Monday

6 p.m.: Hank Williams Jr. will soon be asking, so make sure you’re ready.

Victor’s

Fall 2005 TV Preview

8 p.m.: If Fox’s “Arrested Development” doesn’t win this time slot, I’m retiring. Please don’t make me do that, because I’ve only got about $2.79 in my savings account. But how could it not? “King of Queens” on CBS? “One on One” on UPN and “Seventh Heaven” on The WB?

Now NBC offers up a new drama, “Surface,” which it keeps promoting by saying, “There’s something in the water.” I’ll start doing the lead testing myself if more of you people don’t start watching “Arrested Development.”

8:30 p.m.: Finally, a CBS comedy that’s actually funny (and when I say that, I’m going back decades). “How I Met Your Mother” is the first “Friends” clone that even comes close, and should only get better. The pilot has become an instant classic in my house, thanks to great casting – “Doogie Howser” is the smarmy single friend; how awesome is that? – and clever writing.

Forget about Fox’s “Kitchen Confidential,” which fails to live up to the hype, and UPN is a non-factor for the rest of the night, but the network will impress later in the week.

9 p.m.: By now, you’re either into Fox’s “Prison Break” or you’re not. Over at NBC’s “Las Vegas,” there’s a whole new Montecito Resort and Casino, where the waitresses’ skirts are shorter and the drinks are stronger. Well, I guess the drinks are irrelevant, but anyway.

The WB has pulled together a fun little drama, “Just Legal,” with Don Johnson and Jay Baruchel that could surprise some people. But if you’re in the mood for laughter, take a nap through “Two and a Half Men” and come back to CBS at 9:30m because…

9:30 p.m.: Would you believe after years of bitter disappointment, CBS pulls off a second sitcom that is actually funny? And on the same night, no less?

“Out of Practice” is a sweet and just rough enough around the edges show that will sneak up on you if you give it a chance. Henry Winkler and Stockard Channing give some name-recognition to an otherwise fairly new bunch.

10 p.m.: Ghosts or DNA? Take your pick, then watch NBC’s “Medium” or CBS’s’ “CSI: Miami.”