Was it in 1999, when “The Sopranos” made viewers an irrefusable offer that they stay home and tune out the squabbling kids, the hungry cats and the ringing telephone?

By last season, when ABC struck gold with “Desperate Housewives” and then “Grey’s Anatomy,” it became clear that Sunday is the new “Must-See TV” night.

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ABC relaunches “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Grey’s Anatomy” (more on those two hit dramedies later).

How could he do that to us – I mean, you – er, her?

Give your heart a compression or two and get set for another round of, well, rounds with those frisky interns, as ABC’s surprise midseason hit “Grey’s Anatomy” returns for a second season (tonight at 10:01 on WCVB, Ch. 5).

Meredith (Ellen Pompeo, TV’s Renee Zellweger) narrates a cute recap of last season that ends with the moment when Meredith came face to face with her beloved Derek’s (Patrick Dempsey) equally brilliant surgeon wife, Addison (Kate Walsh), who, by way of introduction, said, “And you must be the woman who’s been screwing my husband.”

Can you believe this beeyatch? She’s all Amanda Woodward in Meredith’s face, forcing her to work for her. Meanwhile, the other interns have their own bedside problems. Cristina (Sandra Oh) is pregnant and confused about her relationship with her boss, Dr. Burke (Isaiah Washington). Interns Izzie (Katherine Heigl) and Alex (Justin Chambers) are sniffing each others’ surgical masks, so you know it’s only a shift or two before they’re checking vital signs.

Another tense, high-stakes day is unfolding in Seattle Grace Hospital. A window washer who has fallen five stories — or did he jump? — is dying on the operating table. A senior citizen prepped for gallbladder removal is about to learn she has cancer. And a woman who has tested positive for the ovarian cancer gene is demanding a radical procedure: the removal of her breasts and uterus.

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Grey’s Anatomy may be a medical drama, but in this hospital, booty calls definitely take precedence over brain surgery. The foibles and fumbles of Anatomy’s oversexed group of first-year interns (and their equally horny superiors) made the ABC series one of last season’s breakout hits. It debuted March 27 as a placeholder for Boston Legal, but something unexpected happened: Sixteen million viewers watched the premiere, and the numbers kept growing. An elated ABC held Legal’s remaining episodes until this season and gave Anatomy (which returns Sept. 25 at 10 p.m.) an uninterrupted nine-week run. It quickly became the biggest hospital hit since ER bowed in 1994, and the most watched midseason drama series since Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman 12 years ago.

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