The TV Column

3 cable shows join 3 CBS series returning today

Showtime’s Homeland will spring forward two years in Season 5 and take Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) out of the CIA and into Germany. Carrie’s daughter, Franny, is played by Luna and Lotta Pfitzer.
Showtime’s Homeland will spring forward two years in Season 5 and take Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) out of the CIA and into Germany. Carrie’s daughter, Franny, is played by Luna and Lotta Pfitzer.

The new fall season hasn't finished introducing all its new shows yet, but there are no freshman programs making their debuts today. In fact, only two will premiere this week -- American Horror Story: Hotel (FX) on Wednesday; and Amazon Prime's Red Oaks on Friday. More on those later in the week.

Meanwhile, this is a busy day for returning favorites. And The CW finally joins the parade with the return of most of its schedule this week. Check out today's TV Week insert for my overview of The CW's new fall lineup.

That leaves us free to concentrate on three premium cable offerings (plus one on PBS) and three CBS stalwarts that return today. Let's begin with the cable fare.

PREMIUM CABLE

Homeland, 8 p.m. (Showtime). If you were once a fan but had grown weary of this uneven series, come back. Season 5 will be almost like a brand-spanking-new show.

It's not a complete reboot, but the changes are encouraging because this cast is too talented to waste, especially Mandy Patinkin as Carrie Mathison's (Claire Danes) former boss Saul Berenson, and Rupert Friend as CIA hit man Peter Quinn.

Changes: We're jumping more than two years into the future (Carrie's daughter, Franny, is now a toddler) and Carrie is no longer a CIA officer. Carrie is in Berlin (a welcome change from Pakistan), in self-imposed exile, and working as the head of security for billionaire German philanthropist Otto During (Sebastian Koch).

About her character, Danes told USA Today, "She's trying to create a healthy life for herself and surrender to domesticity, but her past just won't let her go."

This season's ominous teaser tagline: "The only way out is back in."

The Leftovers, 8 p.m. (HBO). In case you're unfamiliar with the show, the "leftovers" are those folks left behind after the mysterious "Sudden Departure." That's when 140 million people -- 2 percent of the world's population -- vanished without a trace.

Poof.

Was it the Rapture? Aliens? Something else?

The 10 episodes of Season 2 take our hero, Kevin Garvey Jr. (Justin Theroux), and family to a new small town in east Texas where nobody disappeared. Are the townsfolk the chosen? The damned? Secrets, psychological drama and angst ensue.

The Affair, 9 p.m. (Showtime). This intense adult drama (TV-MA) explores the emotional ripple effect of adultery. Once happily married (and father of four) novelist Noah Solloway (Dominic West) allows his restlessness to overcome him and he philanders (often quite graphically) with waitress Alison Lockhart (Ruth Wilson). Alison was also at a low point, but was trying to piece her marriage back together following the death of her son.

Starring as their blindsided spouses, Helen and Cole, are Maura Tierney and Joshua Jackson.

In Season 2, there are consequences to the affair. Viewers will see the tale told through all four perspectives.

CBS TONIGHT

Madam Secretary, 7 p.m. It was tense at the end of Season 1 when Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord (Tea Leone) was called before a Senate Investigative Committee but avoided being charged with espionage.

In the Season 2 opener, Air Force One is missing and Elizabeth is sworn in as president. Spoiler alert -- it's only temporary. Bonus: Morgan Freeman cameos as the chief justice.

The Good Wife, 8 p.m. Whenever I'm asked, I tell folks that this is still the best broadcast network drama on television. It is exceedingly well-written and contains a number of characters that are satisfyingly multi-dimensional. Heading that list is Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick.

I fully expect Season 7 will continue that tradition.

Alas, this will be the first season without the marvelous Kalinda (Archie Panjabi). However, Louis Canning (Michael J. Fox) has offered Alicia a business proposal that she may not be able to refuse.

Meanwhile, Peter Florrick (Chris Noth) is still running for president. Or maybe he's running for the veep nomination alongside Hillary.

CSI: Cyber, 9 p.m. It was a convoluted finale at the end of Season 1. Let's just say that the SWAT team arrived and everyone is safe.

Season 2 brings a couple of major cast changes. Peter MacNicol will not be returning as Avery Ryan's (Patricia Arquette) boss. And now that CSI has ended, Ted Danson will transfer his CSI character D.B. Russell over to CSI: Cyber.

Program note: For those who appreciate outstanding British period drama, PBS begins the six-episode drama Masterpiece: Home Fires at 7 p.m. today on AETN. It airs at the same time on subsequent Sundays through Nov. 8.

The series follows the plucky women on the British home front in a rural Cheshire community (filmed in Bunbury Village) and begins just before World War II. I've seen all six episodes and this is compelling television.

A second season has been ordered.

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Style on 10/04/2015

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