It all starts Sunday

If the fall TV season were a movie, we would say it's getting a slow rollout. This week the Fox network jumped the gun on everyone else, using the Emmys to rush out its new shows. The executives at Fox couldn't bear to keep us waiting another week on the debuts of “K-Ville” and “Back to You,” I guess.

To continue our movie analogy, the fall season opens wide starting Sunday. Here are some of the returning shows to look forward to in the coming week.

All times Central.

Sunday, season 19 of “The Simpsons” kicks off at 7 p.m. on Fox 4, and for a change it's a must-see episode, right from the get-go, thanks to an all-new opening (hint: it brings the “Simpsons Movie” summer of love to a fitting end) and guest voice Stephen Colbert, who plays Homer's life coach. “Family Guy,” “American Dad” and still-not-gone “King of the Hill” return as well on Fox. Over on CBS, “Shark,” which traded places with “Without a Trace,” is at 9 p.m. on KCTV-5. The schedule isn't all that changed: Kevin Pollak is in as the hardball-playing D.A. and Shark's daughter, gone to the East Coast, is out.

Monday: NBC is hoping fans of “Heroes” (8 p.m., KSHB) will come early and stay late. The fantasy series is being asked to prop up two similarly themed new shows, “Chuck” at 7 p.m. and “Journeyman” at 9. If you prefer reality to fantasy -- or TV's version of reality -- ABC returns with “Dancing with the Stars” at 7 and “The Bachelor” at 9. New to the ballroom this season include race car driver Helio Castroneves, onetime medicine woman Jane Seymour and billionaire Mark Cuban. (At least it's less obvious than Trump's turn as the “guest banker” on “Deal or No Deal.”)

Tuesday: “House” returns at 8 p.m. on Fox 4. Missing are Dr. House's three assistants, who all had their reasons for leaving their mercurial boss at the end of last season. How long they're gone remains a mystery, though we get a hint in next week's episode that it may not be for long. If you'd like a little longer tease, then visit videos.kansascity.com for my review of the first two weeks of “House” (with clips!). Over on NBC, “The Biggest Loser” (7 p.m., KSHB) becomes the biggest gainer, growing a fat 30 minutes in show length, leading into “The Singing Bee” at 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday: What's notable is the show that isn't here: ABC is holding “Lost” until January so it can air without repeats. Also making it a strange night are the plethora of new shows (nine) compared to returning shows (five, not counting “Lost”) on the five major networks. Hopefully fans of “Criminal Minds” (8 p.m., KCTV-5) have gotten the memo that, despite CBS continuing to use Mandy Patinkin's mug shot in its advertising, he's leaving the show because … well, because he's Mandy Patinkin.

Thursday: You've heard me touting the benefits of digital video recorders. And Thursday is Exhibit A for why you need one. A new “Survivor” from China (7 p.m., KCTV-5), which started last week, is joined by the season premiere of “Ugly Betty” (same time, KMBC-9). “Betty” uses a clever telenovela parody to refresh viewers' memories of some of the 27 storylines that seemingly carried over from last season. But it's not even the best comedy of the hour: That goes to “30 Rock,” which begins its second season next week at 7:30 on KSHB, when guest Jerry Seinfeld plays himself. Hopefully by then you'll have watched this week's “Grey's Anatomy” (8 p.m., KMBC-9), “Without a Trace” (9 p.m., KCTV-5) and “Smallville” (7 p.m., KCWE-29) episodes on your new DVR.

Friday (whoops! not until Oct. 5): “Friday Night Lights” (8 p.m., KSHB), the show that isn't about football so much as it is about teenagers learning what it means to be adults, returns on a new night -- a night when many people aren't home to watch it. Still another reason to get that DVR. Joining the show is Chris Mulkey, a favorite character actor of mine, who takes over the Dillon Panthers after Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) takes another job.