WEEKEND TV : 1ST SERIES OF FALL SEASON

Don’t look now, but the first new TV series of the fall arrives tonight--a glitzy syndicated music program called “You Write the Songs” (7 p.m., Channel 2).

The distinction is accidental but nonetheless foreboding as a possible harbinger of the season to follow: It’s an overproduced mixture of elements from other programs, spun together at such a dizzying pace that it manages to be diverting without actually being entertaining.

The half-hour program, hosted with a bit too much sincerity by Ben Vereen, is part-”Star Search,” part-”Solid Gold,” part-interview and part-singing showcase.

Each weekly installment will introduce three new songwriters whose compositions will be performed by young singers and then judged for “overall hit potential” by a panel of so-called experts. The winner gets $1,000 and the chance to continue on toward a season-ending prize of $250,000 and a spot on a “You Write the Songs” album.

Squeezed in between are dance numbers, an appearance by Dionne Warwick and an interview with a successful songwriter, Burt Bacharach. Squeezed is the right word: Bacharach’s comments come during Warwick’s singing.

At the outset, Vereen promises viewers “an emotion-packed half-hour.” But by the end, when he asks the winner how it feels to get a shot at that big prize, all she can muster is, “Pretty nice.” She must have been watching the proceedings backstage.

Additional music programming is on tap tonight with KTLA Channel 5’s 8 p.m. telecast of Friday night’s MTV Video Music Awards, honoring the outstanding music videos of the past year. Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Genesis and Mr. Mister are among the performers scheduled to appear.