Major televsion networks promise plenty of entertaining debut shows
This fall’s TV lineup features familiar faces in front of, behind the cameras
By Jessi Groover, contributing writer
Posted on September 21, 2006

As the fall season approaches, football games commence, the leaves on trees begin to change colors, the climate drops, and of course, the new television shows premiere.

This year’s fall season is like any others in the past with its variety of drama ans comedy, but, for the first time in awhile there is less emphasis on reality television shows.

With the success of shows like “Desperate Housewives” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC looks to be stiff competition with its amount of new television shows that bring back familiar faces and premiere new ones to small-screen audiences.

One of the most highly anticipated shows is “Brothers and Sisters,” which stars Calista Flockhart, in her first major role on television since “Ally McBeal,” alongside an ensemble cast including Sally Field and Rachel Griffiths. The show follows the Walker family as adult siblings learn to manage their professional and personal lives while finding out that even their seemingly perfect parents are flawed. The show will premiere Sunday, Sept. 24 at 10 p.m.

Another drama premiering on ABC is “The Nine,” starring Scott Wolf, whom you may remember from “Party of Five,” and Kim Raver, who starred in “Third Watch” and “24.”  “The Nine” will make its debut  Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 9 p.m. and follows nine strangers who end up in the middle of a bank robbery and must learn to deal with its aftermath.

From the producers of successful shows like “Lost” and “Alias,” the newbie “Six Degrees” will make its debut, chronicling the lives of six people who live in New York and are connected in various ways. The show’s cast includes Jay Hernandez, from movies like “The Rookie” and “Crazy/Beautiful,” and Erika Christensen, from films like “Traffic” and “The Upside of Anger. “ “Six Degrees” will premiere Thursday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m.

Even though most of ABC’s new shows are dramas, there are several comedies premiering, including “Help Me Help You,” starring Ted Danson. Danson stars as a successful psychologist treating self-obsessed patients by putting them in a room together to work out their problems. The show will premiere Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 9:30 p.m.

NBC is another network that has several highly anticipated shows premiering.  Most notably is the show “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” which stars former television-show favorites like Matthew Perry, D. L. Hughley and Bradley Whitford.  The show will follow the drama that takes place behind the scenes of a late-night skit show. It premiered Monday night, but catch it next week at 10 p.m.

Based on the successful movie,  “Friday Night Lights” is another promising show on NBC. The show touches on the importance of a small-town football team and its games on Friday. It stars many newcomers as the football players and high school students, but has Kyle Chandler as the team’s coach, who has starred in the former television show, “Early Edition.” The show will premiere Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m.

As for NBC’s comedies, the new show “Twenty Good Years” will reunite John Lithgow, who formerly starred in “Third Rock From the Sun” with Primetime television.  He and Jeffrey Tambor play two friends who are vastly different, but agree that since they have 20 years left to live, they should live every day to the fullest. The show will premiere  Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 8:30 p.m.

CBS will also have several new shows, including the comedic “The Class,” starring Jason Ritter, the son of the late John Ritter. Ritter decides to surprise his fiancé with a reunion of their third grade classmates to celebrate their first time the two of them met. The result is the former classmates examining how they have changed over the past 20 years. “The Class” premiered on Monday night, but you can catch the next episode this coming Monday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m.

As for a drama on CBS, the NEW show “Smith,” starring Ray Liotta, will arise some curiosity. Liotta stars as a man who seems very common but lives the life of a expert thief trying to finish a few jobs so he can settle down with his family.  “Smith” already premiered, but watch it next Tuesday at 10 p.m.

Finally, FOX is another huge network that is set to premiere new hits like “Vanished,” which stars Rebecca Gayheart and Ming-Na. The plot follows the disappearance of a Georgia senator’s wife. As the search for the woman commences, new discoveries are made about her true identity. The show premiered in late August 21, but can be watched Mondays at 9 p.m.

For comedic relief on FOX, viewers can look forward to “’Til Death,” which stars  Brad Garrett from “Everybody Loves Raymond” and Joy Stark from “Desperate Housewives.” They play a middle-aged married couple that live next door to newlyweds, played by “American Pie” star, Eddie Kaye Thomas, and “Law and Order” star Kat Foster.  Hilarity ensues as the show displays old marriage versus new marriage.  It can be seen on Thursdays at 8 p.m.

From drama to comedy, the big television networks have many shows to offer to a variety of television audiences. So if you’re not a fan of football, make sure to check out some of these new shows.