"Once Upon a Time"

 

Credit: ABC

I have to admit that when Is saw that the latest mini-trend for this fall's television season was modern takes on fairy tales, I rolled my eyes (check out Alan Sepinwall's review here). Of course, it's a move that makes perfect sense from a writing (and studio) perspective. Audiences gravitate toward the familiar (just look at the number of retreads at your local movie theater), and this is some a whole mess of familiar sitting fat and happy in the public domain. Storylines are populated with easy-to-grasp heroes and villains, stakes are life-and-death and usually we get a happy ending (or at least we did once Disney had their way with the Brothers Grimm). What could be better?

 "The Rachel Zoe Project"

Credit: Bravo

The traditional wisdom is that, in the world of sitcoms, major life events can signal a show is about to jump the shark. How many of us have groaned as formerly great shows muddle around in the tired territory of onesies and wedding dresses, with characters suddenly falling flat and humorless before us? 

It would be easy to assume the same might happen with reality TV shows. After all, these shows are probably no less scripted than any other programming. But so far, I have high hopes for two shows on which main players have chosen to tackle big changes on-screen; "The Rachel Zoe Project" and "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" don't seem to be jettisoning their strong points to make room for plot points, or at least not so far.

 "The Vampire Diaries"

Credit: CW

This week Elena and the gang are finally seniors, but no one's truly excited about it. Instead of worrying about which college to go to and AP exams (though they're probably worrying about that, too), they're dealing with vampires and werewolves and hybrids, oh my. And given the current state of affairs, the theme seems to be loneliness. Elena's lost Stefan, Caroline feels like she's losing Taylor, Bonnie's on her way to losing Jeremy and Matt's already lost everyone. It definitely puts a whole new spin on senioritis. 

 "Project Runway"

Credit: Lifetime Television

 It's down to the final four, and for whatever reason, Josh M. is still on the show. We can only hope he goes back to his apartment and makes a ton of ugly, tacky stuff in horrible neon colors and gets sent home. Wait, didn't we see horrible neon colors in the promo? Fingers crossed! 

 "Long Island Medium"

Credit: TLC

It's impossible not to like the "Long Island Medium" -- whether or not you believe her gift is the real deal. As we see in this exclusive clip from her TLC show (Sun. at 10 p.m. on TLC), Theresa Caputo can't help it that the dead are constantly popping in to send messages to their loved ones. It's a gift she appreciates and wouldn't give up, but it can be a little annoying when she just wants to pick up some dinner. Watch as  Caputo makes a delivery of her own at her local pizza place. 

 "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"

Credit: ABC

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" isn't just focused on home remodels -- on Oct. 21, the show will be moving to a new night and time (8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.) with expanded two-hour episodes. But that's no problem for designer (and former "Bachelorette") Jillian Harris. "I'm just super excited about this move to Friday night," she said in a phone interview. "I don't think there's any great family TV on Friday night, and this is going to be a great move for us." I talked to Harris about her other big move from "The Bachelorette" to "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," how she got the job and the one makeover she still wants to do.

 Animal Planet

Credit: Animal Planet

For some people, pets are just pets. For other people, pets are beloved members of their families, and these are the people who will have the most difficulty watching "Animal Cops Houston" (Wed. 8 pm. on Animal Planet) As it turns out, there's also a third category of people - people who care so little for other living creatures (or who, in the case of animal hoarders, care but are too plagued by mental disorders to care appropriately) that pets are simply forgotten, neglected, starved or abused. There are apparently enough people in this depressing final category for "Animal Cops" to have become a multi-city franchise, with shows based in Detroit, Miami, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Francisco and New York City. 

 "Dancing with the Stars"

Credit: ABC

It's time for another elimination, and I have to say that I'm glad I didn't put money on this season (not that I ever do), as it's been one of the weirdest as far as the logic of who is staying and who is going. Chynna's out, Chaz is in, north is south, up is down -- I might as well try to wrap my head around tax law or the CW's program schedule. Anyway, let's get on with what is usually a long, drawn out night that rarely ends the way anyone expects it to.

We start things off with a dance performance set to the most lackluster renditions of "Like A Virgin" and "Like A Prayer" performed outside of an off-strip Las Vegas piano bar. But, as you might expect, the dancing is very, very good. 

Tom wants Len to talk about the season. Spin plates until the commercial break, Len! Len tells us that this season is crazy, as Kristin and Chynna were cut so early. You can't moan if you don't vote! Well, at least he speaks the truth.

 "Toddlers & Tiaras"

Credit: TLC

This is a continuation of a story that ran on Friday. To read the first half, click here. 

 "That can get ugly in adulthood." 

 "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"

Credit: Bravo

Ah, the ugliness of game night continues on "The Real Housewives of the 'Maury Povich Show,'" I mean, "The Real Housewives of Beverly HIlls." Truly, as nasty as things have gotten among the wives in the past, Brandi's addition to the fold has somehow pushed the show dangerously close to chair-tossing territory. While this is undoubtedly dramatic, it's also a bit unnerving, like watching beauty queens rip out one another's extensions while using their stilettos to poke holes in their rivals' Spanx. Hopefully someone will brush her extremely long and probably fake hair out of her eyes and apologize before someone loses an eye.