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Thursday, September 8
The O.C. The third season opens with Trey in a coma after the shooting, the rest of the gang under pressure from the DA’s office to spill the beans on who took the shot, and Kristen released from rehab along with a new friend – Jeri Ryan , Seven of Nine from Star Trek: Voyager!
8 pm on Fox/CTV
Friday, September 9
FILM FESTIVAL PRESS CONFERENCES Round-the-clock coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival continues through September 17. Stick with the panels if you surf by – you don’t often get to hear movie stars talking this way.
8 pm on Cable 10
Saturday, September 10
THE SOPRANOS Season five begins with separated Tony taking a romantic interest in his shrink, Dr. Melfi, Carmine recovering from a stroke, Janice adjusting to married life with Bobby, and Carmela attacked by bears.
10 pm on CTV
AMERICA REBUILDS Shot at ground zero in the aftermath of September 11, this documentary examines the engineering challenges faced by the workers on site as well as the social and political conflicts that arose during the rebuilding. Kevin Spacey narrates.
2:30 am on PBS
Sunday, September 11
THE SIMPSONS The 17th season opener features Marge, outraged that Homer has allowed Fat Tony to shoot a porno movie in their living room to repay his gambling debts, leaving home on a journey of self-discovery.
8 pm on Fox/Global
SIX FEET UNDER Anaesthetized for surgery, Nate has several prescient dreams – or are they? – as the funeral home takes on new partner Rico. Claire gets a boyfriend, while David and Keith begin couples counselling.
10 pm on Showcase, repeated at 12:10 and 3:20 am
Monday, September 12
MARTHA Admit it – you’re curious. Now filmed in front of a studio audience, domestic diva and ex-con Martha Stewart returns to daytime TV bigger than ever.
10 am weekdays on Life, repeated at 3 pm on Life and 6 pm on TLC
THE BLUES: THE SOUL OF A MAN Produced by Martin Scorsese , this returning seven-part series – each episode helmed by a different director – traces the rise of the America’s most influential musical export. Tonight, Wim Wenders explores the dramatic tension between the sacred and the profane in the songs of Skip James , Blind Willie Johnson and J.B. Lenoir .
3 am on PBS
Tuesday, September 13
THE BIGGEST LOSER Hosted by Montreal comic Caroline Rhea , this reality slash game show pits two teams of overweight contestants against each other to see who can drop the most pounds in the shortest amount of time.
8 pm on NBC
Wednesday, September 14
LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN Hyped as the next big thing stateside, Montreal sextet the Arcade Fire make their American talk show debut.
11:35 pm on CBS/Omni 1
1-800-INDIA Doc explores the experience of young Indian men and women who have been recruited into outsourced white-collar jobs that require 80-hour work weeks and a debilitating Westernized mindset.
Midnight on PBS
