TV
"Survivor" is back, and football fans may have a special interest in this season, which takes place in Nicaragua. Former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson is competing for the $1 million prize this year, and teams are divided up by age. (Johnson is on Espada, the over-40 squad, duh. Folks under 30 are on the La Flor tribe.) There's also a new twist: The Medallion of Power gives one tribe an advantage in a challenge, but if they use it, it passes to the other tribe. And take note: The longtime Thursday show has moved to Wednesdays. (Premieres Sept. 15, 8 p.m., CBS.)
Another reality show returning this week is going back to basics: "The Apprentice" has ditched the celebrity version for now and is featuring regular folks. If by "regular" you mean the kind of Type-A, MBA-bound-since-kindergarten go-getters who start companies as frequently as the rest of us start our cars. You know we'll end up hating most of them, but in the end, viewers get the sweet, sweet revenge of knowing the "winner" has to work for Donald Trump. (Premieres Sept. 16, 9 p.m., NBC.)
Reality TV gets a few new twists this fall
Contestants on "Top Chef" are always whining about how they're not pastry chefs when a challenge involves dessert-making. Now there's a spinoff that goes after that underappreciated contingent. "Top Chef: Just Desserts" focuses only on pastries and desserts. Just like the original-recipe show, the new version will feature Quickfire and Elimination Challenges. How sweet it is. (Premieres Sept. 15, 11 p.m., Bravo.)
MoviesTalk about meeting cute. In "The Town," Ben Affleck plays a robber who takes a bank manager hostage and puts her through the most terrifying ordeal of her life. Later, without her knowing he was the masked robber, they fall for each other. This is going to get ugly when she learns the truth. The trailer looks fascinating and "Mad Men's" Jon Hamm only makes it better, playing the FBI agent out to get Affleck's gang. (Opens Sept. 17.)
Sometimes you want to see a movie because it sounds so bad that it can't help but be good, in an ironic, meta, Mystery Science Theater 3000 way. "Devil," based on a story by gee-has-his-stock-fallen M. Night Shyamalan, sounds like one of those films. Who can get beyond the plot — five people trapped in an elevator, one of them is the devil. Hey, "Piranha 3D" was a huge hit — who knows? (Opens Sept. 17.)
DVDCinema fans have to be interested in "My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?" since it's packing some major names: Werner Herzog directed and David Lynch produced. The film is a little trippy, as you'd expect, but was inspired by a disturbing true story about a San Diego man who murdered his own mother with an antique sword. Even though you know the murder is coming, it never feels like the ending's been spoiled. Chloe Sevigny, Michael Shannon and Willem Dafoe star. (Out on DVD Sept. 14.)
"America: The Story of Us" aired on History in the spring, but in case you didn't catch all of the six-part, 12-hour documentary, you can now pick up or rent the DVDs. The Liev Schreiber-narrated program whisks you through 400 years of American history, with contributions from Brian Williams, Meryl Streep, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Douglas and others. (Out on DVD Sept. 14.)
BOOKSIt's hard to imagine anyone not liking "Project Runway's" Tim Gunn, and vice-versa. But in his new book, "Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work," the fashion king isn't afraid to dish a little dirt — including a segment about Vogue editor Anna Wintour being carried downstairs by bodyguards. Sounds like Tim writes just like he talks on the show — honestly and without fear. Wintour supposedly upon hearing Gunn spilled the beans, saying it wasn't true. But really, who are you gonna believe? We're always on Tim's side. (Book in stores now.)
Gael Fashingbauer Cooper is TODAYshow.com's movies editor.