Back in July, FX held a press conference with stars Julian McMahon, Dylan Walsh and Joely Richardson and the show's creator, Ryan Murphy. It was supposed to pump up the volume for the series' fourth season, which begins Tuesday at 10, but much of the conversation -- and all of the contention -- focused on Season 3.

Last year's installment swirled around a mysterious, nasty slasher called the Carver. The story line gave viewership a boost, but it turned off more than a few long-time fans of a show that had been built on a discourse about human fragilities, self-image and self-worth. And as became apparent during the press conference, the Carver didn't do much for the cast either.

Apparently the lesson has been learned, though, because this season's opening episodes of ``Nip/Tuck'' return to its thought-provoking, unpredictable roots. The spotlight is back on the characters played by Walsh, McMahon and Richardson, and there is a batch of juicy guest star turns (a staple of the show) to add some spice to the proceedings.

The writing -- darkly humorous and biting at its best -- is back in rhythm, as Walsh's McNamara and Richardson's Julia McNamara try to deal with the pending birth of their new flawed baby and McMahon's Christian Troy struggles with sex and sexuality. As in its best days, the show has returned to a mixture of dramatic tension, over-the-top debauchery and poignant contemplations of life.

The episode is also loaded with guest stars: the ever-wily Larry Hagman as a wealthy man who wants reconstructive surgery, Sanaa Lathan (``Love and Basketball'') as his much-younger wife, Kathleen Turner as another patient and Brooke Shields channeling her inner Jennifer Melfi as Troy's new shrink.

But with a cast that is one of TV's best, a willingness to take chances and some very stylish writing, ``Nip/Tuck'' remains a fascinating and provocative bit of television -- especially now that we've gotten rid of the Carver.

comes to the end of its second season tonight (9 p.m., TNT) -- kinda, sorta. The episode is a cliffhanger with Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) running into some major problems at the end of the hour. But you won't have to wait until next summer to see how things work out. Instead, TNT will air a two-hour ``Closer'' special in December that will reportedly resolve the crisis. Actor Kevin Bacon, Sedgwick's husband, will direct.

Just a quick reminder of a couple TV shuffles that will happen on Tuesday. First, Rosie O'Donnell makes her debut on (10 a.m., Ch. 7) as the replacement for Meredith Vieira (who will turn up on as Katie Couric's replacement Sept. 13). And, of course, Couric finally gets to take on her new job as anchor of the (5:30 p.m., Chs. 5, 46). She's also anchor of (10 p.m. Wednesday, Chs. 5, 46), the first big network news special on the anniversary of Sept. 11.

I really wanted to like Fox's new (9 p.m. Tuesday, Chs. 2, 35) a lot more than I do, simply because I can watch Ron Livingston (``Sex In the City,'' ``Band of Brothers'') act in just about anything. Livingston doesn't disappoint, and he and co-star Rosemarie DeWitt (``Rescue Me'') have the makings of better living through chemistry. Unfortunately, this romantic drama about two crack FBI crisis negotiators who have a fling thing going against all rules just doesn't click as drama or romance in the opener. I've give it another week or two and then it will be on to other shows.

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