Critic's corner

SHOWTIME'S DAHL-ING

DexterTomorrow at 9 p.m., Showtime
Director John Dahl got traction in the 1990s with his two excellent neo-noir thrillers, "Red Rock West" and "The Last Seduction," as well as Matt Damon's "Rounders." These days, he's doing strong TV work, with directorial stints on some good shows - "Battlestar Galactica," "True Blood," "Life," and, tomorrow night, "Dexter" (above) and "Californication." He's Showtime's guy of the week.

Saturday Night Live11:30 p.m., Channel 7
The season opener, again. Funny opener, again.

EntourageTomorrow at 10 p.m., HBO
Dom, Duh, Dom, Dom.

The Pickup Artist 2Tomorrow at 10 p.m., VH1
Mystery trains.

Emma 1/2Comcast, Showtime On Demand
Following on the heels of "Persuasion" and "Sense and Sensibility," this sunny delight reconfirms that Jane Austen is film's hottest writer of the '90s. The adaptation rides the punctured confidence Gwyneth Paltrow projects in the title role. Anything but clueless as a provincial English Miss Fixit, she high-handedly dispenses romantic advice that's invariably wrong, yet projects a redeeming air of good-heartedness and quality. (PG; runs through Oct. 14)