Decisions, decisions
With so many new shows this fall, we've separated the gems from the junk
Published: August 31, 2006
Last Modified: August 31, 2006 at 06:27 AM
The new fall lineup is a TV fan's nightmare -- and not because there is nothing worth watching. This season, there are so many high-quality new shows that viewers might find themselves torn between two or three in one time slot.
The only advice a TV writer can give is: Invest in as many DVRs and VCRs as possible. And keep your fingers crossed that the shows you choose aren't the ones to get canceled.
Use this quick guide to know which new shows you can't miss, which to record, which to take a peek at and which to skip entirely (I'll get into returning shows next week):
Can't miss
"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," 9 p.m. Mondays, NBC; premieres Sept. 18: Once again, "West Wing" and "Sports Night" creator Aaron Sorkin brings his snappy dialogue and complicated characters to the small screen -- only this time it's a behind-the-scenes look at a "Saturday Night Live" type show (not to be confused with comedy "30 Rock," with a similar concept but different execution). Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford make a near-perfect pair. With lead-in "Heroes," NBC should own Monday nights.
"Smith," 9 p.m. Tuesdays, CBS; premieres Sept. 19: A star-studded and talented cast comes together for this slick take on the world of thieving. Intelligent dialogue is made even better from actors of this caliber. An hourlong drama could be sustained on the tension and chemistry between Ray Liotta and Virginia Madsen's characters alone.
"Ugly Betty," 7 p.m. Thursdays, ABC; premieres Sept. 28: America Ferrera, the tough, lovable girl in "Real Women Have Curves" and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," uglies herself up to play Betty, who finally gets her break at a major fashion magazine. Her lack of fashion sense is an obstacle but not an insurmountable one. Anyone who has ever dreamed of doing the impossible will marvel at this Salma Hayek-produced gem.
"Jericho," 7 p.m. Wednesdays, CBS; premieres Sept. 20: After the early demise of his cult favorite "Miracles," Skeet Ulrich is back and brooding in this look at a small town trying to figure out how to react after a national nuclear disaster. If producers eventually answer the myriad questions raised in the pilot, this could be better than "Lost." However, if it's another manipulative tool to keep viewers guessing -- and watching -- feel free to tune out and make "Kidnapped" your Wednesday show instead.
"Men in Trees," 8 p.m. Fridays, ABC; premieres Sept. 12 and moves to regular time slot on Sept. 15: Anne Heche is quirky and sweet in this fish-out-of-water tale about a big-city book editor who ends up in a small Alaska town (think "Northern Exposure" meets "Sex and the City"). If for no other reason, watch to see if the crew can make Vancouver, British Columbia, look like Alaska. The show pokes fun at Alaskans a bit, but it pokes even more fun at Heche's city girl struggles.
Record
"Kidnapped," 9 p.m. Wednesdays, NBC; premieres Sept. 20: Timothy Hutton, Jeremy Sisto, Dana Delaney and Delroy Lindo help raise this crime-solving drama a notch above its predecessor "Vanished" (8 p.m. Mondays, Fox; currently airing). With similar, ongoing story lines, though, viewers who got a taste of "Vanished" might feel like they've been here before.
"The Game," 7:30 p.m. Sundays, CW; premieres Oct. 1: This comedy about a medical school student trying to hang onto her dreams while supporting her NFL player boyfriend is surprisingly watchable -- and even funny. Main players Aldis Hodge and Tia Mowry have adorable chemistry.
"Heroes," 8 p.m. Mondays, NBC; premieres Sept. 25: The first episode doesn't even scratch the surface of what this film-quality series promises to offer. The connections have yet to be made among this group of seemingly ordinary people discovering their extraordinary abilities -- it's clear their destinies will be huge. This could be the breakout hit of the new season.
"Six Degrees," 9 p.m. Thursdays, ABC; premieres Sept. 21: Uber-creator/producer J.J. Abrams offers what feels like a small screen version of "Magnolia." The six primary characters don't know how much their lives are intertwined, but the pilot would have viewers believe they're on the brink of discovering just how much they're linked.
If you have time
Already-airing Fox crime dramas "Vanished" and "Justice" (8 p.m. Wednesdays) are worth a look or two -- but if the characters on "Vanished" don't develop quickly, they might not be worthy once competition starts airing.
"Standoff" (8 p.m. Tuesdays, Fox; premieres Tuesday, after the third-season premiere of "House") stars Ron Livingston as an FBI negotiator having an affair with this partner. The romantic comedy angle of the show is lovely and compelling, but buying Livingston and Rosemarie Dewitt as our nation's top hostage negotiators is a tougher sell.
"The Class" (7 p.m. Mondays, CBS; premieres Sept. 18), "Help Me Help You," (8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, ABC; premieres Sept. 26) "Twenty Good Years" (7 p.m. Wednesdays, NBC; hourlong premiere Oct. 4) and "30 Rock" (7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, NBC; premieres Oct. 11) are comedies that deserve at least one viewing.
"Runaway" (8 p.m. Mondays, CW; premieres Sept. 25), "Brothers & Sisters" (9 p.m. Sundays, ABC; premieres Sept. 24) and "Friday Night Lights" (7 p.m. Tuesdays, NBC; premieres Oct. 3) are the same on the drama side.
Ignore
Raunchy and offensive "Happy Hour" and unoriginal Brad Garrett vehicle "Til Death" (7 and 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, respectively; premiere Sept. 7) are two Fox comedies that are better left alone. James Woods' foray into television, "Shark" (9 p.m. Thursdays, CBS; premieres Sept. 21), isn't awful, but it also doesn't have much going for it other than Woods. Another crime drama, "The Nine" (9 p.m. Wednesdays, ABC; premieres Oct. 4) doesn't offer much that viewers can't already get elsewhere. And "The Knights of Prosperity" (8 p.m. Tuesdays, ABC; premieres Oct. 17) is just another silly sitcom that should come and go quietly.
• TV reviewer and Portland, Ore.-based freelance journalist DeAnn Welker can be reached at deann@tvgoddess.com. To read more of her TV ramblings, visit www.tvgoddess.com.
Next week
In case viewers forget amid all of the shiny, new programming, many quality network shows will return this fall. Check out Play's TV Goddess column next week for a sneak peek at the best returning shows to get hooked on this fall.
Five shows to watch this week
Design Star
8 p.m. Sunday, HGTV: With one week until the finale, we're down to the final two designers vying for their own home design show on HGTV. This week's twist: viewers get to vote.
Nip/Tuck
9 p.m. Tuesday, FX: Another season of Christian and Julian, and it's as raunchy -- and riveting -- as ever. The opener marks the duo's 5,000th plastic surgery.
Big Brother
7 p.m. Sunday, CBS: How will the houseguests react after the surprise of Thursday's eviction episode? And can we please get more of Marcellas and Howie's version of "The Odd Couple" in the sequester house?
Life on Mars
6 p.m. Monday, BBC America: This time-traveling cop drama continues to be one of the coolest summer shows. This week, a drug dealer dies and Sam seems to be the only one who wants to figure out why. Repeats at 9 p.m.
Saved
9 p.m. Monday, TNT: The first season ends on several cliffhangers -- Lifeshield goes up for sale, and Cole and Alice face life-changing decisions when she's offered a job on the East Coast.
-- DeAnn Welker
