To TiVo or Not to TiVo

Futurama Comedy Central, weeknights, 9 p.m.

Plot: A frozen delivery boy thaws out 1,000 years in the future, where he befriends mutants, robots, aliens and the disembodied heads of celebrities.
Watchability: Any show that survives two cancellations must be entertaining.
Real Science: Packed with obscure computer-science and physics jokes, this show is a nerd’s dream. But don’t expect to learn anything from it. 20th Century Fox/Everett

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This year’s fall TV lineup couldn’t be geekier. With two new network shows breaking out the beakers and several returning shows ratcheting up the scientific tension, it seems lab coats have taken over the small screen, no doubt to the chagrin of grizzled cops, desperate housewives and testy lawyers.

In this gallery, we tell you which shows should top your TiVo queue, which ones are as fun as math camp, and which you can watch with your girlfriend. (Just kidding, we know you don’t have a girlfriend.)