Sci Fi/Fantasy Shows

If you often find yourself pondering spirits on "Ghost Whisperer" and time travel on "Heroes," and believe that cloning your first love will definitely be possible in your lifetime, click through this slideshow for your must-watch Sci Fi/Fantasy list. Wednesday, August, 26, 2009, 11:26 PM

"Heroes" is an epic drama that chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities, and must learn to control them while slowly unraveling what these powers mean and where they come from. Ultimately, the "Heroes" are drawn together by their destiny to save the world. In last season’s finale, Sylar, who killed Nathan, has his memory erased by Parkman and now believes that he is actually Nathan. But you can bet that won’t be the last we see of the shape-shifting, power-stealing serial killer, as "Nathan" begins to show signs that Sylar is trapped inside his body. At this year’s Comic-Con, it was revealed that Sylar will not only be sharing a body with Nathan, but he'll also be sharing a brain with Parkman. Season 4 will be the battleground for Sylar to wage an internal war against Nathan and Parkman to get himself back in one piece. And though creator Tim Kring promised that they'll only be focusing on one or two characters per episode, there will be a new crop of faces joining the show in the form of carnies. The new characters are going to be a family of carnival performers including Samuel, the "earth mover" and carnie ringleader (Robert Knepper); a ninja knife-thrower with super speed (Ray "Darth Maul" Park); and Lydia, the tattooed carnie lady who can see the future when her powers team up with Samuel's earth-moving ones (Dawn Olivieri). Will the fourth season live up to the glory days of the show’s first season? Let's hope so. Mondays at 8pm ET on NBCNBC - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

A reimagining of the 1983 miniseries and TV show, the latest incarnation of "V" follows a similar plot: Gigantic alien saucers hover ominously over major cities worldwide. The visitors inside look just like us, and claim to come in peace, promising to share their advanced technology with humans in exchange for natural resources they desperately need for their home planet. But despite the aliens’ best propaganda, eventually the truth comes out. Tuesdays at 8pm ET on ABCABC/Bob D'Amico - Thursday, September, 17, 2009, 4:17 PM

Did the devil make them do it? Based on John Updike's novel "The Witches of Eastwick," "Eastwick" is home to Roxanne the flaky artist, Kat the doormat wife and mom, and Joanna the uptight local reporter. A mysterious stranger's arrival in town brings these fast friends even closer and tests them in ways they'd never imagined; Daryl Van Horne is an irresistible package of wealth, charisma, and bad-boy sex appeal. If he's not buying up a local business, he's attempting to seduce one (or all) of these ladies, physically and professionally. What's even more dangerous is that he's unleashing their supernatural powers. Eastwick will be turned upside down as these witches come into their own. Wednesdaysat 10pm ET on ABCABC/Kevin Foley - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Four months after a tragic car accident that killed their parents, 17-year-old Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) and her 15-year-old brother, Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen), are trying to cope with their grief and move on with their lives. Elena has always been a beautiful, popular, and involved star student, but now she struggles to hide her sadness. "Vampire Diaries" begins when the school year starts, as Elena — and everyone else — grows fascinated by a handsome, mysterious new student, Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley). Stefan and Elena are immediately drawn to one another, but what Elena doesn’t know is that Stefan is a centuries-old vampire, struggling to live peacefully among humans. Meanwhile, his brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder) is the embodiment of vampire brutality. Thursdays at 8pm ET on The CWThe CW/Andrew Eccles - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

What if you got the chance to see your future and got a glimpse of where you will be and who you will be with? Would you look forward to what was coming or would you try to stop it? In "FlashForward," a mysterious global event causes everyone to black out simultaneously for two minutes and 17 seconds. When they wake up, everyone is left wondering if what they saw will actually happen. No one knows what these flash forwards mean, but it’s clear that people who've never met will soon be intimately connected. Some will fear what's coming, others will be excited. But not a single person will be unaffected. Thursdays at 8pm ET on ABCABC/Bob D'Amico - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

J.J. Abrams, who's become legendary in the past five years thanks to his hit drama "Lost," is at it again with the second season of "Fringe," a series that blurs the line between science fiction and reality to the point of perfection. With Anna Torv as FBI special agent Olivia Dunham, Joshua Jackson as resident hunk Peter Bishop, and John Noble as former government researcher/"fringe" scientist Dr. Walter Bishop back in action, this engrossing series -- which is part "X-Files," part "Alias" -- is guaranteed to deliver more chills and thrills as the trio of main characters delve into a parallel universe (and end-of-the-first-season cliffhanger). Thursdays at 9pm ET on FOXFOX/Justin Stephens - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Imagine hunting down demons and investigating paranormal events. Now imagine doing it all while traveling the country in a 1967 Chevy Impala. That's how the Winchester brothers roll in "Supernatural." We’re embarking upon the fifth (and possibly final) season and the Apocalypse is knocking on the front door. How will the boys stop the rise of Lucifer (Mark Pellegrino)? Keep an eye out for the return of Adrianne Palicki’s Jessica — Sam’s ill-fated ex — sometime during Season 5. Thursdays at 9pm ET on The CWThe CW/Brian Bowen Smith - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

In this chilling drama, "Ghost Whisperer," partially inspired by two real-life mediums, Jennifer Love Hewitt plays Melinda Gordon, an antique-store owner who tries to live as normal a life as possible while also seeing and talking with the dead. She puts her unconventional gift to good use, serving as a go-between for the ghosts and the people they haunt. Melinda's life changed dramatically during the fourth season when her beloved husband, Jim, died, but his soul took over the body of another man, Sam, whom Melinda married in the season finale. Fridays at 8pm ET on CBSCBS/Cliff Lipson - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

Welcome to "Smallville," the Kansas hometown of the young Clark Kent, one day to be known by the city of Metropolis as ... Superman! With the approach of the show's ninth season, here’s hoping the pace will pick up and we'll finally get to see the complete Clark-to-Superman progression. So what's in store now that Clark has declared himself "dead," Lois is somewhere lost in time and space, and Chloe's still reeling from the loss of both Jimmy and Davis? You’ll have to tune in and see, but look for the arrival of the Kryptonite-powered cyborg Metallo (Brian Austin Green), who immediately steals Zod's villainous spotlight. Fridays at 8pm ET on The CWThe CW/Frank Ockenfels - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

"Medium" fans have CBS to thank for saving this former NBC drama inspired by the real-life story of research medium Allison DuBois. Emmy winner Patricia Arquette stars as a devoted young wife, mother, and medium who struggles to make sense of her gift. The strong-willed Allison has gradually come to grips with her extraordinary ability to talk to dead people, see the future in her dreams, and read people's thoughts. When we last left Allison, she was in a coma, but with the series starting up again, it's safe to say she'll be coming out of it soon. Fridays at 9pm ET on CBSCBS/Patrick Ecclesine - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

As the latest branch of the "Stargate" franchise, "Stargate Universe" follows a multinational team of soldiers, scientists, and civilians who escape an attack on their hidden base by boarding an ancient ship that is locked on an unknown course. Unable to return to Earth and faced with the challenge of meeting their most basic needs, they must unlock the secrets of the ship's stargate to survive. The series kicks off with a two-hour TV movie. Fridays at 9pm on SyfySciFi - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon returns to the small screen with the second season of "Dollhouse," a sci-fi series that has already become another beloved cult hit. Echo (Eliza Dushku), Sierra, and Victor all belong to a very unusual (and highly illegal) underground group that wipes away its members' personalities in order to imprint them with new personas. Confined to a secret facility called the Dollhouse, the three carry out assignments given to them by leader Adelle. After completing their assignments, which usually involve catering to the wealthy and powerful, the group must return to the Dollhouse to have their thoughts, feelings, and memories erased so they can enter the next scenario with a blank slate … but what happens when Echo stops forgetting? Stay tuned to season 2 to find out! Fridays at 9pm ET on FOXFOX/Kurt Iswarienko - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

The sci-fi series "Sanctuary" takes its name from an organization that seeks to help and study intelligent nonhuman creatures. A 158-year-old English scientist runs the Sanctuary, which serves as a safe haven for "abnormals." At the end of the first season, the powerful shadow organization known simply as the Cabal had begun testing a biological weapon that causes abnormals to become violent — part of the Cabal’s plans to incite a war between humans and nonhumans. Fridays at 10pm on SyfySciFi/Jamel Toppin - Thursday, August, 20, 2009, 9:20 PM

"Robin Hood" is back for its third and final season, which finds our hero returning from the Holy Land to avenge Marian's death. Brother Tuck must convince the grief-stricken Robin that England is still worth fighting for, and that only Robin can unite the people against the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. Saturdays at 9pm on BBC AmericaBBCA/Tiger Aspect - Wednesday, September, 2, 2009, 12:2 AM