Channel Surfing: "Grey's Anatomy," "Partridge Family" Redux, Tom Wolfe, and More

Welcome to your Thursday morning television briefing.

USA Today's Robert Bianco reviews tonight's season premiere of ABC's Grey's Anatomy, saying that the two-hour launch "completes the task begun last spring, clearing away dead plots and setting this massively entertaining series back on track." And fans will be happy to know that it seems like--for now anyway--Mer and Der and united. Time will tell... (USA Today)

Grey's creator Shonda Rhimes, meanwhile, told the Associated Press that the end of last season was about the end of the fairy tale but that this season "was all about what happens after the 'happily ever after,' for all our characters. For some, it's about jumping off into something new. It feels like a very fresh start for everybody." And for Katherine Heigl getting a fresh start away from Grey's, don't count her out just yet. "We have every intention of seeing Katherine for the entire season," said Rhimes. (Associated Press)

Reveille, Geffen Records, and Sony Pictures Television have teamed up to develop a modern and tongue-in-cheek version of 1970s series The Partridge Family, which is currently being pitched to networks, with a sale expected soon. Jeff Rake (Cashmere Mafia) is on board to write the project; he'll also executive produce with Jimmy Iovine and Ron Fair. I'm sure that they are attempting to reinvent the family musical series for a new generation but I can't help but I can count on one hand the number of "reimagined" series that have been successful and wish that producers and execs alike would try to be a little more original these days. (Variety)

HBO has optioned Tom Wolfe's 2004 novel "I Am Charlotte Simmons," about the clash of sex and class at a fictional Ivy League university campus as seen through the eyes of a poor but brilliant freshman from the South on a full scholarship, as a series, which Tina Brown and Bill Haber will executive produce. No writer is attached to adapt Wolfe's novel and the project is said to be in the early stages of development. (Variety)

Please for the love of all things funny, tell me that Betty and Daniel won't really be romantically involved this year on ABC's Ugly Betty. I think that might just put me over the edge. (Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello TV)

CBS Paramount has optioned mystery novel "Hounding the Pavement," the first in a series of books from Judi McCoy to be published in March. Novel follows an NYC dogwalker who tries to unravel the mystery of who murdered her client by talking and listening to the dogs. Hy Conrad (Monk) will adapt the novel, with Jeffrey Kramer of Juniper Place Prods executive producing. (Variety)

Stay tuned.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: Survivor: Gabon--Earth's Last Eden (CBS; 8-10 pm); My Name is Earl/My Name is Earl (NBC); Smallville (CW); Ugly Betty (ABC); Kitchen Nightmares (FOX)

9 pm: The Office (NBC); Supernatural (CW); Grey's Anatomy (ABC; 9-11 pm); Kitchen Nightmares (FOX)

10 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); ER (NBC)

What I'll Be Watching:

8-10 pm: Kitchen Nightmares.

Missing the softer side of Gordon Ramsay? Tune in to the US version of his reality series in which he pull back struggling restaurants from the brink of closure. On tonight's first episode, Gordon tries to save Italian restaurant Trabiano's--in debt for $500,000--from closure despite its cocky chef who used his girlfriend's family to finance his restaurant; then it's another new episode in which Gordon tries to save NYC seafood restaurant Black Pearl, whose owner might just be the rudest person Gordon has encountered on either side of the Atlantic.

8 pm: Ugly Betty.

On the season premiere of Ugly Betty ("The Manhattan Project"), Betty makes a decision about what to do with her life; Ignacio takes a job at a fast food restaurant; Wilhelmina manipulates Daniel into making some major changes.

9 pm: The Office.

On the one-hour fifth season premiere of The Office ("Weight Loss"), a new company-wide weight loss initiative causes the Scranton branch to become obsessed with their weight; Michael and Holly get closer; Jim misses Pam (who is studying art in Manhattan); Dwight, Angela, and Andy see to some unfinished business.

10 pm: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on FX.

Televisionary favorite It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia continues tonight with two brand-new back-to-back episodes. Up first is "America's Next Top Paddy's Billboard Model Contest," in which Frank and Mac invest in a billboard and then create a competition to find Paddy's next top model while Dee and Charlie try to create a new YouTube sensation. Then it's "Mac's Banging the Waitress" in which Charlie asks Mac to beat up the new boyfriend of his beloved waitress and Dennis tries to convince Charlie that they are best friends.