Biggest TV Conflicts For Fall 2012: Awesome New (and Old) Shows Scheduled to Air at the Same Time

A downside to being a die-hard television fanatic is trying to work around those pesky scheduling conflicts. You know, when two rival networks schedule some of their best, appointment-viewing programs on the same night at the same time, thus forcing loyal viewers to make a decision of Sophie’s Choice level proportions: Watch now, or wait until later?

Below are some of the biggest conflicts of the Fall 2012 television schedule.

Monday

8 p.m. ET: Bones vs. How I Met Your Mother
The veteran Fox drama goes up against CBS’s hit comedy first thing Monday nights. If you’re in the mood for a laugh we suggest you catch HIMYM, but if intrigue and romance are what you’re looking for, then Bones is your best bet.

Other Notables: Dancing With the Stars (ABC) and 90210 (CW)

9 p.m. ET: 2 Broke Girls vs. Gossip Girl
Both shows take place in New York City, but Girls' gals (CBS) are refreshingly funny and honest, unlike Blair Waldorf and her minions. However, the CW’s Upper East Side saga begins its final season in September 2012, so we recommend you watch it while you still can!

Other notables: Fox’s new medical drama, The Mob Doctor

10 p.m. ET: Castle vs. Revolution
ABC’s cult favorite procedural is scheduled to duke it out with the new NBC pilot from J.J. Abrams about a group of people struggling to survive after all forms of energy mysteriously vanish. While we eagerly awaiting Castle and Beckett’s post-coital relationship (it happened, right?), there’s nothing like a new drama from J.J. to peak our interest.

Other notables: Hawaii Five-0 on CBS

Tuesday

8 p.m. ET: Raising Hope vs. Hart of Dixie
The hit Fox comedy returns to face-off against cutie Rachel Bilson in the sweet, southern medical drama, with a love story of course!

Other notables: Dancing With the Stars' results show and Happy Endings at 8:30 on ABC, and NCIS (CBS)

9 p.m. ET: Go On vs. New Girl
The Zooey Deschanel-starring Fox fave returns for its sophomore season with some stiff competition from NBC’s new show, which marks the return of fan favorite Matthew Perry playing a sportscaster forced into group therapy.

Other notables: NCIS: LA (CBS), Don’t Trust the B---- In Apt. 23 (ABC), The New Normal at 9:30 (NBC), and Emily Owens, M.D. (CW)

10 p.m. ET: Vegas vs. Private Practice
Vegas — the new period drama from CBS — marks Dennis Quaid’s first time starring in a television show, and it will go up against TV maven Shonda Rhimes’s Grey’s Anatomy spin-off, Private Practice.

Wednesday

8 p.m. ET: Survivor vs. Animal Practice
CBS’s long-running reality TV favorite faces off against a new NBC comedy about a veterinarian who loves animals, but can’t stand their owners

Other notables: The Middle and Suburgatory at 8:30 (ABC), The X Factor from 8-10 p.m. on FOX, and Arrow (CW)

9 p.m. ET: Modern Family vs. Supernatural
Everyone's favorite ABC family comedy is a no-brainer when competing with CW’s long-running Supernatural, no matter how much we love Jared Padalecki.

Other notables: Criminal Minds (CBS)

10 p.m. ET: Nashville vs. Chicago Fire
Both new shows, ABC drama Nashville stars Connie Britton as an aging country star who is desperate to regain control of her career, while NBC drama Chicago Fire is about firefighters in (where else?) Chicago.

Other notables: CSI (CBS)

Thursday

8 p.m. ET: The Big Bang Theory vs. The Vampire Diaries
CBS’s comedy block (complete with Two and a Half Men at 8:30) faces some stiff competition from those sexy vampires over on the CW.

Other notables: The Last Resort (new ABC action thriller) and The X Factor's results show (FOX)

9 p.m. ET: Glee vs. Grey’s Anatomy
For the first time ever, FOX’s musical dramedy will compete with ABC’s hit medical drama. Seeing as viewership for both shows has dipped a bit over the years, this should make for an compelling face-off.

Other notables: Person of Interest (CBS) and Beauty and the Beast (CW)

10 p.m. ET: Scandal vs. Elementary
After an abbreviated first season, Scandal returns opposite the Sherlock Holmes-esque drama Elementary on CBS.

Friday

8 p.m. ET: Shark Tank vs. America's Next Top Model
Friday night is all about reality TV, with ABC's business-minded Shark Tank competing with Tyra Banks and the America's Next Top Model gang over on The CW.

Other notables: CSI: NY (CBS) and Touch (FOX)

9 p.m. ET: Nikita vs. Fringe
Struggling CW drama Nikita goes head-to-head with J.J. Abrams’s Fringe on FOX.

Other notables: Made In Jersey (CBS) and Primetime: What Would You Do? (ABC)

10 p.m. ET: Blue Bloods vs. 20/20
CBS’s popular drama about New York cops will compete with ABC’s hour-long nighttime news show come Fall 2012.

Saturday

CBS’s Crimetime Saturday vs. Fox Sports Saturday
Viewers have a variety of crime shows from which to choose, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, or Fox Sports Saturday which kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on, well, Fox. Take your pick!

Sunday

8 p.m. ET: The Amazing Race vs. Once Upon a Time
Another CBS reality staple will challenge fairytale-inspired ABC drama Once Upon a Time, which enters its sophomore season this fall.

9 p.m. ET: The Good Wife vs. Revenge
Chicago’s own Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) will compete with vengeful Hamptons resident Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp) for viewers on Sunday nights, in what is bound to be an epic battle for viewers.

10 p.m. ET: The Mentalist vs. 666 Park Avenue
Simon Baker’s popular psychic drama on CBS battles it out with ABC’s spankin' new supernatural drama, 666 Park Avenue.