2007 Fall Preview: Returning Shows

Old business: The Galactica found a gateway leading toward Earth only to be ambushed by an overwhelming Cylon force, with Lee (Apollo), now a civilian, nonetheless jumping in a Viper to help with the desperate fight. The last moment saw Kara (Starbuck), who had previously suffered certain death, reappearing to Lee in her own Viper, saying she would show him the way to Earth. New business: Season 4 of Battlestar Galactica, which will not air until early 2008, has been announced as the last season: the fleet will find Earth, or, as creator Ronald D. Moore says wryly, "something we're going to call Earth." Meanwhile, before season 4 we'll get the two-part Razor event, backtracking to tell the story of the Pegasus and Admiral Cain.

Old business: Season 1 ended with the long-awaited fight between Peter Petrelli and Silar being completely overshadowed by Peter's inability to control his newly absorbed nuclear ability, prompting Nathan to fly them both into the sky, where an explosion is seen. New business: Creator Tim Kring is now exploring the old guard -- the previous generation of people with abilities (which includes people like Linderman and Hiro's father, Kaito), the plans and alliances they made, and their relationships with the new crop of heroes. The company that Noah Bennet worked for weaves through those stories. New heroes include Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars). With Heyden Panettiere's breakout buzz swamping the rest of the cast, expect to see more Claire.

Old business: The end of season 6 took a left turn when the rockin' Phantom Zone wraith copied Clark's body and assumed the unlikely form of Bizarro Clark. Chloe's ability turned out to be giving life to Lois, at the cost of her own; while Lex was arrested for Lana's apparently lethal car bomb. New business: The big news is the arrival of Clark's cousin Kara: another Kryptonian who might misuse her powers because she didn't have Kents for parents. Lana spent season 6 getting dark and angry, so if she's back from the dead, watch out. Also look out for Aaron Ashmore's Jimmy Olsen, the standout from season 6: with Chloe dead, both character and actor have a chance to step up. Stunt casting alert: Dean Cain and Helen Slater will appear.

Old business: In the season finale, the Atlantis complex, a spacecraft as well as a city, was forced to take off from its watery planet to avoid a destructive beam being sent through a stargate parked in orbit by the replicator race called the Asurians. But the stardrive shut down, leaving Atlantis stranded in empty space. Meanwhile explosions may have killed Dr. Weir. New business: SG-1 vet Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) joins the team, displacing Weir and befuddling McKay, with whom she has a history. Carson Beckett, who was killed off late in season 3, will appear in a two-parter; Kolya will return as well; Tayla gets pregnant. Season 4 is expected to be darker, but still with light moments and Martin Gero-style character exploration.

Old business: When Sam was killed by a super-strong rival, Dean made a deal with a demon to bring him back, but Dean must die in a year. The brothers killed the Yellow-Eyed Demon with the help of their dead father, John, now redeemed from hell; but in the process a horde of demons was unleashed into the world. New business: The random spooks the brothers met in season 1 definitely seem like small potatoes: in season 3 the Winchesters are at the forefront of a war, as the forces of evil they allowed to escape from hell try to ravage the mortal world. Some controversy followed the addition of two female regulars, both edgy demon-hunters. Though it's clearly an attempt to sex up the show, expect Supernatural to keep its head in the game.