PREVIEW ’91 : What’s New in Old TV

The new fall Retro season is chalk full of old favorites , ranging from the high-flying “The Adventures of Superman” to the homey comfort of “The Waltons” to the irreverence of “Late Night With David Letterman” to the brain-teasing “Sherlock Holmes Mysteries.”

Here is a look at yesterday’s shows that are on tomorrow’s fall lineup, including premiere dates.

A&E;

“The Prisoner”--This British series originally made its debut on CBS in 1968 as a summer replacement series and instantly developed cult status. Most recently, “The Prisoner” aired as part of CBS’ late-night fare . Patrick McGoohan created and stars in this bizarre series about a top security government agent who resigns from his position only to be kidnaped and sent to a mysterious village. A&E; kicks off the series Sept. 19 at 6 and 10 p.m. with a two-hour special featuring the first and last episodes. The series moves to its regular day and time, Thursdays at 11 p.m., on Sept. 26.

“Late Night with David Letterman”--The king of late, late night TV goes prime time when A&E; airs weekly repeats of Letterman’s long-running, award-winning NBC series. Sundays at 7 p.m. Sept. 22.

“Sherlock Holmes Mysteries”--These tantalizing mysteries have been airing on PBS’ “Mystery!,” the Disney Channel and even on home video, and it seems only elementary “Sherlock Holmes” should find a new home on A&E.; Jeremy Brett stars as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s super sleuth and David Burke is his cohort in solving crimes, Dr. Watson. This month, “Sherlock Holmes Mysteries” will feature the two famous cases: “The Hound of the Baskervilles” and “A Scandal in Bohemia.” Mondays at 10 p.m. Sept. 23.

Bravo

Bravo’s “BBC Showcase” features two popular series, which originally aired on PBS’ “Masterpiece Theatre” series: “The Duchess of Duke Street,” starring Gemma Jones and Christopher Cazenove, Saturdays at 2 p.m. (already premiered); and “Madame Bovary,” with Francesca Annis and Tom Conti, Wednesdays at 5 p.m. Oct. 2.

The Family Channel

“The Waltons”--The enduring, endearing family drama stars Richard Thomas, Ralph Waite, Michael Learned, Will Geer and Ellen Corby. Weeknights at 7. Already premiered.

“The Father Dowling Mysteries”--Tom Bosley and Tracy Nelson star in this recently canceled mystery series about a priest and a nun who team up to solve crimes. The former NBC and then ABC series kicks off Sept. 22 at noon with three mysteries. It begins in its regular time slot weeknights at 9 on Sept. 23.

Nickelodeon

“The Adventures of Superman”--Fasting than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, “Superman” leaps into TV Land . George Reeves is the Man of Steel; Phyllis Coates and Noel Neill are Lois Lane; John Hamilton and Jack Larson co-star. The series kicks off Sep. 20 at 9 p.m. with the commercial-free presentation of the 1951 feature, “Superman and the Molemen,” starring Reeves and Coates. The series moves to its regular day and time, weeknights at 8:30, on Sept. 23.

“The Dick Van Dyke Show”--The Emmy-winning comedy series starring Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Carl Reiner, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam and Richard Deacon kicks off Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. with eight specially picked episodes. “Dick Van Dyke” moves to its regular time slot, weeknights at 9, on Oct. 1.

“F Troop”--If you like your comedy broad and slapsticky, then “F Troop” is for you. Ken Curtis, Forrest Tucker, Larry Storch and Melody Patterson headline this ABC comedy from the ‘60s about the worst military outfit west of the Missouri. Saturdays-Sundays at 4:30 and 9 p.m. Oct. 5.

“Jeff’s Collie”--Long before Timmy shared his life and adventures with the beloved collie, Lassie was owned by young Jeff Miller. Nickelodeon soon will be airing all 143 episodes of the original version of “Lassie,” which aired on CBS from 1954 to ’57. Tommy Rettig stars as Jeff; Jan Clayton is his mother, Ellen, and George Cleveland is his “Gramps.” October.

TNT

“Maya”--This short-lived (1967-68) NBC series set in India stars Jay North of “Dennis the Menace” fame and Indian actor Sajid Khan. Saturdays at 2 p.m. Already premiered.

“Dallas”--The granddaddy of all the prime-time soaps hits daytime. Maybe J.R. and company will have better luck this time around; the series failed to hit a gusher when it went into syndication in the mid-’80s. Weekdays at 7 a.m. Sept. 16.

“Knots Landing”--The longest running prime-time soap--currently in its 13th season--and a spinoff of “Dallas” also failed to make the grade in syndication. Weekdays at 8 a.m. Sept. 16.

USA

“My Two Dads”--Paul Reiser, Greg Evigan and Staci Keanan star in this NBC comedy series about two former romantic rivals who discover that one of them could be the father of the 12-year-old daughter of their ex-lover who recently died. Weekdays at 5:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. Sept. 16.

KABC

“One Step Beyond”--John Newland is the host of this occult anthology series, which originally aired as “Alcoa Presents” on ABC from 1959 to ’61. Saturday-Sunday at 12:30 a.m. Tentatively Sept. 14.

“Topper”--Anne Jeffreys, Robert Sterling and Leo G. Carroll headline this comedy about a couple who died in an avalanche and come back to haunt their former home, now owned by a staid banker. The series aired from 1953 to ’56 on all three networks. Stephen Sondheim was one of the writers. Saturday-Sunday at 1 a.m. Tentatively Sept. 14.