Thursday

Community – NBC, 7 p.m.
“Community,” returning for its third season, centers on self-obsessed fake lawyer Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) and the group of friends that he meets when forced to attend community college. The show is great at its portrayal of classic TV tropes while managing to turn them all on their head. Also, Donald Glover (of performing-at-Wash. U. fame) is on the show, so go watch it. Viewers can expect Abed and Troy to move in together, as well as some fun guest spots from Michael K. Williams (“The Wire”) and John Goodman (“Damages”).

Parks and Recreation – NBC, 7:30 p.m.
This year, “Parks and Recreation” looks to build upon its success from last year’s Emmy-nominated season, which ended with Leslie deciding to run for office and Tom leaving the department to run Entertainment 720. But, more importantly, it was the first time viewers saw Ron’s first ex-wife Tammy One (Patricia Clarkson), albeit only from behind. In season four, we will officially meet both Tammy One, and the ridiculously named Tammy Zero, Ron’s mother. And, for a short arc, Mark Brendanawicz is back! Yeah, that’s actually how you spell his name.

Person of Interest – CBS, 8 p.m.
The only thing that’s giving me pause about “Person of Interest” is its network—the #1 in procedurals, CBS. Everything else about the show (on paper) is mindblowing, though. Jonathan Nolan created it. J.J. “Midas Touch” Abrams is the executive producer. The former Benjamin Linus of “Lost,” Michael Emerson, is one of the stars. Movie star Jim Caviezel (“Passion of the Christ”) is the other. The premise, in which Emerson’s mysterious billionaire creates a computer program that can predict crimes so Caviezel’s cop can stop them before they happen, is rich with potential for a great, “Lost”- or “Alias”-like mythology. We can only hope it lives up to all of this.

Grey’s Anatomy – ABC, 8 p.m.
The uneven seventh season ended on a roll, with both a musical episode and a dramatic finale that didn’t feel overwrought for once. There was a disaster with a high death toll (this time, a plane crash), but it finally was about the disaster victims instead of being about the hospital staff. This is not to say there wasn’t any drama with the staff; of course, there was tons of it. Cristina discovered she’s pregnant, but Owen opposed her idea for an abortion…and then kicked her out. Teddy chose the patient she Green Card-married over her psychologist beau. Sloan finally let go of Lexie. The annoying April somehow won the chief resident position. Karev finally revealed that Meredith tampered with the Alzheimer’s trial, ruining the MerDer Post-It marriage. To top it all off, Meredith was finally cleared for adoption and took her new daughter home. All of these cliffhangers, plus the return of Bailey’s old boyfriend, should make for an exciting eighth season.

Whitney – NBC, 8:30
The new show in the Thursday night comedy line-up made possible by Tina Fey’s maternity leave, “Whitney” looks like an even bigger disaster than “Outsourced.” Despite questionable racial issues, “Outsourced” at least looked like it belonged on NBC this decade. “Whitney” has multiple cameras (What is this…CBS?) in front of a live audience (What is this…the 90s?!) and features star/creator Whitney Cummings making predictable jokes about her live-in boyfriend. I don’t understand why it was picked up for a season. Cummings is a boring shock comedienne—a brunette Chelsea Handler without the ability to make fun of celebrities. Hopefully, “Whitney” will be canceled by midseason and “30 Rock” can return to its rightful place.

Secret Circle – CW, 9 p.m.
“Secret Circle,” the new show by Kevin Williamson, creator of “The Vampire Diaries,” has elements that allow for easy comparisons to its predecessor. First, it’s set in a small town, though “Secret Circle” takes place in Washington state. Next, the main character, Cassie, is a teenage girl who has recently found out about her family’s connection to the supernatural. Oh, and did we mention she’s recently orphaned? When Cassie’s mom gets murdered in the opening minutes of the pilot, she is forced to move in with her grandmother. In her new town, she discovers she is the sixth and final member of a coven comprised of her new classmates. The completion of the secret circle makes Cassie and the rest of the witches even more powerful. The pilot aired last week, but it seemed like a fun show that’s easy to follow—one worth checking out.

FRIDAY

Fringe – FOX, 8 p.m.
The season-one finale introduced another universe. Season two ended with our Olivia trapped over there and with Fauxlivia living her life. When we last left “Fringe,” Peter Bishop disappeared from not just one, but both, universes but luckily left them both intact. When the show picks up, our non-Peter characters will be living in an “It’s a Wonderful Life”-style world into which Peter was never born. Walter’s even crazier, and Olivia’s much less fun, but they don’t know what they’re missing. The Observers have promised to keep Peter’s existence a secret, but with Joshua Jackson still signed as a season regular, we have a feeling the secret won’t be kept for too long.

Supernatural – CW, 8 p.m.
Another year, another crazy ride for the Winchester brothers. Last season’s finale left viewers reeling, and this year promises to keep fans on a roller coaster. Castiel, the boys’ former shoulder-angel, is no longer an angel. After absorbing the souls of purgatory, Cas has now become the world’s newest God, and his demand that the brothers bow down to him is sure to bring tension and turmoil. Expect to see a variety of past characters both beloved and hated. Death makes a triumphant return in the first episode, and the previously killed Jo Harvelle will make an appearance as well. In addition to the old characters, “Buffy” and “Angel” fans will rejoice when Charisma Carpenter and James Marsters show up later in the season. Behind the camera, series star Jensen Ackles is stepping back into the director’s chair. This is also Sera Gamble’s second season as showrunner after creator Eric Kripke stepped down, so expect her to hit her stride building on last year’s solid season.

Sunday

Desperate Housewives – ABC, 8 p.m.
The eighth and final season will pick up after an intense seventh-season finale. With Felicia Tilman no longer a problem, Paul finally left and gave Susan her home back. A progressive dinner party welcomed Susan back, but it didn’t go very happily. Lynette and Tom’s marriage fell apart over salad. Bree and Detective Chuck’s relationship intensified during the main course. Dessert ended in catastrophe when Carlos killed Gabrielle’s stepfather. The housewives hid the body. Fun night, right? The new season will be full of surprises. We will find out more about the Young family’s past and experience a major time jump.

Pan Am – ABC, 9 p.m.
Compared to “The Playboy Club,” “Pan Am” seems to win the “Mad Men”-wannabe contest with its insider look into the lives of 1960s Pan Am stewardesses. These women live a cosmopolitan life—globe-trotting, though not without complications. Laura (Margot Robbie) takes to the sky after running away from her fiance, whereas Maggie (Christina Ricci) has disciplinary issues and only ends up flying again under mysterious circumstances. And what would a drama set in the early 1960s be without some Cold War-style espionage? Kate (Kelli Garner) uses her connections to spy while she flies. If you like “Mad Men” but want to see women better represented, then this show is probably for you.