Two good shows that got their rookie seasons messed up by the writers strike – NBC's solid "Chuck" and the even better "Life" – return tonight for a second chance.

That should make NBC a hot Monday destination. Unfortunately, in the middle of the night (at 9 on Channel 3) is "Heroes."

I was a big "Heroes" guy in Season 1. Less crazed but still a fan last season, or at least during what there was of it. After the two-hour premiere last week, I'm pretty much done with it.

The show started its life so well, a blend of comic-book dazzle, endearing characters, and a sprawling story with grand consequences. Through much of the first year, though each week ended on a cliffhanger, it always gave viewers some payoff for putting in the time.

Often, the payoff involved the charming Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka), the geek-turned-champion who, after one harrowing look into the future, was nonetheless cheered up, because in that future, he said with pride, "I have a sword."

All that charm is gone. All the swashbuckling and valiant battling with evil, all that straight-up nobility of purpose is gone, too. Now, it's a tangled mess of a story, with characters and connections so wound up they're worse than incomprehensible, they're uninteresting.

There's a batch of possible futures, a pack of bad guys, a disruption of the fundamental principles viewers thought they knew. And everyone, even Hiro, seems angry, or suspicious, or selfish or just plain mean.

In the first season, the evil they battled was also of comic book proportions. Now it's changed into the cheesy viciousness of a third-rate action flick, with, among other things, a baddie burning a woman to death for fun. It's like watching "Death Wish: The TV Show."

There's no one to root for or care about. There's no character you want to spend any time with. There also doesn't seem to be any character who can actually die, either.

"Heroes" was a series with so much spirit and potential, so much dashing, old-school flair. Now, it's just another grim, overly complicated show with seemingly nothing but despair. It's like watching a TV version of Wall Street.

On the plus side, both "Chuck" (at 8 p.m.) and "Life" (at 10) have heroes to root for.

"Chuck" is the current best-comic-book-on-TV, about the geeky tech support guy who's brain somehow became a national security computer, and now he's pressed into spy duties he's badly equipped to handle. But he is plucky.

And "Life" is one of the best cops shows to come along in a long time, featuring the charismatic actor Damian Lewis.

It's the story of an L.A. detective who spent years in jail on a frame-up. He's been cleared and has brought a new Zen-like attitude toward his job, which involves a lot of odd cases that need a Zen acceptance. On the side, he's trying to solve the frame job.

What makes it soar is Lewis's deadpan charm; his chemistry with his partner (Sarah Shahi); brisk, very smart scripts, and a solid cast all the way around. It's getting two airings a week – with separate episodes Mondays and Fridays (also at 10) – for two weeks, then will run just on Fridays starting Oct. 17.

Here's the rest of this week's What To Watch (or Not):

Tuesday

"Costas Now With Aaron and Mays: (9 p.m. on HBO): One of TV's most articulate sports broadcasters talks with two of baseball's legendary figures, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays, in a one-hour special that looks at their lives, careers and their enduring respect for each other.

Wednesday

"Pushing Daisies" (8 p.m. on Channel 10): The charmer of a fairy tale returns after its promising rookie year was cut short by the strike. It remains a charmer – witty, romantic, larger-than-life, and a TV delight.

"Breaking Bad" marathon (8 p.m. on AMC): Fresh after Bryan Cranston's Emmy win, AMC is running all seven episodes of this sometimes funny, sometimes shocking, morally gray but always compelling series.

"Private Practice" (9 p.m. on Channel 10): Another season premiere, and this year, producers say Addison has more fun. Which is good, because there wasn't enough fun for anyone, particularly viewers, last go-round.

"America's Got Talent" (9 p.m. on Channel 3): It's the season finale and one talented person will start on the same path to fame as the previous winners. Whoever they were.

"Dirty Sexy Money" (10 p.m. on Channel 10): This ode to mean-spirited greed starts its second season and producers say more soap, less mean-spiritedness. Also add in Lucy Liu, which has to count for something.

Friday

"The Ex-List" (8 p.m. on CBS): New series with Elizabeth Reaser as a woman who's told by a psychic she needs to marry within a year, or remain forever alone, plus she's already dated her man of fate. Thus, a list of exes and an agreeable enough romantic comedy.

"Everybody Hates Chris" (8 p.m. on Channel 31): The severely underappreciated comedy returns, and Chris gets a new high school. Lucky him.

"Friday Night Lights" (9 p.m. on DirecTV Channel 101): This is the DirecTV showing of the terrific series. It will return to NBC and broadcast TV in January.

"Life" (10 p.m. on Channel 3): Just making sure you got the note. Twice a week.

Sunday

"Valentine" (8 p.m. on Channel 31): Greek gods are on Earth in mortal form, trying to help real mortals connect to their true loves and seriously boring TV viewers in this stiff and dull new series.

"Easy Money" (9 p.m. on Channel 31): Another new show that's a bust. It's a cliché-ridden, drearily produced drama about a family running a high-interest loan business that's one step short of loan sharking.

Call The Bee's Rick Kushman, (916) 321-1187. Listen to him Thursdays at 8:40 a.m. on NewsTalk 1530 (KFBK) and 8:50 a.m. on Armstrong & Getty, Talk 650 KSTE.