With more and more shows debuting and a greater emphasis on quality over reality, its a good time for television — a darn good one. But since there is only so much time available for the boob tube, how do you chose what to watch? Here are some must-see shows to get you started.

Desperate Housewives (ABC)-

It feels a bit cliché to be putting the most popular show in America on the list, but it seems like there are still those who see ABC’s suburban comedy drama as little more than a hyped-up, gossip-laden soap opera. But anyone who gave the show a chance last year was treated to so much more, as “Housewives” provided a skewed look at the goings on behind closed doors that never failed to intrigue and bewilder viewers. Brimming with personality and always quick on its delivery, “Housewive’s” cultural saturation alone should be enough incentive to watch. Get your finger on the pulse, people.

Veronica Mars (UPN)-

“Mars” airs on UPN and is billed primarily as a standard teen-drama, which is probably why you’ve never heard of it. But those lucky enough to catch the show about a private investigator’s daughter’s crime-solving adventures in the fictional town of Neptune were treated to overarching, mature storylines dealing with serial killers, class struggle, rape, incest and the murder of a software tycoon’s daughter. Plus, bottom line, Mars was probably the most well-written, well-acted program of last year.

The second season started off with a startling bang as a school bus of Veronica’s classmates toppled off a cliff, killing all those inside — and, as Veronica notes in her oft-charming narration, nothing happens in Neptune without a reason. There’s no excuse for missing “Mars” this time around.

Lost (ABC)-

“Lost” was originally advertised as an ensemble show about the struggle of a group of plane crash survivors on a deserted island. The premiere gave viewers something they didn’t expect: a mysterious transmission that had been repeating for the past 16 years, a gigantic unseen monster and a clash with a polar bear. “Lost” blended every survivor story of the past with a touch of the supernatural to create one of the most original, exciting and refreshing shows of recent memory. A show where one plot revelation per show just doesn’t cut it, “Lost” is filled with twists and turns, which never fail to shock and surprise (and sometimes confuse).

As the second season begins, no longer are viewers merely wondering where the survivors are, but why they all seem connected to one another, what exactly the “numbers” are and whether or not those shipwrecked on the island are, in fact, all dead. There’s a bit of a learning curve in jumping into the show at this point, but those willing to put some effort into it will be well-rewarded.

Supernatural (WB)-

Don’t let the lazy title and somewhat unoriginal premise fool you: the WB’s new show about two brothers who fight the “supernatural” on a quest to solve the mystery of their mother’s murder 22 years before is often genuinely scary and has perhaps the greatest potential of any new show this fall. The dialogue is at times clumsy, and the stories so far haven’t shined with creativity, but the chemistry between the two leads and well-drawn suspense thus far certainly make up for it.

Wild Card-

Truth is, it’s too difficult to pick just one show as the fifth to watch, as none seems to stand out above the rest at this point. “Everybody Hates Chris” and “How I Met Your Mother” show great potential in the comedy category but don’t quite seem to have hit their stride. “Invasion” and “Threshold” could turn out to be the suspenseful thrillers they aspire to be but just aren’t there yet. “Entourage” is good but inaccessible to those not shelling out cash for pay-cable channels. Lastly, there’s no real point in mentioning “The O.C.” because you’ll all be watching that anyway.

Either way, TV appears to have officially pulled out of its reality phase, and an abundance of shows striving for high quality rather than shock value are readily available for viewing. No matter what program you choose to occupy your television, odds are it’ll already be infinitely better than “Temptation Island.”