Bits of the upcoming season have been piling up all week, so here’s a round-up designed to tidy up Herc's desk:
Alias
In order to explain away his newspaper story on SD-6, Will offers that it was something he fabricated while in the throes of heroin addiction. (Jack Bristow even injects Will with the controlled substance.) Will is convicted of felony possession, is sentenced to probation, must join a treatment program, and must perform 100 hours of community service – cleaning freeway refuse while wearing an orange jumpsuit.
Francie, by the way, will seem to remain clueless about Will and Syd’s secret lives. Still, while on freeway trash duty, Will will spot Francie at a gas station, having an animated discussion with a mysterious white-haired man.
We will learn that the real CIA has a guy named Larry Crane, its own version of Marshall, the twitchy SD-6 tech fiend.
As improbable as it sounds, Syd will begin taking advice from her evil mom.
Boston Public
The Jessalyn Gilsig character, last seen getting ready to sleep with vice principal Scott Guber last season, will not be back.
3.2 will begin in the aftermath of the student riot that started in 3.1 and which resulted in damages totaling more than $40,000. Harper and Guber are anxious to learn who instigated the riot. (No, it’s not Harper’s daughter. Nonetheless, Harper and Guber will learn who instigated the riot by episode’s end, and both will be greatly surprised to see where the blame falls.)
In 3.2, Senate will continue to look after Trina, the student prostitute from 3.1. It turns out she’s a mommy too.
Also in 3.2, A very attractive student named Melanie Turnball will offer to blow a classmate if the lad can score cocaine for her upcoming party. “My parents are going to be in the house for this party,” moans Melanie. “It’s not like kids will be able to drink.” Later it turns out there’s even more to Melanie than meets the eye.
Also also in 3.2, Ronnie and Marylin will get very drunk in a karoke bar together, a decision Ronnie will live to regret.
Ed
Carol and Dennis come back from their summer vacation closer than when they left, and begin planning their wedding. Ed is obviously depressed about this, hires a wheelchair-bound man named Eli as the bowling alley’s manager, and – inspired by a nomadic thirtysomething named Frank who lives in a mobile home – considers leaving Stuckeyville for good.
Carol, though, comes to suspect that Dennis is too controlling, as has been passive-aggressively manipulating her wedding decisions.
When Eli beats Phil at basketball, Phil develops a theory that Eli’s wheelchair gives him an unfair advantage. Phil acquires a wheelchair of his own and demands a rematch.
Nancy Burton, meanwhile, goes back to work – this time as Stuckyville High’s new guidance counselor. She endures a rocky start, but ends up making a difference in an unexpected way.
Firefly
An episode titled “Shindig” will see Capt. Reynolds, mechanic Kaylee Frye and “companion for hire” Inara attending a lavish ballroom dance on the planet Persephone. Kaylee, dolled up, excited and escorted by Reynolds, proves popular with the local males. Inara, meanwhile, considers settling down with a wealthy and handsome native named Atherton Wing – until Wing grows jealous of Inara’s affection for Reynolds and gets a little rough. Reynolds has to hit Wing very hard. Wing challenges Reynolds to a sword duel. Wing is an expert swordsman; Reynolds isn’t.
The Practice
Lindsay Dole will remain in stir for at least a few more episodes, and gets some chilling advice from a corrections officer. She's encouraged to ask for a dental dam when she sees her doctor. Inmates with girlfriends, it’s explained, tend to live longer in prison.
Jimmy “The Grunt” Berluti, meanwhile, will help a woman named Melissa Halpern who kidnapped an infant girl 16 years ago and raised it as her own. Without exposing her identity, the guilty woman wants to get word back to the birth mother that the child is alive and well. She also wants to clear the name of another woman long falsely accused of the kidnapping. Jimmy carries out Melissa’s wishes, but the women he contacts want to know a lot more than he can tell. It’s not long before Jimmy faces Helen Gamble in court.
Smallville
In an early episode titled “Heat,” Lex will stun Clark by announcing his engagement to Desiree Atkins, one of Clark’s teachers at Smallville High. Clark is even more shocked when Lex announces they’re getting married that evening, and Lex wants Clark to be his best man.
It turns out Desiree has the power to make anyone she kisses her slave. Soon after the wedding, Mrs. Luthor lays a big wet one on Clark. The plan is to get Clark to kill Lex so she can collect some serious Luthor loot.
When it turns out Clark is invulnerable to her smooch power, she pays a visit to Clark’s dad.
The same episode will see Clark dealing with his heat vision. He discovers that thinking about Lana causes the power to manifest.
In a subsequent installment titled “Duplicity,” Clark’s spaceship will wind up in a cornfield. Pete Ross will find it and move it to his tool shed. Pete plans to reveal his discovery with a press conference. Clark suggests just telling Pete the truth, but Jonathan’s plan is to steal the craft back.
Meanwhile, Dr. Hamilton, his brains fried by Kryptonite, will use his auto to put a fellow motorist in the hospital. When Pete rescues the man, Hamilton polishes off his victim with an overdose of morphine.
24
Jack Bauer’s old CTU boss, George Mason, will get some very, very, very bad news at 11 a.m. Seems he’s been victimized by terrorists in a highly personal way.
Soul-patch Tony, who has Nina’s old job, may have found another girlfriend among the ranks of CTU.
Jack’s hard-charging efforts to stop the destruction of Los Angeles will hit a snag when a key lead locks himself into what appears to be a “panic room.”
