There’s a ton of cool stuff popping up on the television dial this week, so let’s get started.
First up are the premiers: “Dancing with the Stars” kicks off its new season tonight with a huge cast of contestants that includes Donny Osmond, Aaron Carter, Macy Gray, Mya and Kelly Osbourne. And “Saturday Night Live” opens season 35 with host Megan Fox and a performance by U2.
Other highlights of the week include a repeat of The Flaming Lips performance on “The Colbert Report,” Lynyrd Skynyrd and the return of Pee Wee Herman to TV on “The Tonight Show,” Tavis Smiley sitting down to chat with Herb Alpert and Louis C.K., and Ricky Gervais, Craig Ferguson, Amy Poehler and LL Cool J making appearances all over the dial.
Monday, September 21
Kelly Osbourne – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Loni Love, Guy Branum – “Chelsea Lately”
Queen Latifah, Aaron Carter – “The Bonnie Hunt Show”
Ricky Gervais, Lynyrd Skynyrd – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”
Living Colour – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
The Flaming Lips – “The Colbert Report” – rerun
Robin Williams, Bobcat Goldthwait, Matt & Kim – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” – rerun
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”
Franz Ferdinand – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun
Tuesday, September 22
Craig Ferguson – “The View”
LL Cool J – “Live with Regis and Kelly”
Paolo Nutini – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Herb Alpert – “The Tavis Smiley Show”
Brad Wollack, Arden Myrin – “Chelsea Lately”
Pee Wee Herman, Amy Poehler – “The Jay Leno Show”
Lisa Lampanelli, Monsters of Folk – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”
Kid Cudi – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Reba McEntire – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”
Mat Kearney – “Last Call with Carson Daly”
Wednesday, September 23
Ricky Gervais – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
John Caparulo, Sarah Colonna, Michael Kosta – “Chelsea Lately”
Jeff Ross – “The Bonnie Hunt Show”
Mary J. Blige – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Martin Short, Wynonna – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”
Amy Poehler – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
Arctic Monkeys – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”
Amazing Baby – “Last Call with Carson Daly”
Thursday, September 24
Noisettes – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Jen Kirkman, Josh Wolf, Jo Koy – “Chelsea Lately” – rerun
Craig Ferguson, Snow Patrol – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Smokey Robinson, Joss Stone – “The Jay Leno Show”
Joel McHale, India.Arie – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”
Phoenix – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
Lisa Lampanelli – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Paolo Nutini – “Last Call with Carson Daly”
Friday, September 25
Louis C.K. – “The Tavis Smiley Show”
Joe Matarese, Chris Franjola, Natasha Leggero – “Chelsea Lately”
LL Cool J – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Rodrigo y Gabriela – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”
Esther Dean – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Ladyhawke – “Last Call with Carson Daly”
Saturday, September 26
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival highlights – “Austin City Limits” – rerun
U2 – “Saturday Night Live”