RETURNING FAVORITES 2000
WHO GOT CLIPPED ON THE WEST WING? WHAT'S UP WITH NILES AND DAPHNE? AND WHERE'S DEWEY? WE'VE GOT THE REAL DEAL ON THE FALL SEASON IN OUR ANNUAL GUIDE AND A FEW CHOICE WORDS FROM TV GUIDE CRITIC MATT ROUSH

CHARMED
STARTS: October 5
WHERE WE LEFT OFF: In warding off an apocalypse, sisters Prue (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs) and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano) discover there’s an evil organization behind the last two seasons’ worth of random attacks.
THE BIG NEWS: "Piper and Leo’s [Brian Krause] relationship will take that very surprising twist," hints executive producer Brad Kern. He also reveals that Prue will have a romance during a special Halloween episode. "They go back into the 17th century, and there she finds somebody she rather likes," he says. "When she comes back to the present, she meets his descendant. Sparks from the past are the same as sparks from the present."
WHO'S IN: Profiler’s Julian McMahon joins the cast as Assistant District Attorney Cole. He may be supernatural, he may be evil and he definitely will have a crush on Phoebe.
Special guests: In the season premiere, pop group Barenaked Ladies (above right, with cast) will perform.
MATT SAYS: The three sisters finally know what they’re up against. As if Regis and Will & Grace weren’t enough.