Special 'Treatment'

There may not be a more ambitious concept on TV right now than the new HBO series, "In Treatment." (HBO, 9:30 p.m.)

Based upon a hit Israeli TV series, "In Treatment" follows the sessions of a psychoanalyst named Paul (Gabriel Byrne). And when I say follows, it goes full tilt.

"In Treatment" will air five nights a week, each night following a different patient: On Mondays, Paul will deal with Laura (Melissa George), a virtual nymphomaniac in love with him. On Tuesdays, Paul tries to help a Navy pilot (Blair Underwood). Wednesdays see Paul deal with a teenaged gymnast (Mia Wasikowska), while on Thursdays, it's a married couple totally out of love (Josh Charles, Embeth Davidtz). Finally, on Fridays, it's Paul who is the patient seeing his own therapist (Dianne Wiest) as he tries to deal with his wife (Michelle Forbes).

In this day and age, it might be a bit much asking the MTV generation to stick with a series five nights a week for several weeks, but you almost have to admire the commitment HBO is making. And with the strike still going on, "In Treatment" couldn't have asked for better timing, because hey, what else is on?

HBO has had a mixed bag of success in the arena of mental health. On the one hand, you have "The Sopranos," one of the greatest TV series of all time. On the other hand, you have "Tell Me You Love Me," one of the most dull looks at sexual relationships ever done. I'm guessing "In Treatment" will land somewhere in the middle, which certainly isn't bad.

COMING THIS WEEK: My treat for you "Lost" fans to get you pumped up for Thursday's opener? A two-part interview with Emmy nominee Michael Emerson, beginning Wednesday. Tell your friends!

MONDAY'S BEST BETS: Well, thanks to the State of the Union (pick a channel, 9 p.m.), strike-starved networks won't have to worry about original programming for one night this week, so now's your chance to pop in some DVDs or clear out your DVRs just a bit.

You can catch a new "Dance War" (ABC, 8 p.m.) or "American Gladiators" (NBC, 8 p.m.) or even a new "Kyle XY" (ABC Family, 8 p.m.) If you missed the pilot to "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" (Fox, 8 p.m.), it's being repeated tonight.