TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Medium," season-opener, 9 p.m., NBC. Last season ended with Allison's family in chaos. After a news report about her, officials were mocked for working with a psychic. Now they won't return her calls. Her husband has been out-of-work, ever since suing his employer because of his hostage ordeal. Money is scarce. She could simply retreat — except she's had a disturbing vision of an abducted boy. There are clumsy moments here. (Allison sets up a meeting, with no idea what she'll say.) There's also a lame sub-plot about the school musical. Still, it's an involving hour. And it brings in Oscar-winner Anjelica Huston, who is expected to stay for six episodes.

Football, 3:15 p.m., Fox, with preview at 2:30 p.m. In a season when front-runners kept losing, the college championship game has Ohio State and Louisiana State. For the latter, this is almost a home game. It's in New Orleans.

OF NOTE

"Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann," debut, 7 p.m., ABC. Here's a spin-off from the "Dancing With the Stars" series. Two of that show's judges — Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tunioli — will each organize and mold a team of singer-dancers. Each week, viewers will make one team the winner; the other must lose one person. The host is Drew Lachey, whose family is becoming reality royalty. He was the second "Dancing With the Stars" winner; his brother Nick won "Clash of the Choirs."

"American Gladiators," 7 p.m., NBC. After Sunday's debut, the show settles into its weekly spot.

"Everybody Hates Chris," 7 p.m., CW. In a rerun, Chris has a chance to be alone with a girl in Mr. Omar's apartment.

"How I Met Your Mother," 7 p.m., CBS. In this rerun, women are ga-ga about Robin's Argentine lover (Enrique Iglesias). Now Barney and Ted pretend to be foreigners.

"Big Bang Theory," 7:30 p.m., CBS. It's a funny rerun that starts with Leonard volunteering to do a favor for Penny.

"Deal or No Deal," 8 p.m., NBC. The show keeps adding an extra million-dollar briefcase, each time a contestant fails to get the top prize.

"Great Performances: Carnegie Hall Celebrates Berlin," 9 p.m., PBS. In 1909, Gustav Mahler's health was failing while his career was soaring. Simultaneously the conductor of the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera, he was writing his ninth symphony, which reviewers found full of beauty and resignation; he would die less that two years later, at 50. Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker in this passionate piece, which the "Great Performances" people beautifully taped.

"CSI: Miami," 9 p.m., CBS. Horatio suspects he has a son he didn't know about — and the son is a murder suspect.