Like anything, watching television can be a habit. There are certain shows that you tune into on a regular basis because they make you feel safe, comfortable and give you that feeling of stability that may or may not surround the rest of your life. Because of that it can be difficult to latch on to a new show to watch. There's that uncertainty, that fear that you won't get used to the plot or the characters or the general feel for the show.

This is particularly true in my case since I watch a certain set of shows each week for review. However, this season I have decided to expand my television horizons a bit and search for some new programs to get involved with. By new programs I don't mean shows premiering this season, but programs that have been on the air for a while that I have never sen before of have glanced at from time to time. So, without further pontification, here are five shows that I'm now tuning into.

Chuck - This is one of those shows that I used to glance at from time to time when I had an opportunity and I enjoyed what I saw. The show didn't take itself too seriously; yet, it didn't go too broad in its comedy. This season I have decided to watch the show in full, and I haven't been disappointed. Chuck is a likable character who many of us pseudo-geeks can relate to in both their personal and professional lives (well, not me, but other pseudo-geeks). There's all of that, plus Yvonne Strzechowki, who plays Agent Sarah Walker, is smoking hot!

Entourage - One reason for me to start watching this show: cable upgrade. Since I didn't have HBO previous to this summer (nor Showtime, see below) I never had the opportunity to view this show on a regular basis. Now that I do, I end up watching it on Sunday nights or throw it into the DVR for future viewing. What I realize after watching the show is that it isn't one of those laugh-out-loud comedies -- at least not now. There's a good bit of drama and heart to this show that reflects the changing lives of four best friends who have found their own directions.

Big Bang Theory - Again, this is another show I glanced at from time to time last season, but didn't get into. What turned me around to the program was the appearance of the cast at ComicCon this past summer. With the clips they showed prior to the panel discussion added to the genuine honesty of the cast, I felt it was my duty to tune in. That, and the simple fact that CBS is one of the very few places where you see a true 'live before a studio audience' sitcom. So far, so good this season as the characters stretch their personalities.

Two and a Half Men - I've said it before, but I'll say it again: why is this still called Two and a Half Men? Angus T. Jones just turned 15 (October 8th...Happy Birthday, Angus!) and is nearly as tall as the other two stars of the series. Maybe it should be called Two and 3/4 Men. Still, the show remains funny and, with Angus growing up, there are new avenues that the show can take. Just this week, we had a pretty funny installment where Angus' character Jake decides to drink for the first time. In typical sitcom fashion, the consequences are unfortunate . Two and a Half Men is silly, unrefined comedy...something that is rare on television.

Dexter - Again, lack of premium channels prevented me from watching this show previously. I didn't even view it when it had its short run on CBS. But I've been tuning in pretty regularly this season and enjoy this skewered take on the criminal procedural. One thing I realized in watching this is that Dexter is a perverse version of a superhero. I thought of this during last week's episode in a scene where Dexter knew information about a suspect before his police brethren did and wanted to beat them to the punch in order to kill him. It was like Superman seeing something with his telescopic vision and acting on it before anyone else realized what was going on.

Family Guy - Other than the "Blue Harvest" and the 100th and 101st episodes I didn't really make Family Guy regular Sunday viewing. I just felt it was getting tired and nothing original was being done. For some reason that has changed this season. That's probably due in part to the second episode titled 'I Dream of Jesus'. Never in my time watching the show did I actually laugh out loud until the many sequences featuring "Bird is the Word" in this episode. The capper: Brian and Stewie destroying the single a la Office Space.