Preview ’95 : If Change Is Good, Returning Series May Be Great

Listen to them loading up the van.

This fall on prime time, everyone’s on the move: Newly separated Niles in with “Frasier”; the Walshes out of their “Beverly Hills, 90210” home; and gulp, Urkel in with the Winslows of “Family Matters.” To name just a few.

These changes, producers and network executives hope, will drum up new story lines for characters and keep viewers watching--if they can find the show.

Once again, programmers have played chess with the schedule. The biggest change: NBC’s “Mad About You” moves to Sundays at 8 p.m., and CBS’ “Murder, She Wrote” switches to Thursdays at 8 p.m.

So here’s your map of how to find--or maybe just recognize--this season’s returning shows.

ABC

“Coach”: Hayden Fox (Craig T. Nelson) bags Minnesota for balmy Florida, where he has taken a job as coach of the pro expansion team the Orlando Breakers. Katherine Helmond joins the cast as the team’s owner, who inherited the franchise from her deceased spouse. Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. (new day and time). Premieres Tuesday.

“Ellen”: An earthquake strikes Ellen’s bookstore/coffeehouse--and tada!-- the place will be a cozier, chic L.A. spot that is now the show’s center of gravity. “We want to make it the kind of place where viewers will instantly say, ‘Hey, that’s the set from ‘Ellen’,” says executive producer Eileen Heisler. Jeremy Piven joins the cast as Spence, Ellen’s cousin, who moves in with her. Wednesdays at 8 p.m. (new time). Premieres Wednesday.

“Family Matters”: Just what the Winslows need--more Urkel (Jaleel White). The nerdy neighbor moves into their home while his parents are in Russia. Maybe his folks won’t come back. Fridays at 8 p.m. Premieres Sept. 22.

“Grace Under Fire”: Russell opens a photo shop with his father, Floyd (Tom Poston, who joins the cast). “Stud-like” is how Poston describes his character. “. . . Why are you laughing?” Wednesdays at 9 p.m. (new time). Premieres Wednesday.

“Roseanne”: Roseanne gave birth to a baby in real life last month, so that’s the cue for Roseanne Conner. Also, Lecy Goranson returns as Becky. Tuesdays at 8 p.m. (new time). Premieres Sept. 19.

“NYPD Blue”: Kim Delaney becomes a regular as Det. Diane Russell, who battles a drinking problem and balances a relationship with Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits). Tuesdays at 10 p.m. Premiere TBA.

CBS

“Chicago Hope”: With Mandy Patinkin taking off after the eighth episode, Christine Lahti steps up as heart surgeon Kathryn Austin, who the network assures will be “strong, sure and confident.” Mondays at 10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 18.

“Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman”: Star Jane Seymour announced she was pregnant, so you don’t have to guess what’s next for newly married Dr. Mike. Jason Leland Adams joins the cast as banker Preston Lodge III. Saturdays at 8 p.m. Premieres Sept. 28.

“Picket Fences”: Courtroom stories are being trimmed for more plots in offbeat Rome, Wis., showing “a different side of these same characters,” says executive producer Jeff Melvoin. Among the new inhabitants: Dr. Joey Diamond (Amy Aquino), a fast-talking talk-show host who becomes Jill’s (Kathy Baker) partner. Don Cheadle, as D.A. John Littleton, departs during the season. And Marlee Matlin returns as “The Dancing Bandit” for seven of the first 13 episodes. Fridays at 8 p.m. Premieres Sept. 22 at 9 p.m.

FOX

“New York Undercover”: Lauren Velez plays Detective Nina Moreno, who tries to prove herself to Williams (Malik Yoba) and Torres (Michael DeLorenzo). Is there a triangle ahead? “It’s in the realm of possibilities,” says executive producer Dick Wolf. Thursdays at 9 p.m. Already premiered.

“Melrose Place”: A hint on who lives through Kimberly’s season-ending rampage: All the major cast members are back for another season. New: Antonio Sabato Jr. will pop up as a mysterious man from Amanda’s past. Mondays at 8 p.m. Premieres Monday.

“Beverly Hills, 90210”: Three new recurring characters mean three new love interests. Colin Robbins (Jason Wiles) falls for Kelly; Susan Keats (Emma Caulfield) falls for Brandon (Jason Priestley) and Antonia Marchette (Rebecca Gayheart) goes for Dylan. Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Premieres Wednesday.

“Party of Five”: Jeremy London joins the San Fran gang as Griffin, one of Julia’s (Neve Campbell) new attractions. Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Premieres Sept. 27.

NBC

“Frasier”: Frasier clashes with a new female boss (Mercedes Ruehl), not to mention new roomie Niles. Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Premieres Sept. 19.

“Homicide”: New Detective Mike Kellerman (Reed Diamond) partners with Meldrick Lewis (Clark Johnson). Daniel Baldwin and Ned Beatty have departed. Fridays at 10 p.m. Premiere TBA.

“Law & Order”: Detective Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) gets a new partner, Raymundo (Ray) Curtis (Benjamin Bratt), a young, conservative police detective. “He brings in a younger, Generation X point of view,” Dick Wolf says. Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 20.

“seaQuest 2032”: Another season, another new “seaQuest.” Michael Ironside plays the new, hard-driving captain Oliver Hudson, taking over from Roy Scheider (who will drop in now and then). Expect more political plot and less fantasy. “I joke and I say, ‘I don’t want to talk to fish,’ ” Ironside says. Wednesdays at 8 p.m. (new day and time). Premieres Sept. 20.

“Sisters”: With more storylines for the show’s younger cast, Cat (Heather McAdam) will get a new boyfriend (Eric Close). Look closely at Sister No. 5, Charlie. Sheila Kelley takes the place of Jo Anderson in the role. Saturdays at 10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 23.

Finally, TV’s longest-running sitcom, Fox’s “Married ... With Children,” loses an original cast member to retirement: Good old Buck the Dog. Sundays at 9 p.m. Premieres Sept. 17.