Preview ’95 : Fall Flings With Friends, Foes & Lovers

Love is on the air this fall.

From “Can’t Hurry Love” and “The Single Guy” to “If Not for You,” “Hudson Street” and “Caroline in the City,” much of the focus in new comedies is on singles in search of scintillating relationships.

Those who don’t find Mr. or Ms. Right will be consoled by their closest pals, which is the networks’ sly way of reworking a winning formula popularized last year by the breakout NBC hit “Friends.” Imitation, after all, is the sincerest form of earning bigger ratings.

Hourlong dramas, which have rebounded nicely after almost being knocked out by the surfeit of newsmagazines, can be found nearly every night.

On that particular front, one can hardly go wrong with “Murder One,” a class act operating against the physicians whose fast-paced exploits turned “ER” into must-see TV.

And while the established ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox networks have attempted to strengthen their positions in the Nielsen race, upstarts UPN and WB are aggressively attempting to carve out a niche for themselves on a smaller scale.

Here, then, are the record 42 newcomers vying for your attention:

“BROTHERLY LOVE”

Sundays 7-7:30 p.m. NBC.

Premieres Saturday at 9 p.m.

Moves to its regular slot Sept. 17.

Brothers Joey, Matthew and Andy Lawrence are the stars of a sitcom seemingly crafted to set the hearts of young girls aflutter. Joey reunites with his stepmother (Melinda Culea) and two younger half-brothers, hoping to buy a share of the garage left to them by his late father. Family values triumph, of course, as the fellas overcome initial friction, and big brother decides to tune up their strained relationship by staying on as a mechanic.

****

“PINKY & THE BRAIN”

Sundays 7-7:30 p.m. WB.

Premieres tonight.

Those lab mice from the funny, frisky “Animaniacs” lead off Warner Bros.’ second night of comedy shows. Does that make them guinea pigs? Time will tell.

****

“SPACE: ABOVE AND BEYOND”

Sundays 7-8 p.m. Fox.

Two-hour debut Sept. 24.

Moves to its regular slot Oct. 1.

The hyperbolic Fox announcement for its science-fiction series in which young military cadets are engaged in a “life-or-death struggle against one of the most formidable foes ever seen on television” is closer to the truth than the network might care to admit. The primary adversary for this one-hour saga is none other than “60 Minutes.” We don’t want to say “Space’s” nights are numbered, but can’t you hear the seconds ticking away already?

****

“MINOR ADJUSTMENTS”

Sundays 7:30-8 p.m. NBC.

Premieres Saturday at 9:30 p.m.

Moves to its regular slot Sept. 17.

Child psychologist Ron Aimes (Rondell Sheridan) is deft at dealing with the personal problems of any youngster, unless it happens to be one of his own. Aimes discovers the perils of parenting can be more daunting than anything he typically encounters as part of his profession in this precocious comedy from Ken Estin (“Cheers,” “Taxi”).

****

“KIRK”

Sundays 8-8:30 p.m. WB.

Already premiered.

Kirk Cameron is a bachelor raising three siblings in New York. The “Growing Pains” star returns to the small screen with his wife, Chelsea Noble, as a co-star. She plays the girl next door--literally.

****

“ALMOST PERFECT”

Sundays 8:30-9 p.m. CBS.

Premieres Sept. 17.

Talent. Good looks. Drive. Tightly wound TV writer Kim Cooper (Nancy Travis) has it all. So why is she drinking alone after being named executive producer of the top cop show on the air? Now you understand the wry title of this comedy co-starring Kevin Kilner as a dapper district attorney. And luckily for Cooper, he’s drinking alone in that same bar. Falling in love would make everything perfect--if they could just find the time.

****

“TOO SOMETHING”

Sundays 8:30-9 p.m. Fox.

Premieres Oct. 1.

Embracing lowly jobs as mailroom clerks, too cool buddies (Eric Schaeffer and Donal Lardner Ward) blow off promotions to pursue their lifelong dreams. Eric wants to be a writer (forget that he’s still waiting for an inspiration) and Donny favors fine arts photography (that first exhibition is on hold for now). And nothing will stand in their way, least of all such trivial pursuits as future planning or financially secure careers.

****

“SIMON”

Sundays 8:30-9 p.m. WB.

Premieres tonight.

Simple Simon (Harland Williams) and his brother (Jason Bateman) share a Harlem apartment in this Forrest Gump-lite comedy. Simon, an eternal optimist, walks into the offices of a cable channel and lands a job on the spot. Meanwhile, his brother is unemployed. Who says life is fair?

****

“CLEGHORNE!”

Sundays 9-9:30 p.m. WB.

Premieres tonight.

Ellen Cleghorne (“Saturday Night Live”) plays a divorced publicist with a young daughter. The notion of a big day for her father (Garrett Morris), a postal worker, is the addition of a new zip code. The phrase “return to sender” comes to mind here.

****

“MISERY LOVES COMPANY”

Sundays 9:30-10 p.m. Fox.

Premieres Oct. 1.

But will you and your company love this sitcom? It offers the perspective of four men--three who are divorced (Dennis Boutsikaris, Stephen Furst, Julius Carry) and a bachelor (Christopher Meloni) looking forward to blissful matrimony, assuming the others don’t talk him out of it.

****

“FIRST TIME OUT”

Sundays 9:30-10 p.m. WB.

Premieres tonight.

Latina comic Jackie Guerra plays a forlorn single with two roommates in Los Angeles. One (Leah Remini) is a fan of Jerry Springer; the other (Mia Cottet) sets her up on blind dates with therapy patients. Guerra’s least desirable friend (Craig Anton) hits on women who run away. You would too.

****

“CAN’T HURRY LOVE”

Mondays 8:30-9 p.m. CBS.

Premieres Sept. 18.

Annie O’Donnell (Nancy McKeon) is looking for love in New York, as are her best friend Didi (Mariska Hargitay) and co-worker Roger (Louis Mandylor). Don’t expect any of them to find it in the near future, however. If that happened, it would kill the premise of their comedy, which should benefit from a swell slot between “The Nanny” and “Murphy Brown.”

****

“PARTNERS”

Mondays 9-9:30 p.m. Fox.

Premieres Monday.

An architect (Tate Donovan) innocently sets off a tug-of-war between his best buddy/business partner (Jon Cryer) and fiancee (Maria Pitillo) in a comedy of neurotic errors from the producers of “Friends.”

****

“NOWHERE MAN”

Mondays 9-10 p.m. UPN.

Already premiered.

Imagine a swift turn of events in which your wife and friends are part of a bizarre conspiracy to eliminate your existence. That’s the scary scenario facing photojournalist Thomas Veil (Bruce Greenwood), who is powerless to prove his identity. Who’s behind the switch? How far will they go to punish him? And can anyone from his past be trusted?

****

“IF NOT FOR YOU”

Mondays 9:30-10 p.m. CBS.

Premieres Sept. 18.

It’s love at first sight for a young woman (Elizabeth McGovern) and a record producer (Hank Azaria) who--believe it or not--initially see each other across a crowded room. Unfortunately, they are engaged to other people. The obvious dilemma these protagonists must grapple with is whether to admit their true yearnings and let the chips fall where they may. Hey, you can’t hurry love!

****

“NED AND STACEY”

Mondays 9:30-10 p.m. Fox.

Premieres Monday.

Ned (Thomas Haden Church of “Wings”) is a smug, self-absorbed, amoral account executive running on the fast track. Stacey (Debra Messing), a liberal writer for Village Voice, is in need of an apartment. By abruptly agreeing to a marriage of convenience, he gets a promotion and she gets a splendid view of Central Park. Is this what courtship has come to in the ‘90s?

****

“JOHN GRISHAM’S THE CLIENT”

Tuesdays 8-9 p.m. CBS.

Premieres Sept. 17 at 9 p.m.

Moves to its regular slot Sept. 19.

Leslie Moonves’ first significant move as CBS entertainment president was to rearrange his predecessor’s schedule, moving this drama based on John Grisham’s bestseller to a slot originally held by Montel Williams’ “Matt Waters,” now designated as a midseason replacement. JoBeth Williams portrays Reggie Love, a recovering alcoholic and Atlanta attorney practicing family law after losing her own children in an ongoing custody battle. John Heard, Ossie Davis and Polly Holliday co-star.

****

“DEADLY GAMES”

Tuesdays 8-9 p.m. UPN.

Already premiered.

A scientist (James Calvert) creates a video game whose villains come to life in an adventure produced by Leonard Nimoy. Christopher Lloyd is the champagne-swilling Sebastian Jackal, a sophisticated nemesis with a sinister plan to “destroy life as we know it.”

****

“HUDSON STREET”

Tuesdays 8:30-9 p.m. ABC.

Premieres Sept. 19.

In his third ABC series, Tony Danza plays Tony Canetti, a divorced New Jersey cop with a conservative outlook who hasn’t had a date “since the Carter Administration.” A character with rough edges and a tart tongue, he meets Melanie (Lori Loughlin), a liberal Ivy League grad and police beat reporter. Arguments ensue, as does the inevitable attraction. Will they become a twosome? More to the point if they do--who will be the boss?

****

“LIVE SHOT”

Tuesdays 9-10 p.m. UPN.

Already premiered.

Chaotic situations are commonplace in the TV newsroom serving as the setting for this drama. Jeff Yagher plays the news director at a Los Angeles station offering so-called Re-Action News. David Birney and Rebecca Staab are anchors with a love/hate relationship, and Cheryl Pollak is an eager-to-please producer.

****

“THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS”

Tuesdays 9:30-10 p.m. NBC.

Premieres Sept. 19.

Can an idealistic attorney (Tom Amandes) find solace after his wife (Melinda McGraw) loses her job, his brother-in-law (Larry Miller) moves in and his best friend (Brad Garret) reveals a personal secret? And did we mention that his beloved grandmother is nursing a fading memory in a home for the elderly? This is one protagonist determined to retain his sanity even when the ceiling caves in--on his birthday, of course.

****

“BLESS THIS HOUSE”

Wednesdays 8-8:30 p.m. CBS.

Premieres Monday at 8:30 p.m.

Moves to its regular slot Wednesday.

Andrew (sans Dice) Clay and Cathy Moriarty are the Claytons, a bickering blue-collar couple with two kids and lots of freakin’ debts. He’s a postal worker; she’s a cashier. One day they’ll own a home. In the meantime, they can dream about it. Or fight about it. For them, either is part of the equation. Bruce Helford will split his time as producer between this old “House” and ABC’s “Drew Carey Show.”

****

“THE DREW CAREY SHOW”

Wednesdays 8:30-9 p.m. ABC.

Premieres Wednesday.

Speaking of Carey, the crafty comic plays an assistant director of personnel who hangs with his three pals (Diedrich Bader, Ryan Stiles, Christa Miller) at home and at their favorite watering hole. Ever ready with a snappy retort, Carey can be amused with his enviable time slot. He’s sitting pretty between “Ellen” and “Grace Under Fire.”

****

“CENTRAL PARK WEST”

Wednesdays 9-10 p.m. CBS.

Premieres Wednesday.

Consider this “Melrose Place East” as producer Darren Star creates a collection of natty New Yorkers dabbling in deceit, double-dealing and sex (not quite in that order). Mariel Hemingway heads up the ensemble as a magazine editor with orders to make life miserable for its caustic columnist (Madchen Amick), who retaliates by seducing her husband (Tom Verica), an author with a scandalous past. Kylie Travis (“Models Inc.”) will join the cast in the third episode.

****

“THE NAKED TRUTH”

Wednesdays 9:30-10 p.m. ABC.

Premieres Wednesday.

With no money, job or place to live, photojournalist Nora Wilde (Tea Leoni), who turned down a seven-figure settlement from her philandering ex-husband, tries out for a seedy job with the most sensational tabloid in town. Before you can say “cheese,” Nora is wildly snapping pictures of Anna Nicole Smith at the office of her gynecologist (don’t ask). Holland Taylor is the brittle editor doling out the absurd assignments, with many more to come should this comedy click with viewers.

****

“COURTHOUSE”

Wednesdays 10-11 p.m. CBS.

Premieres Wednesday.

Presiding judge Justine Parkes (Patricia Wettig) has more to worry about than budget cuts and crowded calendars. One of her colleagues has just been shot in his own courtroom by a convicted murderer. Not your typical day, to be sure, but then gritty realism is not really a forte of this drama from Deborah Joy Levine (“Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”).

****

“CHARLIE GRACE”

Thursdays 8-9 p.m. ABC.

Premieres Thursday.

The saving grace in this drama about a Los Angeles cop-turned-private eye is Mark Harmon, who doubles as the producer. The series, in which Grace raises a 12-year-old daughter (Leelee Sobieski), reunites the actor with Robert Singer, the executive producer of Harmon’s previous prime-time entry, “Reasonable Doubts.”

****

“THE SINGLE GUY”

Thursdays 8:30-9 p.m. NBC.

Premieres Sept. 21.

Jonathan Silverman is the last bachelor in America. Or at least that’s the way his supportive circle of friends perceive him. To remedy the situation, they constantly set him up with just about anyone, even a pretentious name-dropper from Time magazine. Jonathan, a writer, puts it in perspective: “You married people have this bizarre need to turn everyone else into married people. You’re like vampires ... or Mormons.”

****

“THE CREW”

Thursdays 8:30-9 p.m. Fox.

Already premiered.

The extent of this low-flying comedy’s minimal humor in the pilot was its working title of “Cabin Pressure.” It’s about four flight attendants based in Miami--an African American (Rose Jackson), an insecure blonde (Kristin Bauer), a good ol’ Southern boy (Charles Esten) and a gay Jewish wit (David Burke). The quartet reports to a churlish supervisor (Christine Estabrook) who brightens their day by asking, “Can I be unpleasant?”

****

“NEW YORK NEWS”

Thursdays 9-10 p.m. CBS.

Premieres Sept. 28.

Mary Tyler Moore oversees a tabloid whose staff includes an energetic reporter (Melina Kanakaredes), a veteran scribe (Gregory Harrison) and a seasoned gossip columnist (Madeline Kahn). In a drastic departure from the sweet Mary Richards, the leaner and meaner MTM tends to breathe fire as “The Dragon.”

****

“THE MONROES”

Thursdays 9-10 p.m. ABC.

Premieres Tuesday at 10 p.m.

Moves to regular slot Thursday.

Any similarity between the Kennedys of Massachusetts and the Monroes of Maryland is purely intentional. William Devane, no stranger to slick nighttime soaps as a star of “Knots Landing,” plays the patriarch of this calculating clan with designs on the Oval Office. Susan Sullivan (“Falcon Crest”) co-stars. The two chief antagonists putting a possible crimp in that grandiose plan are on NBC--namely “Seinfeld” and “Caroline in the City.”

****

“CAROLINE IN THE CITY”

Thursdays 9:30-10 p.m. NBC.

Premieres Sept. 21.

Color Caroline Duffy (Lea Thompson) blue. She’s a syndicated cartoonist (think of her as “The Single Gal”) in New York working for a greeting card company run by her on-again, off-again boyfriend (Eric Lutes). Cathy, oops, Caroline has a cranky colorist (Malcolm Gets) and a nice neighbor (Amy Pietz) who occasionally gets lucky, which happens to be the name of the fellow leaving her apartment at dawn. “See you, Lucky,” she says, as he walks off with a wide grin.

****

“MURDER ONE”

Thursdays 10-11 p.m. ABC.

Premieres Sept. 19 at 10 p.m.

Bald, bold and eloquent, attorney Ted Hoffman (Daniel Benzali) has drawn the most difficult case of his career. While it may not be the crime of the century, it’s certain to keep his crack staff filing motions from now until spring. That’s when the denouement of prosperous producer Steven Bochco’s drama about a lurid, high-profile murder case ultimately will be revealed. One other weighty concern for the cast: Can it court viewers mesmerized by the dashing doctors of “ER”? Take two Tylenols and see us in May.

****

“DWEEBS”

Fridays 8-8:30 p.m. CBS.

Premieres Sept. 22.

No doubt the producers of this comedy about cyber-nerds are counting on it to be the talk of the Internet. In it, an attractive technophobe (Farrah Forke) refines the social skills of a software genius (Peter Scolari) and his staff (Corey Feldman, Stephen Tobolowsky, David Kaufman) who have never been programmed to connect with human beings.

****

“STRANGE LUCK”

Fridays 8-9 p.m. Fox.

Premieres Friday.

Chance Harper (D.B. Sweeney), a free-lance photojournalist, has had streaks of good and bad luck since being the sole survivor of a plane crash as a child. Always at the “right place at the wrong time,” he winds up rescuing others in perilous circumstances, be it a suicide attempt, shootout or fire. As bad luck would have it, this drama faces an uphill struggle against ABC’s “Family Matters” and “Boy Meets World.”

****

“THE BONNIE HUNT SHOW”

Fridays 8:30-9 p.m. CBS.

Premieres Sept. 22.

Hunt takes her second stab at prime-time stardom in a comedy about a feature reporter at a Chicago TV station. Partially improvised, each show will be taped without retakes, giving it the feel of a play. David Letterman, a friend of Hunt, is an executive producer.

****

“AMERICAN GOTHIC”

Fridays 10-11 p.m. CBS.

Premieres Sept. 22.

A creepy sheriff (Gary Cole) rules a small Southern town in a drama, according to its creator Shaun Cassidy, that examines “the duality of nature.” The evil Sheriff Buck has particular interest in a boy (Lucas Black) whose cousin (Paige Turco) is keenly aware of his viselike grip on the populace.

****

“JAG”

Saturdays 8-9 p.m. NBC.

Two-hour debut Sept. 23.

Moves to its regular slot Sept. 30.

Lt. Harmon Rabb Jr. (David James Elliott) is an attorney at sea assigned to the Judge Advocate General for the U.S. Navy. As a JAG officer, he has the power to defend, prosecute or collect evidence in naval legal matters. He also has the tall task of overtaking “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” on CBS. Is there a doctor in the house?

****

“THE JEFF FOXWORTHY SHOW”

Saturdays 8-8:30 p.m. ABC.

Premieres Tuesday at 8:30 p.m.

Moves to its regular slot Saturday.

Foxworthy, a seasoned stand-up entertainer from Georgia, stars in this sitcom about a blue-collar Southerner transplanted to the Midwest with his wife (Anita Barone) and son (Haley Joel Osment). He’d love to join Roseanne, Tim Allen, Ellen DeGeneres and Brett Butler as comics who have made a successful transition to television.

****

“MAYBE THIS TIME”

Saturdays 8:30-9 p.m. ABC.

Premieres Friday at 9:30 p.m.

Moves to its regular slot Saturday.

One year after a divorce, Julia (Marie Osmond) runs a cafe with her mother (Betty White) and daughter (Ashley Johnson). Mom has buried five husbands (“Is it my fault they wore out?”) and the kid has a crush on the delivery boy. Romance won’t come as easily for Julia, who must learn to give “life a chance.” Mom’s pearl of wisdom regarding the single fella residing next door: “He’s a great big Christmas present. Unwrap him!”

****

“THE PRESTON EPISODES’

Saturdays 8:30-9 p.m. Fox.

Already premiered.

A former college professor (David Alan Grier), fresh off a divorce, pursues his dream of becoming a writer. Alas, the only job he can find is at Stuff magazine, a New York publication aimed at “an audience that can’t read People without a tutor.”

****

“THE HOME COURT”

Saturdays 9:30-10 p.m. NBC.

Premieres Sept. 30.

Advantage goes to Pamela Reed, who in this comedy plays an intimidating judge in a Chicago family court. Judge Solomon, who tends to “push too hard,” is the divorced mother of four children. With “The John Larroquette Show” as a lead-in, the jury is out on how the show will fare with families staying at home on Saturday nights.