Fall is here, so the seasons are changing. TV seasons, that is.
 
Fall signals the return of America’s favorite TV shows after the lengthy summer hiatus.
 
While many of TV’s most acclaimed shows are dramas — like “Mad Men” and “Weeds” — on cable or premium channels, fall showcases TV’s best comedies on major networks.
 
Whether it’s the offbeat “The Big Bang Theory” or the absurd “30 Rock,” this fall’s lineup is more about hearty laughter than tugging at the heartstrings.
 
Of course, the dramas will have their place, as “Dexter,” “House” and musical dramedy “Glee” will surely provide their fair share of theatrics.
 
Regardless of the genres, this season’s highlights will feature a mix of old favorites and intriguing new shows.
 
The Office
 
NBC’s most popular comedy in the last five years returns for a seventh season and the final one with star Steve Carrell, who brilliantly portrays the offensive but lovable boss of Dunder Mifflin Paper Co., Michael Scott. Despite last season’s poignant focus on Jim and Pam’s wedding and Michael and Andy’s love lives, the show’s best days appear to be in the rearview mirror. Still, season seven is one last chance to see Michael Scott’s cringeworthy antics and could be a final bow for the entire series.
 
Dexter
 
For four seasons, Michael C. Hall has taken millions further into the mind of a conflicted serial killer than most would ever want to go.
 
Dexter, the title character — a tortured killer and family man who works for the Miami Police Department — has to pick up the pieces left behind by season four’s “Trinity Killer,” masterfully played by John Lithgow. Despite the show’s bloody nature, its incisive explorations into the dark side of the human psyche should continue to produce compelling television in season five.
 
Glee
 
Everyone’s favorite drama stars are back after a first season that brought soaring ratings, best-selling soundtracks, Emmy awards and millions of ardent followers. If the premiere episode that aired Tuesday is any indication, then this season’s mix of updated playlists — Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Jay-Z — and heightened drama, as football threatens the glee club’s funding, should make for better long-term plots and more relevant pop-culture punch.
 
Modern Family
 
Following its surprise success as one of last year’s breakout new shows, ABC’s “Modern Family,” returns for a second season. The show’s mockumentary style captures the often-surreal nature of interfamily relationships while maintaining the hilarity of sitcom-based humor. The show’s use of gay characters and handling of racial issues casts a satirical but understanding light on some of society’s most absurd dealings, even leaving room for punchlines.
 
My Generation
 
One of this fall’s most anticipated new shows is ABC’s “My Generation.” The pilot episode airs Thursday night, but early reviews and the show’s unique premise have created intrigue for the series. The show follows a group of former high-school classmates who return to their Austin, Texas, high school for a 10-year reunion. There they remember and confront the dreams and hopes they had a decade earlier before each hit the real world. While some of the character descriptions seem to fit some archetypes, the show’s distinct time capsule feel from the turn of the millennium could lead to a breakout first season.
 
 
 
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Contact Chris Abshire at [email protected]