TONIGHT'S MUST-SEES

“HOUSE” SEASON-OPENER, 8-10 P.M., FOX

Already a ratings and quality leader, “House” detours from its usual format.
After his collapse, Dr. House is in a mental institution. He's free to leave – but needs approval before he can practice medicine again.
As usual, he assumes he's smarter than everyone else. He's sometimes tragically wrong.
Except for phone calls to Wilson, the other regulars are ignored this week. There's a great batch of guests, led by Andre Braugher as the canny chief of the institution and Lin-Manuel Miranda (the Tony-winning “In the Heights” composer) as House's roommate.

“HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER,” 7 P.M., CBS

As his first day as a college teacher nears, Ted frets about it going wrong.
It will, of course, but not in the way he envisions. He'll remember to wear pants; he just won't be that clear on the room number and how to spell “professor.”
That's one story tonight; the other deals with Barney and Robin being forced to define what (beyond sex) their relationship is. It's a fresh, funny start to what promises to be a good comedy night.

For more on tonight's TV options — including some season and series premieres — check out the column and blog at MikeHughes.tv.