Off the Wall: Fall previews and premieres

Off the Wall really should have its own mascot.

FALL PREVIEW CLIPFESTS Hollywood's four major networks tout their new shows this weekend in half-hour teasers. Cable partners also run "NBC Primetime Preview Show" (Sunday at 11:30 a.m., MSNBC; Saturday at 9 a.m., Wednesday at 6 a.m., USA; Sunday at 1 p.m., NBC/4). ABC splits its fall offerings into silly and serious with "Laugh On" and "No Ordinary Dramas" (Saturday and Sunday 8-9 a.m., Monday 5-6 a.m., SOAPnet). There's also "CBS Fall Preview Show" (Saturday at 1 p.m., CBS/2) and "Fox Fall Preview Special" (Saturday at 3 p.m., Sunday at 5:30 p.m., Fox/5). CW fall shows are already online at cwtv.com.

FALL SHOW PREMIERES Read all about 'em in Sunday's Fanfare Fall TV Preview. But these are the ones most worth watching. Promising newbies: "Lone Star" (Monday at 9 p.m., Fox/5), "Hawaii Five-0" (Monday at 10 p.m., CBS/2), "Raising Hope" (Tuesday at 9 p.m., Fox/5). Solid returnees: "House" (Monday at 8 p.m., Fox/5), "Glee" (Tuesday at 8 p.m., Fox/ 5), "The Big Bang Theory" (Thursday at 8 p.m., CBS/2).

CHOPSOCKY CHICKS Here's another daylong marathon of "Women of Ninja Warrior" (Saturday 9 a.m.-7 p.m., G4), in which female competitors run the "kunoichi" course of obstacle challenges. Video at g4tv.com/ninjawarrior.

'LOST' AGAIN If you're still wondering what the heck happened in those last couple of hours of "Lost" (Sunday at 3 p.m., WLNY/55/10), here's another chance to figure it out. Full schedule at wlnytv.com.

CELEBREALITY Lest network dramas / comedies get all the glory this week, VH1 steps up with fresh docusoaps. Settle in for a two-hour block featuring the new "Real & Chance: Legend Hunters" (Sunday at 9 p.m.), on the trail of giant catfish and Bigfoot; another season of "Fantasia for Real" (Sunday at 10 p.m.), including the "Idol" winner's suicide attempt; and "La La's Full Court Wedding" (Sunday at 10:30 p.m.), planning the big bash for TV host Vazquez and NBA star Carmelo Anthony. Previews at vh1.com/shows.

MASCOT MANIA! How much do I love men dressed up like big green furry monsters or giant baseball-heads? This month's new "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel" (Tuesday at 10 p.m., HBO) counts among its feature stories a look inside the world of mascots. Leading the charge is the original Philly Phanatic, who teaches the craft to wannabes and does "interventions" for teams with laggard mascots. Sure, this hour has another story on Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia, and one on Jim Thorpe's final resting place, but who cares? There are mascots! More at hbo.com/sports.

GREAT GUESTS Doris Roberts joins old "Everybody Loves Raymond" nemesis Patricia Heaton on "The Middle" (Wednesday at 8 p.m., ABC/7). Jennifer Aniston joins old "Friends" co-star Courteney Cox on "Cougar Town" (Wednesday at 9:30 p.m., ABC/7). Matt Damon and Elizabeth Banks are back on "30 Rock" (Thursday at 8:30 p.m., NBC/4). And Justin Bieber goes bad on "CSI" (Thursday at 9 p.m., CBS/2). Sneak peek at cbs.com/csi.

'HELLO, GAY NOW' Willow and Tara connect in a weekend marathon of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (Sept. 24, 8 p.m.-3 a.m.; Sept. 25, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sept. 26, 6 a.m.-1 a.m., LOGO). Episodes detailed at logotv.com/shows/buffy/series.jhtml