Around the remote: Television picks for the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 4

Contra Costa Times (MCT) - DON'T MISS:

We Will Pray with You: Light Your Virtual Prayer Candle

"DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES" _ A major shakeup is coming to Wisteria Lane. Last year's finale only hinted at it with a sudden flash-forward that propelled the ladies five years into the future and now we get to see how life in the suburbs has changed. The formerly glam Gaby (Eva Longoria Parker), for example, has become the frumpy mother of two. Meanwhile, Lynette (Felicity Huffman) finds herself dealing with troublemaking delinquents, Susan (Teri Hatcher) has a new relationship she's trying to keep secret and Bree (Marcia Cross) is on her way to becoming a Martha Stewart-like domestic diva with the publication of a cookbook. 9 p.m., ABC.

OTHER BETS:

SUNDAY: That Emmy hog, "The Amazing Race," is back. This time, the competition begins with 11 teams departing Los Angeles and flying to Brazil, where they must either climb up a large stone staircase on their hands and knees or climb down a 240-foot cargo net. Us? We just sit and watch. 8 p.m., CBS.

SUNDAY: Another unnerving season of "Dexter" opens with our guy tracking a killer who got away with murdering two college coeds. The show precedes the Season 2 debut of David Duchovny's "Californication." 9 p.m., Showtime.

SUNDAY: "Little Britain USA" is an adaptation of an outrageous British sketch-comedy series starring Matt Lucas and David Williams as an assortment of oddball characters. It airs just before the debut of the animated series, "The Life & Times of Tim," about a bumbling New York bachelor. 10:30 p.m., HBO.

MONDAY: In the Season 2 debut of "Chuck," things appear to be heating up between our geeky spy (Zachary Levi) and sexy Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski). Alas, a dangerous mission gets in the way _ just like always. 8 p.m., NBC.

MONDAY: The crime drama "Life" kicks off its second season with Crews and Reese (Damian Lewis, Sarah Shahi) racing to nab a serial killer who is leaving his victims in numbered trucks all around the city. 10 p.m., NBC.

TUESDAY: The new "90210" kids are all right, but some of us are still faithful to Kelly (Jennie Garth). Tonight she gets a phone call from an "old friend" that makes her question her relationship with Ryan (Ryan Eggold). 8 p.m., The CW.

WEDNESDAY: Time to return to the Pie Hole as the fanciful "Pushing Daisies" finally resumes after a long layoff. The Season 2 premiere has Chuck (Anna Friel) going undercover at a honey-based cosmetics company after its new spokesmodel is stung to death. 8 p.m., ABC.

Light Your Virtual Prayer Candle For a Loved One

WEDNESDAY: Will more "Private Practice" make perfect? The show returns after a creatively uneven first season with producers and star Kate Walsh promising smarter, sexier stories. It airs just before the Season 2 debut of "Dirty Sexy Money." 9 p.m., ABC.

THURSDAY: It's showdown time between the vice presidential candidates as Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joseph Biden face off in their only debate. PBS newswoman Gwen Ifill moderates the event, which will air on all the major networks and cable news stations. 9 p.m.

FRIDAY: In the new drama, "The Ex-List," a young marriage-minded woman (Elizabeth Reaser) starts reconnecting with her old boyfriends after a psychic tells her she already has met and dated her soul mate. 9 p.m., CBS.

SATURDAY: There's more caged heat on the EliteXC Saturday Night Fights. Internet sensation Kimbo Slice squares off with veteran Ken Shamrock in a mixed-martial arts heavyweight bout, while Gina Carano and Kelly Kobald clash in women's action. 9 p.m., CBS.

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Chuck Barney: cbarney@bayareanewsgroup.com

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© 2008, Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.).