The fall season is upon us and the weather is beginning to cool.

Now is when everyone starts counting down to Halloween. The networks are amping up their schedules with plenty of tales from the paranormal. For science fiction and fantasy fans, that means hobbits, and tigers, and imps. Oh my!

Television just got real this week with season premieres, walking dead and a not-so horrible sing-along. Follow us down the rabbit hole! The television landscape isn’t as bleak as it seems.

Each week we’ll countdown the best in genre television for the viewer with refined tastes. Here is this week’s Watchlist for Oct. 8-14.

MONDAY
Alphas (8 p.m., Syfy)
(“If Memory Serves”) It’s Midnight Run, Alpha-style as Hicks and Kat transport a valuable Parish asset. Sean Astin guest stars. Anyone suddenly hungry for the breakfast special? Its chorizo and eggs.

Bones (8 p.m., Fox)
(“The Tiger in the Tale”) Brennan doesn’t like the idea of keeping animals in captivity for human entertainment.

Castle (10p.m., ABC)
(“Secret’s Safe With Me”) When a young woman is mysteriously murdered, Beckett and Castle discover her death may be linked to a repossessed storage unit up for auction. Was the unit connected to her death? Was something inside it worth killing for?

If your answer to Storage Wars is yuuup, then tune in this week. The investigation leads Castle and Beckett to colorful, treasure seekers and Manhattan socialites as they uncover the shocking truth.

Revolution (10 p.m., NBC)
(“The Plague Dogs”) Charlie and Nora rescue Miles from a the militia before they set off to reunite with Aaron and Maggie. Meanwhile, Nate shadows Charlie and Miles.

Ratings are down after going up against the premiere of "Castle" two weeks ago. Are they raising the white flag or will it be “Viva la revolucion”?

TUESDAY
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along-Blog (9p.m., The CW)
The television premiere of the critically acclaimed Web series by Avengers director Joss Whedon. which garnered more than 50 million viewers, since it was launched online in 2008. Starring Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother"), Felicia Day ("The Guild") and Nathan Fillion ("Castle").

Face-Off (9 p.m., Syfy)
(“Who’s the New Who”) The competition is getting tighter. Whose Dr. Seuss-esque creation will be right-er? Brian Grazer joins as a guest judge.

Hot Set (10 p.m., Syfy)
(“Down the Rabbit Hole”) Se Wonderland brought to life as two rival set designers compete to wow the judges. This week, Thomas Brown from the Morgan Wixson Theatre in Santa Monica goes head-to-head with Brandy Alexander from the television series "Dexter" on Showtime.

WEDNESDAY
Arrow (8 p.m., The CW)
(“Pilot”) Oliver is rescued and creates the persona of Arrow, an expert archer determined to fight evil in his beloved city in the opener of a series about billionaire playboy Oliver Queen, who becomes a vigilante after being shipwrecked for five years on a remote island.

The Neighbors (8:30 p.m., ABC)
(“Things Just Got Real”) Marty and Debbie try to keep Larry and Jackie at a distance so they can spend time with their human friends, but that doesn’t stop the Zabvronians from crashing Marty’s poker night or Debbie’s girls’ night out.

The ratings were down two weeks ago despite a lead in from "Modern Family." This comedy formula feels stale. The audience may be ready to launch this probe back into space where it came from. Can’t you do better than this ABC?

Ghost Hunters (9 p.m., Syfy)
(“Paranormal Politics”) The team heads south to investigate Louisiana’s Old State Capital building, which has endured the Civil War and a congressman’s death. New technology exposes the team to more than they bargained for.

Supernatural (9 p.m., The CW)
(“What’s Up, Tiger Mommy?”) Sam and Dean rescue Kevin’s mother from demons and take her on their quest to find the tablet.

Paranormal Witness (10 p.m., Syfy)
(“The Cabin/Ghost in the Garden”) A family living in a secluded cabin in the woods finds out that sometimes things do more than go bump in the night. Even I’ve seen enough scary movies to know that living in a cabin in the woods is bad, bad, very bad!

THURSDAY
Big Bang Theory (8 p.m., CBS)
(“The Higgs Boson Observation”) Amy feels threatened when Sheldon hires a young female assistant. Meanwhile, the pressure of being in space takes its toll on Wolowitz. Thankfully he always has the support of his wife Bernie, played by Melissa Raunch. Will Howard crash land back on Earth or tough it out in deep space?

Last Resort (8 p.m., ABC)
("Eight Bells") A search for three missing crew members leads Chaplin to Serrat’s compound. Meanwhile, Sinclair and Shepard hold a secret meeting.

The Vampire Diaries (8 p.m., ABC)
("Growing Pains") The fourth season begins with Elena waking up after her car accident and realizing she died with vampire blood in her system. Now, she must go through the horrible transition to become a vampire or die. Meanwhile, Bonnie tries to change Elena's fate and pays a terrible price for it.

Beauty and the Beast (9 p.m., The CW)
("Pilot") The series premiere. A homicide detective teams with a man who takes on incredible but uncontrollable strength when enraged. In the series opener, the two meet for what they discover isn't the first time.

Misfits (10 p.m., Logo)
(“Episode Four”) Simon is mistaken for a video game crime boss, Conti, and killing ‘The Misfits’ becomes the goal of the video game that they are now unwittingly part of.

Note: The major networks will be airing a two-hour special presentation of the 2012 Vice Presidential Debate pre-empting shows like "Person of Interest" and "Elementary."

FRIDAY
Paranormal Paparazzi (7 p.m., Travel)
(“Amityville Gun Found”) A look at new evidence found near the infamous "Amityville Horror" house in New York; and an investigation into claims that a Los Angeles tattoo parlor is haunted.

Girl vs. Monster (8 p.m., Disney)
(“Special Presentation”) A teen inadvertently unleashes a monster when she disobeys her parents and attends a friend's Halloween party. Later, she learns she is descended from a long line of monster hunters.

HGTV Special (8 p.m., HGTV)
(“Halloween Tricked Out”) Halloween displays from across the country are visited. Among the highlights: a West Virginia man who carves 3,000 pumpkins; a New Jersey dairy farm that boasts a terrifying hayride; a Florida couple who bring the spooky decor inside; and a North Carolina corn maze.

Dead Souls (9 p.m., Chiller)
(Original Telefilm) Chiller’s adaptation of Michael Laimo’s celebrated novel proves the point that one should never go home again.

Fringe (9 p.m., Fox)
(“The Recordist”) As their battle with the Observers rages on, the Fringe team find themselves in a forest populated by a group of people dedicated to recording the history of mankind.

The previews imply our friends in the forest are keeping more than just a secret account of history. Will the Fringe team beat the Observers with simple human decency? Ew, what is that black stuff?

Ghost Adventures (9 p.m., Travel)
(“Black Moon Manor”) The guys investigate strange goings-on at Indiana's Black Moon Manor.

Grimm (9 p.m., NBC)
(“The Bottle Imp”) An investigation into a gruesome murder leads Nick and Hank to an unstable father and his daughter. Elsewhere, Monroe fills in for Rosalee at the spice shop; and Capt. Renard deals with women from his past.

It feels strange to say, but "Grimm’s" ratings have been solid on Friday night and they’re happy to stay right where they are.

Cursed (10 p.m., Biography)
(“Borrowed Agony”) A doll, a painting and a welding mask are believed to be responsible for misfortune in the opener of this series, in which individuals share stories about how their lives have been impacted by curses.

Dead Files (10 p.m., Travel)
(“A Widow’s Rage & Death Sentence”) Steve and Amy revisit an old Alabama plantation home and the New Mexico State Penitentiary.

Haven (10 p.m., Syfy)
(“Over My Head”) Audrey, Nathan and Duke are on a frantic search to locate a missing woman before it’s too late. A string of impossible murders with very real consequences.

SATURDAY
R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour (6 p.m., The Hub)
(“Grampires”) You can expect the unexpected on the season premiere of this eerie new series from R.L. Stine, the master of kid horror. Tune in for a new live-action story every week. And prepare yourself ... for the thrill of the chill, nervous giggles, and the scream you let out when someone -- or something! -- touches your shoulder on a dark and stormy night. Can you handle it? Can your parents?

American Horror House (9 p.m., Syfy)
(Original Telefilm) The hottest sorority house on campus has a killer secret. Scared sorority girls and plenty of gore spells gold for this B-movie.

Bedlam (9 p.m., BBC America)
(“Pool of Tears”) Ellie and Max try to save a young woman from a watery grave. Meanwhile, Dan gets closer to uncovering the identity of the mystery blogger.

Celebrity Ghost Stories (9 p.m., Biography)
Titus Welliver encounters the spirits of murder victims in a Maine barn; Johnny Gill is pestered by a ghost; and Marcus Schenkenberg is visited by an entity while staying at a hotel in Los Angeles.

SUNDAY
Making Monsters (8 p.m., Travel)
(“Evil Tiki”) A giant tiki statue is created for the owners of a haunted maze in Hawaii. Also: puppets inspired by the book series "The Adventures of Popo the Hawaiian Surf Dog."

Mythbusters (8 p.m., Discovery)
(“Trench Torpedo”) A shock-wave test is conducted; a balloon myth is tested.

Once Upon a Time (8 p.m., ABC)
(“Lady of the Lake”) Emma and Mary Margaret get help searching for a gateway back to Storybrooke; and Henry advises Jefferson to reunite with Paige. Meanwhile, in the fairy-tale world, King George poisons Snow White as she prepares to meet Prince Charming's mother.

People are buzzing about the new characters and Mulan is a refreshing addition for sure. Now that everyone knows about Storybrooke, what new twists and turns are in store this season?

Dexter (9 p.m., Showtime)
(“Buck the System”) Dexter takes aim at a new target and attempts to get Debra to pitch in; the Ukrainian mob sets out to avenge the killing of a member; and Quinn gets chummy with a dancer at the mob's strip joint. Meanwhile, LaGuerta is convinced the Bay Harbor Butcher is still at large and recruits Batista in her efforts to reopen the case.

Halloween Wars (9 p.m., Food)
(“Battle of the Vampire Killer”) Elaborate Halloween displays are created by five teams consisting of pumpkin carvers, candy makers and cake designers, who are competing for a $50,000 grand prize. This week’s theme is vampires.

The Walking Dead (9 p.m., AMC)
(“Seed”) The widely anticipated third season premiere is finally here! Rick comes upon a potential sanctuary and pushes the group to secure the area. Dish subscribers can review our recent article to find out how they can watch this episode live online.

666 Park Avenue (10 p.m., ABC)
(“The Dead Don’t Stay Dead”) Gavin begins to groom Henry for a possible career change. Meanwhile, a journalist discovers that whatever she writes becomes the truth; and Olivia shares a painful secret with Jane about her daughter's death.

Destination Fear (11 p.m., Travel)
(“Lift Lock; Split Rock”) A wannabe ghost hunter believes she's been hired to help a paranormal historian look for a mass grave at Split Rock Quarry in Syracuse, N.Y., where a terrible industrial accident occurred in 1918. Another paranormal enthusiast investigates the legend of a haunted lift lock. No really a haunted lock…*facepalms*

Talking Dead (11 p.m., AMC)
(“Seed”) Second season premiere of the live talk show hosted by Chris Hardwick. Celebrity guests include a who’s who of the science-fiction and fantasy genre. The Season 3 premiere episode is recapped.

Comic Book Men (11:30 p.m., AMC)
(“Stash Bashes”) Kevin Smith (Clerks) brings you the second season premiere, the guys throw a birthday bash and later, a customer brings in unusual Star Wars memorabilia.