FALL SEASON ARRIVES WITH A BANG

Tonight (Monday) officially marks the start of the 2010-11 television season, and several TV writers are noting that it is starting off with a flood of strong shows that will likely results in massive DVR usage. Indeed, in an interview with today’s New York Times, Kelly Kohl, chief program scheduler for CBS, predicted that tonight’s ratings results will lead to a closer examination of the effect of delayed viewing. And Angela Bromstad, president of primetime entertainment for NBC, told the newspaper, “The DVR numbers are going to be very, very important.” CBS is launching the revival of Hawaii Five-O tonight, amid much industry buzz that it could become the top-rated hit of the season. But the pressure is particularly heavy on NBC, which debuts the heavily promoted The Event tonight. NBC has been attempting to make a comeback after years of dwelling in the ratings cellar and is heavily betting on The Event to shine on Mondays. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal notes that four-and-a-half hours of new primetime shows are premiering tonight — with 17 new shows scheduled to debut this week. However, tonight’s big winners are expected to be part hits Dancing With the Stars on ABC, Two and a Half Men on CBS, and House on Fox — and then, of course, there’s Monday Night Football on cable’s ESPN.