Cool weather has finally returned to St. Louis, so the best way to spend your evenings is inside, curled up in front of the TV. Don’t miss your favorite returning shows like “Parks and Recreation” or “How I Met Your Mother.” Cadenza previewed what we think will be the best shows premiering this week.

“Law and Order: SVU”
Returns: Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. on NBC

The 14th season of “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” ended with a shocking cliffhanger as detective Olivia Benson returned to her apartment and found herself staring down the barrel of a gun. With a mad search for a psychotic rapist-murderer, a few heinous crimes and the unsuccessful attempt at conviction that brought Benson to danger, last season’s finale was probably the best hour of television that “SVU” has ever delivered. Early previews have teased that the first hour of the two-part season opener will feature the beloved detective fighting for her life, and actress Mariska Hargitay has even called the episode “the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” My guess for the rest of the season is that we will see Benson bring her kidnapper to justice and come to terms with what he did to her. After all, she’s spent her career helping the victims of people like him, yet this will be the first time that she will be on the receiving end of the horror. Interestingly, we will see her approach her career with a new perspective and relate to victims in ways that she hasn’t ever before. For a truly thrilling and suspenseful two-hour study break, tune in to “SVU” when it returns to NBC this Wednesday.

—Kimberly Henrickson

“Revenge”
Returns: Sunday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. on ABC

The biggest question on viewers’ minds is: how is Jack going to react to Emily’s true identity as “Amanda Clarke”? We’re sure to find out at some point in the first episode of season three of “Revenge” this upcoming Sunday. I’m expecting plenty of flashbacks before we actually get an answer from Jack, but there’s no way he’ll just jump on the Emily bandwagon without acknowledging the fact that she’s part of the reason why Declan is dead. From the teaser, we have a whirlwind of a season ahead of us. Jack will give Emily a challenge: destroy the Graysons this summer and leave the Hamptons for good, or he’s stepping in. Emily and Daniel will have the wedding of the century (where’s Aiden?); Nolan will be good ol’ Nolan; and, most shockingly, Emily will be shot. But “Revenge” fans should know by now that we can’t expect all of these things to happen as seamlessly (or even as accurately) as they do in the trailer—remember when we all thought that Tyler shot and murdered Daniel? Although last season was a little bit disappointing in the drama department, it looks like season three will be making up for lost time. Check out the season premiere this Sunday on ABC. —Alieza Schvimer

“How I Met Your Mother”
Returns: Monday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. on CBS

The gang at MacLaren’s is finally on its victory lap. Viewers of “How I Met Your Mother,” which begins its ninth season Monday on CBS, are finally going to meet the titular mother. The final episode of season eight finally showed the face of the mother, played by Cristin Milioti, a former Broadway star. Viewers who have been with the show from the beginning (or caught up sometime in the last eight years) had mixed reactions to finally seeing the mother, but the last couple of seasons have been a bit of a downward spiral, so the injection of a new character will hopefully enliven the final season. Where will the show go next? How will Ted (Josh Radnor) meet his soon-to-be wife? Well, the season centers on Robin (Cobie Smulders) and Barney’s (Neil Patrick Harris) wedding, and there will probably be a lot of time spent drinking. While the show has had a good run, the jokes have begun to grow stale, so it’s good that this is the last season. Jason Segel (who plays Marshall) especially has been spending almost as much time in movies as in the show over the last couple of years. Fans, start getting ready to say goodbye, but don’t worry. It won’t be too long before there’s another comedy about people in New York City with unrealistically nice apartments. —Trevor Leuzinger

“Parks and Recreation”
Returns: Thursday, Sept. 26t at 7 p.m. on NBC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISAtUFYgEMU
Last season’s finale left “Parks and Recreation” fans with a lot of questions. Will Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) be recalled from office? Is Ron (Nick Offerman) really going to be a dad? Are Ann (Rashida Jones) and Chris (Rob Lowe) really going to have a baby? Will April (Aubrey Plaza) go to veterinary school? Luckily, these questions will be answered when our favorite Pawneeans return for season six. The one-hour season premiere finds the cast in London so Leslie can receive the International Woman in Leadership Award. This season promises a plethora of guest stars—like Heidi Klum as a foreign dignitary and Henry Winkler as Jean-Ralphio and Mona Lisa’s father, as well as “Orphan Black’s” Tatiana Maslany and Kristen Bell—but the show will also see some changes. Cast member Chris Pratt, who plays Andy Dwyer, is currently filming a movie in London, so Andy will be staying in London for charity work. Ann and Chris will be leaving halfway through the season in order for their baby storyline to play out—yes, they are going to have a baby. But even with these changes, the show will definitely be its usual quirky self in season six, especially when the Parks Department meets its Eagleton doppelgangers. Don’t miss the season premiere. —Elena Wandzilak

“The Voice”
Returns: Monday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m. on NBC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H692WJq9vlc
You’ve probably seen the commercials on TV and YouTube by now: the four original coaches of NBC’s “The Voice” have reunited, and it feels so good. Christina Aguilera and CeeLo Green will rejoin Adam Levine and Blake Shelton as coaches for season five, taking their seats back from Shakira and Usher, who served on the panel for season four. Other than the coaching switcheroo, the upcoming season of NBC’s ratings juggernaut won’t deviate much from its tried-and-true formula. As always, the first several episodes will center on the show’s trademark blind auditions, which should be especially entertaining this season given the rapport that’s developed between the coaches. The coaches will also still have the option to “steal” two players from another coach’s team later in the season. Plus, in a few weeks, expect to see Ed Sheeran, Cher, Miguel and OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder join the show as mentors for the “battle rounds.” There’s no telling which player or team will win this time—although NBC has already released a video of contestant Matthew Schuler receiving a super-fast unanimous “yes” for his performance of “Cough Syrup”—but let’s hope that it’s not Blake Shelton again. —Katherine Jaruzetski