DEXTER
Today, 9 p.m., Showtime
JERSEY SHORE
Thursday, 10 p.m., MTV
NCIS
Tuesday, 8 p.m., CBS
THE NEW NORMAL
Tuesday, 9:30 p.m., NBC
FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
Wednesday, 9 p.m., ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS
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Kalinda’s better half
In the season finale, Alicia (Julianna Margulies) couldn’t decide whether to share a pizza with her kids and estranged husband — and thereby sell her pristine soul — or eat alone. Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) sat in a chair, pointing a gun at a closed door, waiting for her husband, Nick (Marc Warren), to open it. So who is the more interesting character on this show? That’s right: Kalinda. But it is called “The Good Wife” so they still have to give Alicia something to do and in the premiere, she goes on the offensive when her son is targeted by an overzealous state trooper. Bad policeman! Two characters without a storyline, Diane (Christine Baranski) and Will (Josh Charles), will delve into the firm’s financial problems. Kristin Chenoweth plays reporter Peggy Byrne, before she got injured on set.
THE GOOD WIFE
Today, 9 p.m., CBS
Burnt offerings
Last season ended with Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) walking in on a grisly scene. Her brother, Dexter (Michael C. Hall) was finishing off the Doomsday Killer (Colin Hanks) — in a church, no less. Now, they have to cover up their involvement with the murder — it’s a fiery solution — and get out of there fast. Meanwhile, Det. Mike Anderson has an unfortunate run-in, Quinn (Desmond Harrington) and Batista (David Zayas) begin to make amends, and LaGuerta (Lauren Velez) finds evidence that causes her to re-think the closed Bay Harbor Butcher case, which could mean trouble for Dexter — and his sister.
DEXTER
Today, 9 p.m., Showtime
‘Shore’ leave
They say it’s the end. That this is the last season. They also said the same thing last time “Jersey Shore” flexed its muscles and threw up on the boardwalk. Of course, much has changed since the show first started. Against all odds, Snooki became a parent — and got her own MTV series (JWoww is also on it, but she’s clearly playing the Vivian Vance role). This season is off to a sobering start as Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino returns to the house and tells everyone the depressing details of his time in rehab. Snooki, who was still pregnant when the series was filmed, has an attitude adjustment as a pregnant woman in a party house. If you’re drinking with this crowd, what do you do — talk about which crib you’re going to buy? Expect a shocking announcement.
JERSEY SHORE
Thursday, 10 p.m., MTV
Post-traumatic Abby
The time: four months after the Navy Yard bombings. The discovery: the body of a missing NCIS facilities manager is found and the NCIS team is assigned to investigate the strange case for one of their own. Meanwhile, the team is required to complete mandatory psych evaluations with a crisis counselor, and Gibbs (Mark Harmon) is most concerned about Abby’s (Pauley Perrette, left) recurring nightmares since the bombing. Co-starring Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo and Rocky Carroll.
NCIS
Tuesday, 8 p.m., CBS
Out of the mouths of gays
After seeing Bebe Wood flawlessly impersonate Little Edie from “Grey Gardens,” there’s every reason to think “The New Normal” can be very clever each week. In this episode, David (Justin Bartha) is planning a family dinner to tell his mother, Francis (Jackie Hoffman, “One Life to Live”) about the baby, Bryan (Andrew Rannells) comisserates with Goldie (Georgia King) about mother-in-law woes. Elsewhere, Nana (Ellen Barkin) is learning that, even at her age, she still has what it takes, but when she experiences an unusual sensation during an intimate encounter with a younger man, she seeks out David’s medical advice. Meanwhile, worried that her dad may win the custody battle, Shania (Wood) is crossing off her California bucket list. With former reality show star NeNe Leakes.
THE NEW NORMAL
Tuesday, 9:30 p.m., NBC
Obama versus Romney
We realize that more Americans would rather vote for the contestants on “American Idol” than either of the men running for president this year, but we keep hope alive. The first presidential debate between the articulate and idealistic Obama and the corporate and conservative Mitt Romney is Wednesday night, on all the networks. There’s certainly enough to “debate” here: the recent killing of the US diplomat J. Christopher Stevens, the terrible economy, the high unemployment rate, the environment, the corrupt banks, etc. So sit back and watch as these two go at it.
FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
Wednesday, 9 p.m., ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, PBS