By Gail Pennington, St. Louis Post-Dispatch –
Ah, May. Remember May? Flowers were beginning to bloom, and TV series were wrapping up their seasons with cliffhangers designed to keep us on pins and needles until fall.
Now, fall is almost here, and a week from now, the new network TV season officially begins. But four months is a long time to remember who did what to whom on which show last spring. So here is a cheat sheet of cliffhangers, crises and big events that will be in play when shows return.
My intent is to refresh your memory, which can’t be done without revealing important plot points, so if you haven’t watched and still plan to sometime in the future, read no further. Shows are listed chronologically by return date.
—“Bones,” 8 p.m. Mondays on Fox (Premieres Monday)
New mom Brennan was suspected of murder. Sure she was innocent, Booth wanted her to turn herself in, but her father convinced her to go on the run with baby Christine.
—“The Office,” 9 p.m. Thursdays on NBC (Thursday)
David Wallace regained Dunder-Mifflin, Robert California departed and Andy got the top job, but kept Nellie. (The coming season, Season 9, will be the last for “The Office.”)
—“Parks and Recreation,” 9:30 p.m. Thursdays on NBC (Thursday)
Leslie was elected to the city council. Ben got a job offer in Washington and Leslie urged him to take it, saying they could make long-distance romance work.
—“How I Met Your Mother,” 8 p.m. Mondays on CBS (Sept. 24)
Robin was revealed as Barney’s bride.
—“Mike & Molly,” 9 p.m. Mondays on CBS (Sept. 24)
Mike and Molly got married.
—“Castle,” 10 p.m. Mondays on ABC (Sept. 24)
Beckett quit the force to track Cole Maddox, who tried to kill her before and almost made good on it this time. But in bigger news, Castle and Beckett finally wound up in bed together.
—“Hawaii Five-0,” 10 p.m. Mondays on CBS (Sept. 24)
A bank robber blew up police headquarters and killed Chief Fryer. Dirty cop Frank Delano forced Chin Ho to choose between saving his wife or Kono, but it looked as if both might die. Joe led McGarret to his mother, who isn’t dead after all.
—“NCIS,” 8 p.m. Tuesdays on CBS (Sept. 25)
Jimmy and Breena had a quickie wedding. A bomb blast left everyone who was at work at the time in peril. On the beach, Ducky got a call about the explosion and collapsed of an apparent heart attack.
—“NCIS: Los Angeles,” 9 p.m. Tuesdays on CBS (Sept. 25)
Callen shot his nemesis, “The Chameleon,” and was taken into custody. Hetty resigned.
—“Private Practice,” 10 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC (Sept. 25)
Naomi gave birth to her son, who had no brain, and donated his organs amid controversy over the time of death. Addison made a love connection with Jake before Sam asked her to marry him. Pete got out of jail on bail in the mercy killing.
—“Modern Family,” 9 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC (Sept. 26)
Mitchell and Cameron didn’t get the baby they wanted, but Jay and Gloria will become parents because she’s pregnant.
—“Criminal Minds,” 9 p.m. Wednesdays on CBS (Sept. 26)
Will was taken hostage by serial killers who strapped bombs to his body. Emily found him and defused the bombs. At the hospital, Will was reunited with JJ and (at her request) asked her to marry him. She said yes this time. Emily decided to leave the BAU again.
—“CSI,” 10 p.m. Wednesdays on CBS (Sept. 26)
Nick quit the department. D.B.’s daughter and granddaughter were abducted.
—“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” 9 p.m. Wednesdays on NBC (Sept. 26)
Cragen was knocked unconscious and woke up in bed with a dead hooker, with blood on his hands.
—“The Big Bang Theory,” 8 p.m. Thursdays on CBS (Sept 27)
Howard and Bernadette got married before he went into space.
—“Grey’s Anatomy,” 9 p.m. Thursdays on ABC (Sept. 27)
After the plane crash, Lexie died and Mark almost followed but was saved by Meredith and Cristina. Others were hurt, including Derek, who had a hand injury — not good for a surgeon.
—“Scandal,” 10 p.m. Thursdays on ABC (Sept. 27)
Chambers murdered reporter Gideon Wallace. Perkins turned out to be an imposter. The first lady lied that she’d leaked the sex tape. Pope turned in her White House credentials.
—“CSI: NY,” 8 p.m. Fridays on CBS (Sept. 28)
Mac was shot and, near death, got a visit from his late wife. (Making the episode, producers and cast thought this might be a series finale, but the show was renewed.)
—“Fringe,” 9 p.m. Fridays on Fox (Sept. 28)
Holt shot September; Olivia then shot Holt. Olivia and Peter faced off with William Bell and took him down. Olivia told Peter she’s pregnant. September told Walter: “They are coming.” (“Fringe” ends its run after 13 final episodes.)
—“Once Upon a Time,” 8 p.m. Sundays on ABC (Sept. 30)
Henry was in a coma after eating the poisoned apple tart Regina (his adoptive mother) had meant for Emma (his birth mother). To save him, Emma retrieved a potion from Mr. Gold, but Henry was already dead when she got back. Because “true love is more powerful than any curse,” her kiss brought him back to life. Reunited with his love, Belle, Mr. Gold poured the potion into a well, bringing magic back to Storybrooke and letting the fairy tale characters — including Snow White and Prince Charming — remember who they are.
—“Revenge,” 9 p.m. Sundays on ABC (Sept. 30)
Amanda returned and told Jack she was pregnant with his child (but is it really his?). Charlotte overdosed but might have been found in time. Emily broke up with Daniel and discovered that her mother is alive — and that Victoria knew it all along. Victoria and Lydia were (apparently) aboard a flight to Washington when the plane exploded.
—“The Good Wife,” 9 p.m. Sundays on CBS (Sept. 30)
Lockhart/ Gardner was in major money trouble, and Will remained suspended. Peter moved the kids back into their old house and asked Alicia to join them, an offer she considered. With a gun, Kalinda waited for her abusive husband to knock on her door.
—“The Mentalist,” 10 p.m. Sundays on CBS (Sept. 30)
After failing again to beat Red John and leaving the CBI, Jane was in Las Vegas on a six-month bender when he was arrested. Lorelai, a pretty waitress, bailed him out and they slept together — after which she told him she works for Red John, who wants Jane as an ally. Jane told Lisbon he was faking everything to trap Red John and needed her help. Red John, who has a mole inside the CBI, told Jane to kill Lisbon, and he “shot” her and Rigsby (but it was a setup). Arrested, Lorelai told Lisbon she and Jane had slept together.
—“Hart of Dixie,” 9 p.m. Tuesdays on the CW (Oct. 2)
Zoe and Wade were stuck in a barn during storm and later got back to the house and made love. George backed out of the wedding to Lemon because of his feelings for Zoe. There’s a knock at Zoe’s door, she leaves Wade in the bedroom to answer the door. She is surprised to find George standing in the rain, professing his feelings for her.
—“Supernatural,” 10 p.m. Wednesdays on the CW (Oct. 3)
Dean was trapped in purgatory after killing Dick Roman with the weapon he and Sam forged. Ghost Bobby crossed over.
—“90210,” 9 p.m. Mondays on the CW (Oct. 8)
Silver asked Teddy to father her baby. Naomi barged into Max’s wedding, leading him to back out. Dixon, who missed making a connection with Adrianna, was in a serious car crash.
—“Gossip Girl,” 10 p.m. Mondays on the CW (Oct. 8)
Bart turned up, alive after all, and took the company back from Chuck. At least Chuck got Blair, who chose him over Dan. Dan and Georgina headed for Italy. Serena had a real coke problem. (“Gossip Girl” will end after 10 final episodes.)
—“The Vampire Diaries,” 9 p.m. Thursdays on the CW (Oct. 11)
Elena chose Stefan over Damon. After their truck crashed, Elena sacrificed her life to save Matt’s but was transformed on her death into a vampire.
—“Touch,” 8 p.m. Fridays on Fox (Oct. 26)
Teller was found dead. Aided by Clea, Martin and Jake fled to California, where they met the mother of Amelia, one of Teller’s former child patients.
