‘According to Jim’ Hourlong Season Premiere

Don’t forget Jim Belushi et al. fans: The eighth season of ABC’s family sitcom According to Jim kicks off at 9pm EST tomorrow night with a couple of back-to-back episodes.

First up at 9pm is “The Blankie,” during which Jim lays a major guilt trip on his oldest three children when one of the new twin arrivals’ blanket disappears. Jim is pitching in with the infants after Cheryl blows a gasket — or two — doing everything herself.

Longtime viewers know the drill from there. Newbies, that means that after a whole lot of drama, we’ll eventually learn Jim is wrong and everybody else has been victimized by his customary zeal to make others do what he wants.

The hour closes with “The New Best Friend,” which involves lots of reluctant holiday shopping on Jim’s part after Cheryl’s sister and best friend Dana moves away. So, what does Jim do when he realizes he can’t take hanging out with his wife that much? Well, he decides it’s his job to find her a new BFF, STAT. Sounds like a plan.

According to Jim airs Tuesdays on ABC at 9pm EST until the end of the year. The series then moves to Tuesdays at 8pm in 2009.