on TV. The series, I’ll admit, is intense and not for everyone. But the acting is brilliant and the writing intelligent. All of that was rewarded when Homeland earned four Emmys - one each for best drama, writing, actor (Damian Lewis) and actress (Claire Danes).

The series follows Danes as Carrie Mathison, a psychologically teetering CIA officer who becomes convinced (and obsessed) that Nicholas Brody (Lewis), a rescued U.S. Marine who had been missing and presumed dead, is part of an al-Qaida plot to be carried out on American soil.

Lewis is remarkable as the complex Brody struggling with his demons. And Danes turns in a performance the depth of which is rarely seen on television.

This season picks up several months later. Carrie has been fired by the CIA and Brody has been elected to Congress. Then something happens that will have you on the edge of your seat.

One final note. President Barack Obama says this is one of his favorite TV shows. I’d much rather he be off watching something less tense with the family. Maybe Nick at Night or TV Land.

The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. E-mail:

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