Finally. New episodes of our favorite TV shows are coming back. So you'll have to give up all that book-reading you were doing during the writers' strike, right? Here's a list of 10 returning shows and a guide to catching up on their plot lines. - MATTHEW GILBERT
"30 ROCK" (NBC)
Return date: Tonight
Episodes left: 5
Pre-strike: Jack and C.C. broke up, Kenneth became a caffeine addict, and Liz unsuccessfully "dated" a co-op board.
What's next: Jack is more driven than ever to be the next GE president. Liz hooks up with two exes, Dennis and Floyd, and - what's this? - has a pregnancy scare.
"THE OFFICE" (NBC)
Return date: Tonight
Episodes left: 6
Pre-strike: Michael screwed up Jan's wrongful termination suit, and Jim and Pam went public with their relationship.
What's next: Angela and Andy date, while Dwight pouts in a big way. Ryan's corporate rise hits some snags.
"DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES" (ABC)
Return date: Sunday night
Episodes left: 6
Pre-strike: The twister left the neighborhood a mess, and it left Carlos blind.
What's next: Gaby remarries Carlos, thinking his blindness is temporary, until Edie sets the record straight for her. Also, Katherine's ex isn't dead, and he's in town.
"LAW & ORDER: SVU" (NBC)
Return date: April 15
Episodes left: 5
Pre-strike: Benson wants to be a mother, but she was turned down as an adoptive parent.
What's next: Benson has a surprise for Stabler about her romantic life. Also, Robin Williams will guest star later this month as a bad guy.
"BROTHERS & SISTERS" (ABC)
Return date: April 20
Episodes left: 4
Pre-strike: Kevin and Scotty continued to get serious, and Rebecca wondered if David (Ken Olin) was her real father.
What's next: If they aren't really half-siblings, Justin and Rebecca could, you know, get together. Kitty and Robert are going to start fertility treatments.
"GOSSIP GIRL" (CW)
Return date: April 21
Episodes left: 5
Pre-strike: The über-wealthy Blair was knocked off her throne by the merely rich Jenny, and Serena coaxed the shamed Blair into staying in New York.
What's next: A Jenny-Blair smackdown. Also, we learn the real reason Serena left New York, and Nate and Vanessa get close.
"UGLY BETTY" (ABC)
Return date: April 24
Episodes left: 5
Pre-strike: Wilhelmina, ousted from Mode, got Christina to carry her child, whose father was the late Bradford Meade.
What's next: Wilhelmina will return to Mode, and her little dog (Marc), too. The love triangle between Betty, Henry, and Gio will heat up.
"LOST" (ABC)
Return date: April 24
Episodes left: 5
Pre-strike: Michael made it home with Walt, and now he's Ben's spy on the freighter - or he was, until Sayid outed him. Rousseau and Karl appear to be dead.
What's next: We'll find out how the Oceanic 6 got off the island, and what happened to those who stayed. We'll also learn who is in the coffin.
"GREY'S ANATOMY" (ABC)
Return date: April 24
Episodes left: 5
Pre-strike: When Meredith finds out that Derek canoodled with Rose, she thinks twice about moving into his dream house.
What's next: She thinks twice, and then a third time: Meredith and Derek, happy at last. George and Izzie try to be just friends.
"HOUSE" (FOX)
Return date: April 28
Episodes left: 4
Pre-strike: House chose his new team, and he learned that Wilson and Amber are a couple.
What's next: Can Amber and House share Wilson peacefully? House thinks one of his favorite soap stars is sick.
