ShareThisBy TERRY MORROW
Michael C. Hall, who played troubled mortician David Fisher on HBO's "Six Feet Under," is back on series television _ and in a morgue no less _ with "Dexter" (10 p.m. Sunday, EDT/PDT, Showtime).
He plays the title character, a crime scene investigator who is secretly a serial killer. The series is based on the book "Darkly Dreaming Dexter."
Hall finds challenges in the multi-layered character _ a man trying to connect with his humanity while resisting his dark impulses.
Raised by a policeman, Dexter has honed his killer instincts and only murders criminals who have eluded the justice system. He's a devoted brother and even has a girlfriend, a single mother who was physically abused by her ex.
On the outside, Dexter is an unassuming but incredibly gifted investigator. Inside, though, he is troubled and fights against his nature.
"While Dexter is, at least when we first meet him, convinced that he doesn't have real emotions, I think otherwise, and I think an audience is maybe led to believe otherwise," Hall says.
Dexter is no monster, the producers insist.
"I don't think that he's a sadist, and we work very hard at exploring the various emotional journeys he takes in making the decision to take somebody's life, and he doesn't do it either sadistically or flippantly," says executive producer Clyde Phillips.
"Whatever kill he has to do, he has earned the right to kill that person and the person has earned the right to die."
Other highlights for the week of Oct. 1-7 (all times Eastern; listings subject to change; check local listings for updates):
SUNDAY, Oct. 1
_ "Nigella Feasts" (1 p.m. Food Network). London (that's England, not Kentucky) has its own "domestic goddess" who's cooking up unusual meals for the masses.
_ "Everybody Hates Chris" (8 p.m. CW). Chris goes on a date, just as Whoopi Goldberg moves into the 'hood.
_ "Desperate Housewives" (9 p.m. ABC). Bree marries Orson. The marriage may be a bad move, but the reception should be to die for!
_ "Celebrity Fit Club" (9 p.m. VH1). The channel's greatest guilty pleasure reveals the final weight of the stars in the finale.
MONDAY, Oct. 2
_ "MasterChef Goes Large" (8:30 p.m. BBC America). A countrywide search tries to find new culinary talent in the making.
_ "The Bachelor" (9 p.m. ABC). A fantastically handsome and rich guy somehow can't find love so he goes to Rome in search of it in this latest edition of the reality series. (So, here's a question: If he has this all going on, why can't he find a woman?)
_ "House of Carters" (10 p.m. E!). Nick and Aaron Carter reunite with their three sisters to try and fix their broken relationships _ and careers _ in this new reality show.
TUESDAY, Oct. 3
_ "Friday Night Lights" (8 p.m. NBC). It's the TV adaptation of the hit movie based on the book. Totally an original idea!
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 4
_ "Lost" (9 p.m. ABC). Jack, Sawyer and Kate discover what they are really up against with The Others in this third-season opener.
_ "The Nine" (10 p.m. ABC). Nine folks who were hostages in a bank robbery try to get their lives back in order.
_ "South Park" (10 p.m. Comedy Central). A 10th season launches.
_ "Freak Show" (10:30 p.m. Comedy Central). In this new animated series, freak show characters are actually really bad superheroes, too. It's from the mind of David Cross.
THURSDAY, Oct. 5
_ "Ugly Betty" (8 p.m. ABC). Betty loses the company's mockup of its latest issue and then she finds a ransom note about how it can be returned. Poor, Betty! Isn't it enough that she's ugly?
FRIDAY, Oct. 6
_ "Battlestar Galactica" (9 p.m. Sci-Fi Channel). Sci-Fi's smartest series is back for a new season.
