» NurseJackie

Lock those medicine cabinets: Showtime announced that 'Nurse Jackie' will return March 22, 2010, at 10PM.

Now in its second season, the Edie Falco-driven dramedy follows the exploits of Jackie Peyton, a nurse at New York City's All Points Hospital. The show got off to a hot start last year with Showtime's highest rated debut -- more than one and a half million viewers tuned in for the June 2009 premiere. By bumping it up a few months, Showtime seems to be thinking 'Jackie' has more potential than a summer series.

Controversy arose after the premiere, when subsequent plots revealed a lead character who often violated ethical codes for her patients. At the same time, it depicts a woman who struggles with her own prescription pill habit, and the less than admirable ways in which she obtains drugs.

This week on TV: First shift ends for 'Nurse Jackie,' a 'Royal Pain' of a love triangle and Vince calls in the security big dogs on 'Entourage'

MONDAY, AUGUST 24
'Nurse Jackie' (10:30PM, Showtime) 1st season finale
The good news, of course, is that the series, one of Showtime's most successful premieres ever, will be back for a second season. But sadly, we have to bid a temporary adieu to Jackie (Edie Falco) and her shenanigans, as she ends the season in trademark chaos. While she tries to juggle her schedule to meet Kevin for a little romance and be there for O'Hara when her mother arrives, there's also a problem with Eddie, who gets drunk – at Kevin's bar! – and comes to the hospital to throw a hissy fit.

This week on TV: 'Nurse Jackie' premieres, the pros take over 'Top Chef' and WE tries their own version of 'Jon & Kate.'

MONDAY, JUNE 8
'Nurse Jackie' (10PM, Showtime) series premiere
There are several moments in the 'Nurse Jackie' premiere we'd like to tell you about, but they're just too good to spoil.

A hint: they involve a severed ear, the people inside a house and one of star Edie Falco's 'Sopranos' cohorts. Falco has shed her gaudy jewels and Joisey girl accent for this dark comedy about NYC ER nurse Jackie Peyton, one of her hospital's most talented professionals ... even when she's trying to score drugs to feed her raging addiction.

In the pilot, Jackie's dealing with the sad death of a patient, a cocky doctor (Peter Facinelli), a newbie she's forced to train and an office romance, all while trying to keep that little drug problem on the down low.

-- Bloodthirsty for next week's 'True Blood' premiere? Check out Gawker's fake 'True Blood' blog [Gawker]

-- May sweeps is officially over, but the TV season is only heating up. Read 10 reasons why you should keep your TV on this summer [BuzzSugar]

-- We won't know who's nominated for an Emmy until July 16. But we do know who should be nominated (FYC: 'Mad Men''s January Jones and 'Gossip Girl''s Ed Westwick) [TWOP]

-- Speaking of 'Mad Men,' see the exclusive promo for season 3, premiering this August [AMC]

The heat of summer is matched only by the hot new TV shows we'll be seeing this season.

We've got the scoop on the return of familiar faces ('Nurse Jackie''s Edie Falco), the next cable hits ('Hawthorne'; 'Hung'), the new reality shows ('The Bachelorette'; 'Kendra') and more that will have everyone talking.

See all of this year's new shows in our 2009 Summer TV gallery.

With the new year comes a whole new batch of shows to watch -- everything from Whitney's big move to 'The City' to Edie Falco's big return to primetime.

Think your DVR can handle it all?

Check out our guide to what's new in midseason and see what everyone will be talking about in 2009.

The buzz on '90210,' the 'Office' (not) spin-off and more

Twice a year, TV critics from across the country gather in Los Angeles for the Television Critics' Association press tour.

For two weeks the press gets the chance to chat with the actors and writers from every network and cable channel -- and showered with useless freebies (an oven mitt promoting 'Coolio's Rules'!) -- all to better understand the season's new shows.

Here are the best boob tube tidbits we gathered at the latest TCAs.