The fall season brings not only new series but changes in the old ones as the networks try to keep returning shows fresh and audience interest high. Here are highlights of what's new in established series and their return dates:
ABC
"The Commish"--Melinda McGraw joins the cast as a former federal agent who becomes a detective, Sept. 26.
"Full House"--D.J. (Candace Cameron) turns 16; Michelle (Mary Kate and Ashley Fuller) begins first grade, Sept. 22.
"Home Improvement"--As the highest rated of last season's new series moves to Wednesdays at 9 p.m., Tim's (Tim Allen) wife Jill (Patricia Richardson) decides to take a job, Wednesday.
"America's Funniest People"--Co-host Arlene Sorkin is history and Tawny Kitaen is David Coulier's new co-host, Sept. 20.
"Coach"--Hayden (Craig T. Nelson) makes plans to marry Christine (Shelley Fabares), previews Wednesday, returns Sept. 29.
"Doogie Howser, M.D."--Doogie (Neil Patrick Harris) celebrates his 19th birthday and has decided to become a trauma surgeon. The series moves to 8:30 p.m., Sept. 23.
"Life Goes On"--Corky (Chris Burke) and Amanda (Andrea Friedman) plan their wedding, Sept. 20.
"Roseanne"--Roseanne (Roseanne Arnold) has lost her job at the department store cafeteria and business is not great at Dan's (John Goodman) motorcycle shop, Tuesday.
"Room for Two"--Edie (Linda Lavin) expands her dating horizons and Jill (Patricia Heaton) goes back with her boyfriend. The series moves to Thursdays at 8:30 p.m., Sept. 24.
"The Wonder Years"--Kevin (Fred Savage) is 16 and ready to drive; he and Winnie (Danica McKellar) are closer than ever, Sept. 23.
"Homefront"--This week the '40s-era soap opera moves to Thursdays at 9 p.m.
"Young Indiana Jones Chronicles"--George Lucas' globe-trotting adventure series moves to a new time slot after "Monday Night Football," Sept. 21.
CBS
"Brooklyn Bridge"--Alan (Danny Gerard) will enter high school. James Naughton and Constance Macashin, who appeared last season as Katie Monahan's parents, will become recurring regulars. The series moves to a new day and time, Saturdays at 8:30 p.m., sneak preview Sunday; premieres Saturday.
"Designing Women"--Julia Duffy (Allison Sugarbaker) has departed and two-time Tony-winner Judith Ivey joins the cast as B.J. Poteet, a rich former court reporter from Texas. The series moves to Fridays at 9 p.m., Sept. 25.
"Knots Landing"--Joan Van Ark (Valene Ewing), one of the three remaining original cast members, has left the series. Larry Riley (Frank Williams) died this summer from complications of AIDS and his character's absence will be resolved. Lorenzo Caccialanza, who played the rogue Nick two seasons back, is back to his old tricks, Oct. 29.
"Major Dad"--The Major (Gerald McRaney) will be promoted to Lt. Colonel. The series moves to Fridays at 8:30 p.m., Sept. 25.
"Murphy Brown"--The "F.Y.I." team will get a new boss upstairs, Sept.21.
"Northern Exposure"--Anthony Edwards will appear in a recurring role as a lawyer who lives in a plastic bubble and hopes to find a pure home in Cicely, Sept. 28.
"In the Heat of the Night"--The Carroll O'Connor-Howard Rollins crime drama moves from NBC to CBS, Wednesdays at 9 p.m., Oct. 28.
FOX
"In Living Color"--Damon Wayans and Steve Park have left the show, but the series will feature new cast members and new Fly Girls, Sept. 27.
"Married ... With Children"--Peg's (Katey Sagal) relatives come to visit and bring their 6-year-old boy named Seven (Shane Sweet), whom the Bundys end up keeping, Sunday.
"The Simpsons"--Baby Maggie will finally speak, Homer will talk to God and Marge will make her singing debut. Guest voices will include Tom Jones, Linda Ronstadt, Hugh Hefner, Leonard Nimoy, Adam West and Sara Gilbert, Sept. 24.
"Beverly Hills, 90210"--Brandon, Brenda and Dylan and the gang are all seniors at West Beverly Hills High. Several new characters will make recurring appearances, including Nikki (Dana Barron), a sophomore transfer student from San Francisco and Herbert (Cory Tyler), a freshman computer wiz. The series, which is seen on a new day and time, Wednesdays at 8 p.m., has already returned.
NBC
"Quantum Leap"--An evil female leaper to whom Sam (Scott Bakula) isattracted will become a recurring character. The series moves to Tuesdays at 8 p.m., Oct. 6.
"Cheers"--Sam (Ted Danson) will face hard economic times and a possible new love interest, Sept. 24.
"L.A. Law"--Susan Dey, Amanda Donohoe, Cecil Hoffmann, Conchetta Farrell, Michael Cumpsty and Anthony DeSanto are gone. "Santa Barbara" hunk A Martinez joins the cast as a hotshot litigator. Another female attorney is scheduled to join the cast around the fourth or fifth episode, Oct. 29.
"Reasonable Doubts"--Kay Lenz, who last season guest-starred as confrontational attorney Maggie Zombro, joins the cast. The series moves to Tuesdays at 9 p.m., Oct. 13.
"Empty Nest"--Comic Paul Provenza joins the cast as Carol's (Dinah Manoff) new boyfriend, Saturday.
"A Different World"--Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Dwane (Kadeem Hardison) will be dealing with married life. There will be a new freshman, Charmaine Brown (Karen Malina White), who was a character from "The Cosby Show." The series moves to 8 p.m., Sept. 24.
"Nurses"--David Rasche of "Sledgehammer" fame joins the cast as a morally bankrupt businessman sentenced to perform community service for his white-collar crimes, Saturday.
"Wings"--A new female helicopter pilot will be a thorn in the side for Brian (Steven Weber) and Joe (Timothy Daly), but will become a confidant of Helen's (Crystal Bernard), Sept. 24.
PHOTO: A BIGGER BUNDY FAMILY: Al and Peggy (Katey Sagal and Ed O'Neil) keep a 6-year-old who comes to visit (Shane Sweet).
PHOTOGRAPHER: RON TOM / FOX
PHOTO: COLOR, (Orange County Edition) A BIGGER BUNDY FAMILY: Al and Peggy (Katey Sagal and Ed O'Neil) keep a 6-year-old who comes to visit (Shane Sweet).
PHOTOGRAPHER: RON TOM / FOX