TONIGHT'S MUST-SEE

"Law & Order" season-opener, 9 p.m., NBC. For its 16 seasons, this show has been male turf. Women could be assistant district attorneys (always the junior one), nothing more. The prime detectives were guys. Now that changes with Milena Govich (fresh from the canceled "Conviction") as Detective Nina Cassady. Meanwhile, Alana de la Garza (the slain bride Marisol in "CSI: Miami") arrives as Connie Rubirosa, the show's first Latina ADA. Cassady, it seems, is a novice who landed a big promotion after being in a headline-grabbing shoot-out. Lt. Anita Van Buren (the talented S. Epatha Merkerson) wants her to lay back and learn. Cassady isn't the laid-back type. It's an interesting dynamic.

OF NOTE

"Mr. Meaty" debut, 5:30 p.m., Nickelodeon. The two main characters — Josh and Parker — are puppets who work in a mall food stand. They are sci-fi fanatics who dream of saving enough money to make a movie, "Ninja Zombies."

"Ghost Whisperer" season-opener, 7 p.m., CBS. Melinda tries to help Andrea (Aisha Tyler), who was killed in last season's cliffhanger. Now her soul remains trapped on Earth. The villain seems familiar to Melinda, who consults with a scholar played by Jay Mohr.

"Close to Home" season-opener, 8 p.m., CBS. David James Elliott ("JAG") joins the show as Annabeth's new supervisor. His aggressive techniques bother her at first. Later, she tries that style herself.

"Numb3rs" season-opener, 9 p.m., CBS. A teacher and her teen lover have been on a cross-country crime spree. They're in Los Angeles now, with Edgerton (Lou Diamond Phillips) joining Don on the case.