The rise in popularity of DVRs, DVDs, downloading and online streaming has: a) empowered viewers, b) alarmed advertisers and c) forced jittery TV execs to curl up in the fetal position as they pine for old economic models, swig homemade concoctions (one part vodka, three parts Pepto Bismol) and plan for a future that's never seemed more uncertain. These plans include the most frantic April in history, as dozens of your favourite dramas and comedies finally return to the prime-time grid after the labour dispute. In fact, over the next month, it's going to feel like the networks just cancelled spring and started the fall six months early...
Hell's Kitchen
Return Date: April 1
Criminal Minds
Return Date: April 2
Episode title:"Damaged"
Storyline: Rossi is haunted by an unsolved case involving the murder of two young parents 20 years ago.
CSI: New York
Return Date: April 2
Episode title: "DOA for a Day"
Storyline:Investigators track down one of the city's most wanted in an abandoned warehouse.
My Name is Earl
Return Date: April 3
Episode title: "I Won't Die With a Little Help From My Friends, Parts 1& 2"
Storyline: After getting hit by a car, Earl is in a hallucinatory coma.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Return Date: April 3
Episode title: "Grissom's Divine Comedy"
Storyline: The team is stricken with the flu while investigating a Vegas gang that's murdering witnesses in a grand jury case.
Without a Trace
Return Date: April 3
Episode title: "Hard Reset"
Storyline: Jack goes missing while investigating a doctor who was performing illegal abortions on prostitutes in a human trafficking ring.
Supernatural
Return Date: April 3
Duel
Return Date: April 4
Ghost Whisperer
Return Date: April 4
Episode title: "Home But Not Alone"
Storyline: Melinda helps Ned's girlfriend, who believes she is being haunted by her dead father.
Numb3rs
Return Date: April 4
Episode title: "Black Swan"
Storyline: Don helps take down a meth lab and not-so-innocent bystander.
Samantha Who?
Return Date:April 7
Episode title:"The Girlfriend"
Storyline: Samantha is forced to move back into her apartment after learning she could be evicted for subletting it to Todd and his new girlfriend.
One Tree Hill
Return Date: April 7
NCIS
Return Date:April 8
Episode title: "Stakeout"
Storyline: The team witnesses a murder while staking out a thief.
Boston Legal
Return Date:April 8
Episode title:"Tabloid Nation"
Storyline: Alan and Jerry go after a tabloid show when a woman is murdered by her ex after turning down his on-air marriage proposal.
The Office
Return Date: April 10
Episode Title: "Dinner Party"
Storyline: Pam and Jim are forced to do the couple thing after Michael extends a dinner invitation.
30 Rock
Return Date: April 10
Episode Title: "MILF Island"
Storyline: Jack goes on a witchhunt after Page 6 runs a blind item in which a staffer refers to him as a "Class-A moron."
Scrubs
Return Date:April 10
Episode Title: "My Bad Too"
Storyline: Carla and Turk work on getting each other the perfect first-date anniversary gift.
ER
Return Date:April 10
Episode Title: "Owner of a Broken Heart"
Storyline: Dr. Pratt must deal with Dr. Brenner, who refuses to teach the interns.
Don't Forget The Lyrics
Return Date: April 10
Desperate Housewives
Return Date: April 13
Episode Title: "Sunday"
Storyline: A surprise wedding ceremony reveals some dark secrets on Wisteria Lane.
Bones
Return Date: April 14
Episode Title: "The Man in the Mud"
Storyline: Brennan and Booth are asked to find out who killed a famous motorcycle racer after his remains are found in a hot spring.
Rules of Engagement
Return Date: April 14
Law & Order: SVU
Return Date: April 15
Return Date: April 16
Smallville
Return Date: April 17
Brothers and Sisters
Return Date: April 20
Gossip Girl
Return Date: April 21
Law & Order
Return Date: April 23
Grey's Anatomy
Return Date: April 24
Lost
Return Date: April 24
Ugly Betty
Return Date: April 24
Moonlight
Return Date: April 25
House
Return Date: April 28
