This Week on TV (Nov. 2-9)

Welcome to sweeps month! Where everyone tries a little harder. New episodes this week from:

• Heroes,
• V: The Series (series premiere!),
• Eastwick,
• FlashForward,
• Vampire Diaries,
• Fringe,
• Supernatural,
• Ghost Whisperer,
• Smallville,
• Medium,
• Stargate Universe,
• Sanctuary, and
• Legend of the Seeker (season premiere!).

Guest stars this week: Elisabeth Röhm (Angel) is on Heroes; Cybill Shepherd is on Eastwick; Alan Tudyk (Firefly, Dollhouse) guests on the V premiere; the always fabulous Alex Kingston returns to FlashForward; Arielle Kebbel (Grounded for Life) is on Vampire Diaries; Julian Sands (The Doci from Stargate SG-1) appears as Jor-El on Smallville; Richard Dean Anderson recurs on Stargate Universe; and Charisma Carpenter is on the season premiere of Legend of the Seeker.

Synopses below the jump. For details see the listings (regular or alphabetical).

• Heroes "Once Upon A Time In Texas" (408). Hiro has another chance to save Charlie (Jayma Mays) when he travels three years into the past, where he also encounters Samuel. Elsewhere, Noah's history with his partner (Elisabeth Röhm) is uncovered.
• V: The Series "Pilot" (101). Massive spaceships hover over Earth's major cities to enable Anna (Morena Baccarin), the leader of an alien race known as 'the Visitors,' to deliver a message of peace in the pilot that kicks off this reimagining of the 1980s sci-fi series.
• Eastwick "Red Ants And Black Widows" (107). Joanna is questioned about her kidnapping ordeal by her replacement at work. Meanwhile, Kat realizes Bun's old pal Eleanor (Cybill Shepherd) may have some helpful info; and Roxie tries to fulfill the last wish of someone close to her.
• FlashForward "The Gift" (107). An MI6 agent (Alex Kingston) helps Mark, Demetri and Gough investigate a Blue Hand club and its possible link to some suicides. In other events, a former Army pal of Aaron's daughter visits him; Demetri confesses to Zoey about his blank flash-forward; and Nicole and Bryce figure out the mystery of his vision while volunteering at the hospital.
• Vampire Diaries "162 Candles" (108). An old friend (Arielle Kebbel) visits Stefan on his birthday and she gives Elena some insight into dating him. Meanwhile, Caroline attempts to get Damon's medallion back from Bonnie, and Damon offers to help Sheriff Forbes, which leads to tragedy.
• Fringe "Earthling" (206). When the Division probes bizarre cases of people turning into ash, the investigation also reveals clues about Broyles' past. Directed by Emmy Award winner Jon Cassar ("24").
• Supernatural "Changing Channels" (508). Sam and Dean are thrown into an alternate universe where they become characters in various TV shows, including a medical series, a Japanese game show, a forensics procedural and a sitcom. Castiel warns them that if they don't find a way out soon, they will become trapped inside forever.
• Ghost Whisperer "Devil's Bargain" (507). Jim thinks that one of his colleagues could be involved in a med student's disappearance; and Melinda worries when Aiden mentions that he's afraid of "the shadows."
• Smallville "Kandor" (907). Jor-El (Julian Sands) meets Chloe at the Kent farm while searching for Clark. Meanwhile, Zod sets out to track down Jor-El, whom he believes is the Blur, and Clark tries to find his father before Zod does.
• Medium "New Terrain" (607). After her car is damaged, Allison rents an SUV, which contains a mysterious satellite radio that gives her the ability to receive other people's real conversations.
• Stargate Universe "Earth" (107). General O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) wants Col. Young to implement a high-risk plan hatched by IOA scientists that could possibly return the Destiny crew to Earth. Elsewhere, Eli and Chloe use the communication stones to visit their loved ones, culminating in a trip to a club. Carlo Rota, Janelle Monáe.
• Sanctuary "Pavor Nacturnus" (205). Magnus awakens in the ruins of a sanctuary with no memory of how the facility and city were laid to waste. An encounter with a savage creature and a cold rendezvous with Will lead to a shocking revelation.
• Legend of the Seeker "Marked" (201). In the Season 2 premiere, Richard inadvertently unleashes an even greater evil. Triana: Charisma Carpenter.