Television may seem like college students’ last priority three weeks into the new school year, but with all the residence halls providing cable, and the dull task that studying often is, grabbing that remote and flipping on the TV can be very tempting.

If you do happen to give into the urge, here’s the menu of what you could be tuning into this fall television season.

This season, you’re going to have to be choosy with what you watch. With USA, FX, A&E, TNT, MTV, ABC Family, Bravo and basically every other cable news network now providing its own original programming, virtually every time slot in primetime is packed. Unless there’s a TiVo in your room, some shows are going to have to be missed.

Let’s start out by talking about the show that, regardless of if you’re a fan or not, you probably know at least one of the main characters’ names: “Gossip Girl” (9 p.m. Mondays on the CW). Last season’s finale left us hanging, most notably with Georgina returning to her devilish roots and Blair and Chuck looking like they might finally get together. Season three should be just as juicy as ever now that the elite kids of the Upper East Side have graduated high school (save Jenny) and their gossip will have a new venue.

While we’re on the subject of gossip and the CW, Mischa Barton’s new show “The Beautiful Life” (premieres 9 p.m. Wednesday) or “TBL,” must be mentioned. Marking Barton’s return to television since her character on “The O.C.” was murdered, the show focuses on the troubled lifestyles led by the young and beautiful in the modeling world and the newcomers who must adapt and deal with the devastating change of scenery.

If you’ve bitten in to the vampire craze that has sucked the blood of 15-year-old-girls everywhere, then you’re in luck. “The Vampire Diaries” (8 p.m. Thursday on the CW), which had its season premiere Sept. 10, is great if you’re only looking for the “Twilight”-esque forbidden-love-because-if-you-get-too-close-he’ll-eat-you sort of thing. If you want something fresh, interesting and original, then skip this one.

Stick around afterward to check out “Supernatural,” now in its fifth season, which also premiered on Sept. 10. With the apocalypse looming and too many demons to count, the new season should be, at the very least, interesting.

Enough with the CW drama – let’s move onto the laughs. There’s always “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” The show’s fifth season premieres at 10 p.m. Thursday on FX. Following up the controversial play “The Nightman Cometh” put on for the season four finale, season five kicks off with the guys attempting to hit it big in the real estate market while Dee signs up to be a surrogate mother. Sure to make you cringe a dozen times, “Always Sunny” makes up for its agonizing moments with twisted, fresh humor.

If “Family Guy” is more your thing, Seth MacFarlane and crew offer a spin-off, “The Cleveland Show” (premieres 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27), which follows Cleveland Brown as he moves to Virginia to marry his high school sweetheart and start a new life with her family.

Sitcom-wise, CBS has you covered with the return of “How I Met Your Mother” and “The Big Bang Theory,” both premiering Monday Sept. 21, at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. respectively.

“How I Met Your Mother,” now in its fifth season, probably won’t reveal who the mom is, but it may finally have playboy Barney, played by the suave Neil Patrick Harris, and Robin, the girl he won’t admit he loves, getting together for good. “The Big Bang Theory,” now in its third season of following mega-geek-scientists Sheldon and Leonard, also promises a long sought connection to finally be realized between Sheldon and his neighbor Penny.

If you’re looking for a new comedy that you don’t have to catch up on, look no further than “Community” (premieres 9:30 p.m. Thursday on NBC), about a lawyer (Joel McHale of “The Soup”) who faked his bar exam, got caught and now must return to community college.

With the return of Chevy Chase and a very unique cast of characters, the season’s pilot, (which could be viewed for a time on Facebook if you became a fan of the show) gave a glimpse to a show that looks to be very promising and witty.

“30 Rock,” arguably the funniest show on television, gives us the return of Liz Lemon, Tracy Jordan and the rest of the memorable cast on Oct. 15 at 9:30 p.m. If you’re not watching this show already, there is no better time than Oct. 15 to change that.

On the USA network, “Monk” (9 p.m. Fridays) has embarked on its final season, promising to reveal who it was that murdered Monk’s wife, Trudy, and finally offer closure. On the same channel and night, “Psych” (10 p.m. Fridays) follows fake-psychic Shawn and best friend Gus as they solve crimes while serving up witty banter for the fourth season.

On the reality show circuit, both “Survivor” (season premiere 8 p.m. Thursday) returns for its 19th season, this time in Samoa. This season should be worth watching on account of one contestant: Russell, a businessman in the oil-tanking field who is supposedly one of the most villainous contestants to attempt to outwit, outplay and outlast to date.

“The Amazing Race,” (season premiere 8 p.m. Sept. 27 on CBS) now in its 15th season, will have its contestants fly around the world in an attempt capture the million-dollar prize.

“Top Chef,” (10 p.m. Wednesdays on Bravo) now four episodes into its sixth season, has moved its locale to Las Vegas, which means more celebrity judges and glamorous meals.

“Project Runway” (10 p.m. Thursdays) also moved, but to Los Angeles, and to the Lifetime network. The contestants seem to have been chosen in a strategy to create better television, not garments, for its sixth season. Also in the world of fashion is “America’s Next Top Model,” hosted by headline-grabbing Tyra Banks, which continues its 13th cycle on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. on the CW.

With these new and returning shows rolling out for the fall season, a TiVo may be a sound investment. Of course, there’s always the option of forgoing studying to catch the next sinful act the characters on “Gossip Girl” will commit. You can always take the make-up for that math exam.

Reach the reporter at pmelbour@asu.edu.