What to Watch Tuesday, Sept. 23

'The Mentalist'
(9PM, CBS) series premiere
An incredibly observant man who uses those skills to pose as a psychic medium and help solve crimes ... so what's the difference between 'Mentalist' Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) and 'Psych's' Shawn Spencer?

Mostly, Jane wears suits. And while Shawn employs an endless arsenal of pop culture references and goofy humor to aid him in his crime-solving capers, 'The Mentalist' tackles his cases in a more dramatic fashion.

Still, there's much charm and flair in Jane's methods as a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation, and even the potential for one of those long-simmering TV romances between Jane and his prickly CBI colleague Teresa (Robin Tunney).


'The Mentalist'
(9PM, CBS) series premiere
An incredibly observant man who uses those skills to pose as a psychic medium and help solve crimes ... so what's the difference between 'Mentalist' Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) and 'Psych's' Shawn Spencer?

Mostly, Jane wears suits. And while Shawn employs an endless arsenal of pop culture references and goofy humor to aid him in his crime-solving capers, 'The Mentalist' tackles his cases in a more dramatic fashion.

Still, there's much charm and flair in Jane's methods as a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation, and even the potential for one of those long-simmering TV romances between Jane and his prickly CBI colleague Teresa (Robin Tunney).

'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
(10PM, NBC) 10th season premiere
We're not going to be so bold as to question the qualifications of Luke Perry's agent, but the former Dylan McKay could have been over on '90210' creating a new triangle with Brenda and Kelly, and instead, is on 'SVU' as a man who's possibly abusing his foster son.

'NCIS'
(8PM, CBS) 6th season premiere
Gibbs finds out there's a reason behind Vance's decision to break up his team, and that reason is tied to the murder of a Naval officer.

'Without a Trace'
(10PM, CBS) 7th season premiere
Sounds more like 'Cold Case,' as the team tries to close out the case of a young girl who vanished years earlier. Jack, meanwhile, deals with a new boss, played by Steven Weber.

'Opportunity Knocks'
(8PM, ABC) series premiere
Call it hokey if you must, Sally and Sam Cynical, but we think there's something refreshing about this new game show that sets up a stage in families' front yards and gives them the chance to earn cash by answering trivia questions about how well they know each other.

'Eureka'
(9PM, Sci Fi Channel) 3rd season summer finale
There's evil afoot in Eureka, and we don't just mean that annoying Degree product placement.

'Secret Lives of Women'
(10PM, WE) 4th season finale
Sex addiction ... it's not just for porn stars or David Duchovny, although several of the women profiled in tonight's finale do, in fact, peddle in the porn trade.


What's on tomorrow: 'Gary Unmarried,' 'Knight Rider' premieres and more

Check out our TV calendar for a look at the month ahead