Phew. Talk about a whirlwind of high-def announcements this week. No sooner did DirecTV trumpet its march to 130 HD channels did DISH Network hit back with a nice round 150 figure. Cablevision tried its best to garner some attention with a boastful press release to celebrate the big six-o, but it's clear who the two HD leaders in America are now (with Verizon breathing down their necks in a few 'hoods). That being said, are you finally getting the itch to throw caution to the wind and toss a dish upside your house? Are you really ready to say goodbye to those cable company bundle discounts? And if 130 / 150 isn't enough, what milestone will the satcasters have to reach before you cave?

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What we're watching: All-new tonight is the series premiere of Shark on CBS, featuring James Woods as a defense attourney turned prosecutor who doesn't lose his underhanded style of winning cases after switching sides. Our old friend Grey's Anatomy steps into its new night on ABC, first with a series recap and then the season premiere at 9, followed by new series Six Degrees. NBC brings back My Name is Earl, The Office and E.R. for another season, we'll keep our eyes peeled for more easter eggs, you've gotta figure there will be one sooner or later. Damon Wayans' The Underground is new tonight on Showtime, no word on if it's any funnier, while college football lights up ESPN HD as Virginia takes on Georgia Tech.

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What we're watching: Two all-new shows tonight in Jericho and Kidnapped (previously seen on Xbox Live). Jericho uses the tried-and-true storyline of a Kansas town on the day of a nuclear explosion that cuts off all communication. Never heard that one before? Try Kidnapped, the kidnapping-show-that's-not-Vanished, this time spending a season on the effort to recover an abducted child. Criminal Minds and CSI: NY are also back for another run starting this evening on CBS. Along with new episodes of Bones and Justice, there's all the sleuthing and mystery you could want. The Tigers and White Sox continue to do battle on ESPN-HD while Arrested Development continues it's run on HDNet.

Our traditional high-def listings continue below.

What we're watching: A brand new show, Smith, premieres on CBS tonight, with its professional thief-oriented storyline, hopefully it fares better than Heist did. Returning shows with season premieres include fellow CBS shows NCIS and The Unit, Boston Legal on ABC as well as Law & Order CI and Law & Order: SVU on NBC. That's not even mentioning new episodes of Dancing with the Stars, House and Standoff. The only way HDTV tonight could be better is if we had some sports...oh wait we do, with Tigers and White Sox playing a game that could decide the fate of the AL Central and wild card race. Just to get things kicked off properly, Cinemax is airing Saving Private Ryan in HD just after 5. What more could you ask for?


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What we're watching: The fall season is really picking up now as NBC premieres Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip tonight, and CBS puts their new show, The Class, in front of the season premieres for returnees How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, New Adventures of Old Christine and HDBeat readers favorite CSI: Miami. Fox also has new episodes of Prison Break and Vanished, not to mention our old friend Monday Night Football on ESPN-HD now, featuring the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers at the Jacksonville Jaguars. Finally, on HDNet Star Trek: Enterprise premieres in HD.

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What we're watching: Tonight we finally say goodbye forever to UPN and The WB from our HDTV listings. With MyNetworkTV already broadcasting in many areas and The CW launching on the 20th, the time has come. We expect to add The CW when they begin broadcasting while we'll need to think about MyNetworkTV, right now they only have two shows (Desire & Fashion House) which are both horrifically bad. Our need to list high definition programming vs. our need to ignore these two shows like the plague has left us very conflicted. Tonight however, we have no such issues, NBC Sunday Night Football continues with Dallas at Washington while Fox brings a new episode of The War at Home. The Red Sox and the Yankees continue their grudge match on ESPN-HD and HDNet contributes a double shot of Ice-T, on Sound Off with Matt Pinfield and later in concert with group Sex, Money & Guns.

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What we're watching: While no one game this week is as big as last week's incredible #1 vs. #2 matchup, there are so many to choose from good luck picking just one, we recommend dual-tuners. Nebraska at USC on ABC-HD, Florida at Tennessee on CBS, Clemson at Florida State on ESPN-HD and even Texas A&M vs. Army on ESPN2-HD tonight. The Red Sox and the Yankees continue to battle it out on INHD while HBO premieres Katt Williams' comedy special The Pimp Chronicles Pt. 1 tonight.

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What we're watching: HDBeat's favorite show, Men in Trees, is back with a replay of the premiere ep and one all new episode. Baseball is big tonight, on ESPN-HD and INHD. Arrested Development has two shows on HDNet but we'll probably just check out Madagascar on Cinemax.

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What we're watching: Arrested Development makes its HDNet premiere tonight, while Dancing with the Stars returns for their first results show. Bones and Justice are both all new on Fox and Fantastic Four is back on HBO-HD.

Our traditional high-def listings continue below.

What we're watching: More premieres tonight, as Dancing with the Stars returns in 720p this time, followed by an all new show Men in Trees. Something about a woman writing a book about finding men in Alaska where she is outnumbered 10-1, we'll watch cuz it's in in HD, not because our wives/SOs have the remote.

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What we're watching: "Never forget" is certainly being held true, first and foremost there is a presidential address today at 9 p.m. (apparently not in HD according to the listings although it often is) so adjust your DVRs accordingly. Many networks are running something 9/11/01related, whether it is ABC's controversial (and not-HD, despite being listed as such on their website) Path to 9/11, HDNet's Slammin' Iron following steelworkers in the rebuilding effort, or Discovery HD airing The Flight that Fought Back followed by Ted Koppel: The Price of Security. Of course, if you're not all football'd out for this weekend (and who ever is?), there is a Monday Night Football doubleheader featuring the Vikings at Redskins followed by Chargers at Raiders. INHD2 has something we haven't seen before (now that many of us don't have it) with On the Run: The Elusive Mr. Wee as law enforcement tracks a fugitive posing as a successful businessman.

Update: As Rob reminded us below, Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy kick off their HD broadcasts tonight as well, however, like Star Trek, you probably won't be able to see them in HD yet because most stations don't have the ability to store a syndicated high definition show.

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What we're watching: We're all football'd out for the weekend, so while you may enjoy a brother vs. brother matchup as the Indianapolis Colts face the New York Giants on NBC tonight, we'll probably be checking out Cool Hand Luke in its HD premiere on HDNet Movies. Also new tonight is The War at Home, with its season premiere on Fox. The first part of ABC's controversial The Path to 9/11 is on and in HD tonight while Fantastic Four premieres on HBO-HD.

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What we're watching: Tonight is the kind of big game that you probably bought your HDTV to watch. Ohio State vs. Texas on ABC, #1 vs. #2 this early in the season is possibly the biggest game we'll see until the National Championship game. Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr., Limas Sweed, Selvin Young and all the rest, some of the best players in college football will be on display tonight, if you're a sports fan it is the only option. Well...not the only option, there's also NASCAR Racing on TNT, the US Open Women's Final on CBS, Georgia vs. South Carolina on ESPN-HD, and MLS Soccer on HDNet, but you know what our choice is. If you absolutely must have watch something non-sports tonight, you can catch four episodes of Weeds on Showtime or The Dukes of Hazzard on Cinemax.

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What we're watching: All is quiet on the HD front tonight, with reruns taking up space on the networks until their new shows launch, other than NBC and a new The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. TNT has NASCAR Busch Series Racing from Richmond on tonight, HBO-HD has a high-def look at the new flick Hollywoodland while Vin Diesel is on in The Pacifier on Starz-HD.

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What we're watching: Football, football, football. The season of our readers' favorite sport to watch in high definition kicks off tonight with the Miami Dolphins at the Pittsburgh Steelers on NBC. If that's not enough, we've also got college action as Oregon State takes on Boise State on ESPN-HD. If you're not into American Football, Fox is premiering a couple new shows tonight in HD, 'Til Death and Happy Hour. Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke is back in its entirety on HBO-HD, as is Boyz N the Hood on Showtime.

Our traditional high definition listings continue below.