Sunday Mature viewers who worry that TV is turning over all of its real estate to more coveted younger demographics will be relieved by the return of "Life (Part 2)" (9:30 p.m., KTCA, Ch. 2). The series, executive-produced by Twin Cities native Naomi Boak and hosted by journalist Robert Lipsyte, isn't exactly star-studded (Joy Behar is the biggest name featured in the first three episodes), but the themes -- caregiving, the generation gap, mortality -- should connect with any and all folks who have never heard of "The Hills."

Monday If the producers for "The View" (10 a.m., KSTP, Ch. 5) want us to take the show seriously, they need to stop giving media-hungry gnats a chance to swarm. The guest co-host for today and Tuesday: Kate Gosselin. If that weren't bad enough, LaToya Jackson fills that slot Wednesday and Friday. Shame, shame, shame. I'm also somewhat disappointed in the Queen of all Media. "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (4 p.m., WCCO, Ch. 4) kicks off her new season with a two-part interview with Whitney Houston, an exclusive that Winfrey gloats is her "best interview ever." What could she possibly have uncovered? We already know crack is whack.

Tuesday "The Biggest Loser" (7 p.m., KARE, Ch. 11) may center on shedding pounds, but it's also designed to make viewers shed tears. Among the 16 contestants in the two-hour season premiere: a woman who lost her husband and two children in a car crash. Others who will make you reach for the tissues include a woman who weighs in at 476 pounds, the heaviest in the show's history, and a woman who must be airlifted to a hospital after collapsing during a 1-mile foot race.

Wednesday If you still haven't recovered from your State Fair diet, you may want to skip a new edition of "Man V. Food" (9 p.m., Travel) in which host Adam Richman goes to Sarasota, Fla., to scarf down deep-fried hot dogs. Hungry for more? Then sit tight for the repeat that follows, in which our iron-stomached guide orders a 12-egg omelet in Seattle. Pass the Tums.

Thursday Naysayers need to stop comparing "Parks and Recreation" (7:30 p.m., KARE, Ch. 11) with "The Office" and enjoy it for its own merits, particularly one named Amy Poehler. The second season kicks off with the former "Saturday Night Live" star performing a perfectly silly rendition of "Parents Just Don't Understand" and accidentally marrying two male penguins. Yes, the show shares a docu-style with its lead-in, but Poehler and company have built their own unique insane asylum, one well worth visiting.

NEAL JUSTIN