csimiami

Laura Linney has 'The C Word,' TNT renews 'Leverage,' 'American Idol' picks another guest judge and more of today's top TV headlines.

A good show can keep you so entertained that you're willing to fight sleep to watch the rest of it. A great show physically keeps you awake.

It gets into your bloodstream and forces more adrenaline into your heart.

It turns the synapses in your brain into ferrets on espresso that dash back and forth between the lobes and fires your mind on all of its cylinders.

It is visual cocaine, which is much healthier than actual cocaine and doesn't require a frequent visitor punch card for an eyes, ears, nose and throat doctor.

These are the shows that assault all five of the senses or less depending on how good of a health plan you've got.

Simon Cowell is reportedly finalizing a deal to extend his 'American Idol' fun for three additional seasons.

Also in the news today: 'Pee-Wee''s Paul Reubens stages a comeback, while TNT renews 'HawthoRNe' for a second season.

See more of today's top TV headlines after the jump.

'Desperate Housewives' brings back Andrea Bowen and promotes Maiara Walsh, 'Camp Rock 2' gets a new writer and director, MacGruber heads to the big screen and more of today's TV headlines.

Eddie Cibrian joins 'CSI: Miami,' Farrah Fawcett passes away at 62, 'America's Got Talent' has its lowest premiere ever and more TV news.

The 19th season of 'Survivor' will lead off CBS' 2009 fall premiere schedule.

The 'Samoa' edition premieres Thu., Sept. 17, followed by the network's Monday night comedy block, which includes the debut of Jenna Elfman's 'Accidentally on Purpose,' on Sept. 21.

Meanwhile, dates were also added for hit shows like 'Criminal Minds' (Wed., Sept. 23), 'The Mentalist' (Thu., Sept. 24) and the NBC import 'Medium,' premiering Fri. , Sept. 25.

Check out the full list of premiere dates after the jump.

You see that palm tree beside Michael Westen? The blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the background? Well, you can count on seeing all that Miami Beach ambiance on Burn Notice from now on. You might think, "Wait a minute. Why would they even consider leaving South Florida?" Well, last week the Miami commissioners threatened to demolish the Burn Notice studios.

Burn Notice is the only Miami set TV show that actually is filmed in Miami. CSI: Miami and Dexter, for example, fake it with Los Angeles locations. When you see South Beach on Burn Notice, you're seeing the real thing, same with Coral Gables, Boca Raton and every other recognizable SoFla locale. So it's become an important element in the show.

'Chuck'
(8PM, NBC) 2nd season finale
First of all, like many must-see-TV fans, we're hoping this is just a season, not a series, finale, especially since the episode ends with what 'Chuck' creators have called a 'game-changing' event.

Lest you think Chuck can relax and enjoy Ellie and Awesome's wedding now that the pesky Intersect is out of his head, here comes baddie Ted Roark (Chevy Chase) vowing to get revenge on Chuck and his papa (Scott Bakula), and promising to use Ellie and her wedding to do it.

Meanwhile, Chuck's still got some unfinished business to attend to with Sarah, he and Casey share a dude moment and Ellie may not be the only one walking down the aisle ... here comes the Morgan?

'Chuck'
(8PM, NBC)
Fanboys and fangirls everywhere had to love last week's 'Chuck,' in which our hero finally reunited with his long-lost papa ('Quantum Leap'-er Scott Bakula) and found out the senior Bartowski also happens to be Orion, the man behind the Intersect.

Tonight, with Papa Bartowski in the hands of his nemesis Roark (Chevy Chase) and Fulcrum, it's up to Chuck to save him, but he has to turn to his own nemesis – Fulcrum-aligned ex-girlfriend Jill (Jordana Brewster) – for help.

Meanwhile, anyone who's worried that the delightful Mr. Bartowski and his Buy More cronies might not see a third season may want to throw their support behind these 'Save Chuck' efforts.

'Castle'
(10PM, ABC) series premiere
At last ... Nathan Fillion gets a series worthy of his charms with the 'Moonlighting'-meets-'Murder, She Wrote'-ish 'Castle,' playing a wisecracking mystery novelist Richard Castle.

The author finds himself pulled into a police investigation when it appears a serial killer is using Castle's books for inspiration.

But in between managing his more-mature-than-him teen daughter and swinging live-in mom and playing poker with fellow novelists James Patterson and Stephen J. Cannell (who make clever cameos), the divorced Castle may also find new love with prickly detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic), a mystery novel fan who's both amused and annoyed by his presence.

This is either a sign that the overpaid and overindulged of the world are finally getting some karmic retribution, or the global economy is one more flush away from total chaos.

I know it's the second one, but we all need a little hope.

Entertainment Weekly has learned that CBS told their big stars to not even bother asking for another raise this year. The salary freezes only affect shows produced by the network, such as Numb3rs, NCIS and all of the CSIs.