Sound the trumpets

Sunday

10-8

CBS

Time slot: 8-9 p.m. Premieres Sept. 28

Key cast: Danny Nucci (“Titanic,” “Snoops”), Ernie Hudson (“Oz”).

Behind the camera: Created by Jorge Zamacona (“Oz”); Aaron Spelling is among the executive producers.

The gist: A former street tough switches sides and joins the L.A. Sheriff’s Department. But his street attitude puts him at odds with his no-nonsense training officer.

Target audience: That insatiable audience for men in a (cop’s) uniform.

Most like: “Dragnet” meets “48HRS.”

Main competition: Fox’s “The Simpsons,” CBS’ “Cold Case.”

What it has: The appealingly gruff Hudson and hints of leavening humor in the mismatched cops premise.

What it needs: Something to set it apart from countless other forgettable cop dramas before it.

Cold Case

CBS

Time slot: 8-9 p.m. Premieres Sept. 28.

Key cast: Kathryn Morris (“Minority Report”).

Behind the camera: The omnipresent Jerry Bruckheimer and Shaun Cassidy are among the executive producers.

The gist: A female detective shows her mettle when she gets stuck with the unsolvable -- “cold” -- cases, and heats them up.

Target audience: Crime mystery fans.

Most like: “CSI” and its offspring.

Main competition: Fox’s “The Simpsons” and ABC’s “10-8.”

What it has: An appealing leading lady and the Bruckheimer brand.

What it needs: Just how far does that brand extend?

The Ortegas

Fox

Time slot: 8:30-9 p.m. Premieres Nov. 2.

Key cast: Cheech Marin (“Nash Bridges”), Al Madrigal, Terri Hoyos, Renee Victor.

Behind the camera: Gavin Polone (“Hack”) and Jimmy Mulville (“The Kumars at No. 42”) are among the executive producers; director Linda Mendoza (“The Bernie Mac Show”).

The gist: Indulgent Latino parents build a talk-show set for their aspiring-host son in the backyard, apparently an irresistible lure for show-biz types who actually visit and pitch their projects.

Target audience: Improv and talk-show fans.

Most like: The British series “The Kumars at No. 42” that inspired it.

Main competition: “American Dreams.”

What it has: The most gimmicky of gimmicks and “The Simpsons” running interference.

What it needs: Entertaining guest stars who can roll with the format.

Tarzan

The WB

Time slot: 9-10 p.m. Premieres Oct. 5.

Key cast: Travis Fimmel (Calvin Klein undies ads), Sarah Wayne Callies, Johnny Messner (“Tears of the Sun”), Mitch Pileggi (“The X-Files”).

Behind the camera: Executive producers Laura Ziskin (“Spider-Man”), David Gerber, P.K. Simonds (“Party of Five”).

The gist: Tarzan, raised by metrosexuals, er, apes, in Africa, is rescued by his uncle, the CEO of powerful Greystoke Industries, and returned against his will to his family’s home in New York City. After he goes AWOL in the concrete jungle, he meets a tough NYPD detective named Jane and goes ape.

Target audience: Abercrombie & Fitch catalog fans.

Most like: The “Spider-Man,” “Batman” movies.

Main competition: ABC’s “Alias,” NBC’s “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” Fox’s “Malcolm in the Middle.”

What it has: Tarzan is prettier than Jane.

What it needs: Tarzan is prettier than Jane.

Arrested Development

Fox

Time slot: 9:30-10 p.m. Premieres Nov. 2.

Key cast: Jason Bateman (“Teen Wolf 2,” “Valerie”), Portia De Rossi (“Ally McBeal”), Michael Cera, Jeffrey Tambor (“The Larry Sanders Show”), Jessica Walter, Will Arnett.

Behind the camera: Ron Howard (“A Beautiful Mind”) is an executive producer, along with his partner Brian Grazer, David Nevins and Michael Hurwitz (“The Ellen Show”).

The gist: A widower is forced to run his oddball family’s Orange County real estate empire after his father is arrested for cooking the books.

Target audience: Anyone mad about “Malcolm in the Middle.”

Most like: See above; it’s also something like “Dallas” on acid.

Main competition: The final half-hours of NBC’s “Law & Order” and ABC’s “Alias.”

What it has: Nutty situation-comedy storylines and screwball characters with funky names.

What it needs: A late starter, it will need to come out of the gate fast and maintain its outrageousness.

The Lyon’s Den

NBC

Time slot: 10-11 p.m. Premieres Sept. 28.

Key cast: Rob Lowe (“West Wing”), Frances Fisher (“Titanic”), Kyle Chandler (“Early Edition”), Elizabeth Mitchell (“ER”).

Behind the camera: Executive producers Remi Aubuchon (“24”), Rob Holcomb (“ER”), Brad Grey (“The Sopranos”), Bernie Brillstein (“Just Shoot Me”).

The gist: An idealistic attorney from a well-connected political family is persuaded to give up his beloved role with an inner-city clinic to take the helm of a treacherously powerful law firm.

Target audience: Legal-eagle adults.

Most like: “The Firm.”

Main competition: ABC’s “The Practice.”

What it has: A “Law and Order” lead-in, strong writing and an able cast.

What it needs: Time to win over viewers from a cast-depleted “Practice.”

Monday

Eve

UPN

Time slot: 8:30-9 p.m. Premieres Monday.

Key cast: Eve (“Barbershop”), Ali Landry (“Spy TV”), Natalie Desselle (“For Your Love”), Eddie McClintock (“Stark Raving Mad”), Jason George.

Behind the camera: Executive producers Robert Greenblatt and David Janollari (“Platinum,” “One on One,” “Six Feet Under”).

The gist: A smart, attractive single woman tries to navigate the rocky road of love.

Target audience: Fans of hip-hop artist Eve.

Most like: “Ally McBeal” or an ethnically diverse “Friends.”

Major competition: CBS’ “Still Standing.”

What it has: A star with a high “it” factor.

What it needs: More originality and romantic insight.

Skin

Fox

Time slot: 9-10 p.m. Premieres Oct. 20.

Key cast: Ron Silver (“Reversal of Fortune”), Kevin Anderson (“Nothing Sacred”), D.J. Cotrona, Olivia Wilde.

Behind the camera: Producers Jerry Bruckheimer (“CSI” franchise) and Jim Leonard (“Thieves”).

The gist: A modern-day Romeo and Juliet -- the daughter of a porn mogul falls in love with the son of the Los Angeles D.A. out to bust her dad.

Target audience: Your average Playboy reader.

Most like: “Beverly Hills, 90210” meets “Law & Order” meets “Girls Gone Wild.”

Main competition: NBC’s “Las Vegas,” ABC’s “NFL Monday Night Football.”

What it has: Silver as the savvy, tough-as-blood-red-nails CEO of a porn empire. The storyline is tight, and there’s lots of dramatic tension.

What it needs: Gratuitous skin shots of strippers and porn stars in Lucite heels could alienate female viewers. Also, the music-video slickness of the production could be roughed up a little.

Las Vegas

NBC

Time slot: 9-10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 22.

Key cast: James Caan (“The Godfather”), Josh Duhamel, Vanessa Marcil (“Beverly Hills, 90210”), Nikki Cox (“The Norm Show”), Marsha Thomason, Molly Sims, James Lesure.

Behind the camera: Writer/executive producers Gary Scott Thompson (“The Fast and the Furious”), Gardner Stern (“The Practice,” “NYPD Blue”).

The gist: An ex-CIA agent runs the sharpest surveillance agency in Vegas, with the aid of his hard-charging young protege and others.

Target audience: Action junkies.

Most like: “CSI” or a landlocked “Magnum, P.I.”

Major competition: CBS’ “Everybody Loves Raymond,” ABC’s “Monday Night Football” and Fox’s rookie “Skin.”

What it has: A smooth pro in Caan and a sexy supporting cast.

What it needs: Viewers who can’t get enough Vegas shows, baby.

Two and a Half Men

CBS

Time slot: 9:30-10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 22.

Key cast: Charlie Sheen (“Spin City”), Jon Cryer (“Pretty in Pink”), Angus T. Jones, Marin Hinkle.

Behind the camera: Chuck Lorre, Lee Aronsohn, Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum are among the executive producers.

The gist: An uptight, divorce-bound brother and his young son move in with his swinging-single sibling.

Target audience: Anyone looking for laughs.

Most like: “The Odd Couple.”

Main competition: “Monday Night Football,” but that won’t be a factor on the West Coast.

What it has: Smart writing, perfectly cast leads and a king-sized lead-in in “Raymond.”

What it needs: Mantel space for the Emmys.

Tuesday

Navy CIS

CBS

Time slot: 8-9 p.m. Premieres Sept. 23

Key cast: Mark Harmon (“St. Elsewhere,” “Freaky Friday”), Michael Weatherly, Sasha Alexander, David McCallum (“The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”), Pauley Perrette.

Behind the camera: Created by Donald Bellisario (“JAG”).

The gist: Focusing on crimes involving the Navy or Marines, this is the “Law” to “JAG’s” “Order.”

Target audience: Crime drama fans.

Most like: “JAG” and 1,000 crime dramas before.

Main competition: ABC’s high-profile comedies “8 Simple Rules ...” and promising newcomer “I’m With Her.”

What it has: Always likable Harmon and “JAG’s” old-time slot.

What it needs: A little more hipness and originality.

Whoopi

NBC

Time slot: 8-8:30 p.m. Premiered Tuesday.

Key cast: Whoopi Goldberg, Omid Djalili (“The Mummy”), Wren T. Brown (“Waiting to Exhale”), Elizabeth Regen.

Behind the camera: Writer/executive producers Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner (“3rd Rock From the Sun,” “That ‘70s Show”).

The gist: A cranky former one-hit wonder in the music world runs a New York City hotel, with the help of her equally feisty immigrant concierge.

Target audience: Fans of Goldberg’s sassy shtick.

Most like: An urban “Newhart.”

Major competition: ABC’s “8 Simple Rules ...,” the WB’s “Gilmore Girls.”

What it has: A top-flight cast, atypical characters, zippy writing with a splash of politically incorrect commentary.

What it needs: Better buzz, and audiences who remember “Sister Act”-era Goldberg.

I’m With Her

ABC

Time slot: 8:30-9 p.m. Premieres Sept. 23.

Key cast: David Sutcliffe (“Gilmore Girls”), Teri Polo (“Meet the Parents”).

Behind the camera: Marco Pennette (“Caroline in the City”) and Chris Henchy (“Spin City”), who co-created the series, are executive producers, along with Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola and Jack Burditt (“Mad About You,” “Frasier”).

The gist: A high school teacher dates a world-renowned movie star. Based loosely on Henchy’s relationship with wife Brooke Shields.

Target audience: Average males with rich fantasy lives

Most like: “Notting Hill.”

Main competition: CBS’ “Navy NCIS,” NBC’s “Happy Family,” the WB’s “Gilmore Girls.”

What it has: Comfortable premise.

What it needs: More interesting and likable characters.

Happy Family

NBC

Time slot: 8:30-9 p.m. Premiered Tuesday.

Key cast: John Larroquette (“Night Court”) and Christine Baranski (“Cybill,” “Chicago”).

Behind the camera: Executive producers Moses Port and David Guarascio (both from “Mad About You,” “Just Shoot Me).

The gist: A long-married couple can’t revel in their newly empty nest because the odd ducks that are their children come flocking back.

Target audience: Adults.

Most like: “Empty Nest,” “The Stones.”

Main competition: ABC’s new “I’m With Her” and UPN’s new “All of Us.”

What it has: The sublime comic chops of Baranski and Larroquette.

What it needs: Viewers to stick around for a couple of episodes to adjust to its sardonically effective chemistry.

All of Us

UPN

Times slot: 8:30-9 p.m. Premieres Tuesday.

Key cast: Duane Martin (“Deliver Us From Eva”), Elise Neal (“The Hughleys”), Tony Rock, LisaRaye.

Behind the camera: Executive producers Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, James Lassiter (“Ali”), Betsy Borns (“Friends”).

The gist: A divorcing dad embarks on a new relationship while struggling with his soon-to-be-ex to raise their 5-year-old son. (The series was inspired by the domestic adventures of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.)

Target audience: Families, functional or otherwise.

Most like: “Bernie Mac” meets “Kramer vs. Kramer.”

Major competition: Two other new sitcoms: ABC’s “I’m With Her” and NBC’s “Happy Family.”

What it has: A warm heart.

What it needs: Not-so-tepid humor.

Rock Me Baby

UPN

Time slot: 9-9:30 p.m. Premieres Tuesday.

Key cast: Dan Cortese (“Veronica’s Closet”), Bianca Kajlich (“Halloween: Resurrection”), Carl Anthony Payne (“Martin”).

Behind the camera: Executive producers Tony Krantz (“24”) and Bob Myer (“Cybill”), writer/co-executive producer Tim Kelleher (“Off Centre”).

The gist: A new baby rocks a radio shock jock’s world and drives his wife stark raving stir crazy.

Target audience: Yuppie parents.

Most like: “According to Jim,” “Yes, Dear,” etc., etc.

Major competition: NBC’s “Frasier,” ABC’s “According to Jim.”

What it has: A dash of realism, a funny co-star in Payne as Cortese’s on-air sidekick.

What it needs: To play up the distinctive stuff, such as the radio show.

One Tree Hill

The WB

Time slot: 9-10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 23.

Key cast: Chad Michael Murray (“Dawson’s Creek”), James Lafferty, Hilarie Burton, Barry Corbin (“Northern Exposure”), Moira Kelly (“The West Wing”).

Behind the camera: Created by Mark Schwahn; Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola (“Smallville”) and Ann Hamilton (“Party of Five”) are executive producers.

The gist: Basketball and a beautiful girl are about all that links estranged half-brothers, whose battles on and off the court influence a wide range of folks in the small town of Tree Hill.

Target audience: Teens.

Most like: “Dawson’s Creek,” “Smallville,” ESPN’s “Sports Center” (during hoops season).

Major competition: Fox’s “24,” CBS’ “The Guardian.”

What it has: Good-looking leads and “Smallville’s” old-time slot.

What it needs: More zip, more compelling characters, less brooding.

The Mullets

UPN

Time slot: 9:30-10 p.m. Premiered Thursday, on a special night.

Key cast: Michael Weaver, David Hornsby, Loni Anderson, John O’Hurley (“Seinfeld”).

Behind the camera: Executive producers Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum, writer/executive producers Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein (“The Simpsons,” “Futurama”).

The gist: The brothers Mullet have little in common except their weird hairstyles, their sultry and overbearing mom and their strait-laced new stepdad.

Target audience: Anyone who considers “That ‘70s Show” high comedy.

Most like: “Everybody Loves Raymond” on a bad hair (and not such a great script) day.

Major competition: NBC’s “Good Morning Miami,” ABC’s “Less Than Perfect.”

What it has: Talented sitcom veterans Anderson and O’Hurley.

What it needs: A big ratings boost from the rest of UPN’s new Tuesday-night lineup.

Wednesday

It’s All Relative

ABC

Time slot: 8:30-9 p.m. Premieres Oct. 1.

Key cast: Lenny Clarke (“The Job”), Harriet Sansom Harris (“Frasier”), Reid Scott, Maggie Lawson (“Nancy Drew”), Christopher Sieber, John Benjamin Hickey.

Behind the camera: Anne Flett-Giordano and Chuck Ranberg (both of “Frasier”) are executive producers and writers. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (both of “Chicago”) are executive producers.

The gist: A Harvard student who was raised by her two gay dads gets engaged to an Irish Catholic bartender with an Archie Bunker-esque dad.

Target audience: “Cheers,” “Frasier” fans.

Most like: “All in the Family” meets “Cheers” meets “My Two Dads,” with a touch of “Will & Grace.”

Main competition: NBC’s “Ed,” the WB’s “Smallville.”

What it has: A cute leading couple, an interesting but potentially offensive premise.

What it needs: To walk the politically incorrect line carefully. The characters’ stereotypical representations only serve to reinforce the nasty labels.

A Minute With

Stan Hooper

Fox

Time slot: 8:30-9 p.m. Premieres Oct. 29.

Key cast: Norm Macdonald (“Norm”), Penelope Anne Miller (“Kindergarten Cop”), Fred Willard (“Best in Show”).

Behind the camera: Executive producers/writers Barry Kemp (“Coach,” “Newhart”) and Macdonald.

The gist: Andy Rooney-like TV newsmagazine commentator leaves the Big Apple with his wife to work a rootsier existence in the heartland of Wisconsin. But this is one offbeat heartland.

Target audience: “SNL” fans.

Most like: “Newhart,” “Green Acres.”

Main competition: “Ed,” “Smallville.”

What it has: Good ensemble cast, a comfortably kooky niche for Macdonald’s bizarro charm.

What it needs: Healthy-enough ratings to keep it in Fox’s plans when “American Idol” returns to claim this time slot.

Jake 2.0

UPN

Time slot: 9-10 p.m. Premiered Wednesday

Key cast: Christopher Gorham (“Felicity”), Marina Black (“Six Feet Under”), Matt Czuchry.

Behind the camera: Executive producers Gina Matthews (“What Women Want”), Grant Scharbo (“Deep Core”), Silvio Horta (“The Chronicle”).

The gist: A computer geek at the National Security Agency is transformed into a secret agent with superhuman strength and sensory powers after an accident involving nanotechnology.

Target audience: Young adults.

Most like: “The Six Million Dollar Man.”

Major competition: CBS’ “The King of Queens,” ABC’s “The Bachelor,” Fox’s “Bernie Mac” -- an eclectic mix that might leave a nice opening.

What it has: Cool star, premise and visual effects -- a winning formula.

What it needs: A caseload that stays intriguing.

Karen Sisco

ABC

Time slot: 10-11 p.m. Premieres Oct. 1.

Key cast: Carla Gugino (“Spy Kids”), Robert Forster (“Jackie Brown”), Bill Duke (“Red Dragon”).

Behind the camera: Executive producers Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, John Landgraf, Bob Brush and Michael Dinner. Scott Frank, who wrote the screenplay for “Out of Sight,” serves as executive consultant.

The gist: Karen Sisco is a smart, tenacious U.S. marshal in pursuit of dangerous fugitives on Miami’s Gold Coast. The show has been adapted from the feature film “Out of Sight,” which starred Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney, based on characters created by Elmore Leonard.

Target audience: Police drama fans.

Most like: “Miami Vice,” “NYPD Blue.”

Main competition: NBC’s “Law & Order.”

What it has: Style, smarts and a due-for-stardom lead actress.

What it needs: A better time slot.

The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire

CBS

Time slot: 10-11 p.m. Premieres Sept. 24.

Key cast: Randy Quaid, Chris Penn, Mare Winningham (“Love Is Never Silent,” “Georgia”), Elizabeth McGovern (“Ordinary People”), John Carroll Lynch (“Fargo,” “The Drew Carey Show”).

Behind the camera: Created by David E. Kelley.

The gist: Three brothers from an eccentric family (does TV offer any other kind?) share the quirks and dramas of New England life.

Target audience: Fans of offbeat TV dramas.

Most like: “Picket Fences,” “Northern Exposure.”

Main competition: “Law & Order,” “Karen Sisco.”

What it has: Kelley back at what he’s done best.

What it needs: Compelling story lines, more sharply defined characters.

Thursday

Threat Matrix

ABC

Time slot: 8-9 p.m. Premieres Thursday.

Key cast: James Denton (“Philly”), Kelly Rutherford (“Melrose Place”), Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, Shoshannah Stern, Kurt Caceres, Melora Walters, Anthony Azizi, Will Lyman.

Behind the camera: Newcomer Daniel Voll is executive producer and creator.

The gist: A mod squad of government agents fights terrorists with an array of high technology and special skills, by any means necessary.

Target audience: Fans of action and intrigue

Most like: The Department of Homeland Security meets “Mission: Impossible.”

Main competition: CBS’ “Survivor,” NBC’s “Friends” and “Scrubs.”

What it has: American heroes battling foreign bad guys. Plus, with a crew of agents this skilled and fabulously dressed, can we possibly lose the war against terrorism?

What it needs: A way to distance itself from feeling as if it’s capitalizing on the two-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Tru Calling

Fox

Time slot: 8-9 p.m. Premieres Oct. 30.

Key cast: Eliza Dushku (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Shawn Reaves, Jessica Collins (“American Dreams”).

Behind the camera: Writer/executive producer Jon Feldman (“American Dreams,” “Roswell”).

The gist: A newbie morgue worker saves lives using her power to relive the day. (Talk about adding value on the job.)

Target audience: The “Alias” crowd.

Most like: “Run Lola Run” meets “Groundhog Day” meets “Early Edition.”

Major competition: NBC’s “Friends,” CBS’ “Survivor,” perhaps ABC’s new “Threat Matrix.”

What it has: Aspirations of sleek, speedy “Alias”/”CSI”-style fun.

What it needs: Writing and acting with more pizazz.

The O.C.

Fox

Time slot: 9-10 p.m. Premiered Aug. 5.

Key cast: Benjamin McKenzie, Mischa Barton, Peter Gallagher

Behind the camera: Directors Doug Liman (“The Bourne Identity”) and McG (“Charlie’s Angels”) are executive producers with creator Josh Schwartz.

The gist: Romeo and Juliet in Orange County.

Target audience: Teens.

Most like: “Dawson’s Creek,” “Melrose Place.”

Main competition: “CSI,” “Will & Grace.”

What it has: Good-looking leads, beautiful setting.

What it needs: More believable plots.

Coupling

NBC

Time slot: 9:30-10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 25.

Key cast: Colin Ferguson (“Then Came You”), Jay Harrington (“The Division”), Christopher Moynihan, Lindsay Price (“Beverly Hills, 90210”), Rena Sofer (“Just Shoot Me”), Sonya Walger.

Behind the camera: Steven Moffat, creator of the original BBC series, and Phoef Sutton (“Cheers”) are executive producers.

The gist: Thirtysomethings mingle and mate, in search of Mr. and Ms. Right (Now). The racy combinations are endless.

Target audience: Real-life 30-year-olds in the same predicament.

Most like: “Friends,” with a lot more sex. And, of course, the British series “Coupling,” from which this show is more or less directly copied.

Main competition: The final half-hours of CBS’ “CSI” and Fox’s “The O.C.”

What it has: The high jinks of the original series, with an American accent.

What it needs: A bit of originality, especially if it hopes to hook viewers who receive BBC America.

Steve Harvey’s Big Time

The WB

Time slot: 8-8:30 p.m. Premiered Thursday.

Key cast: Steve Harvey (“The Steve Harvey Show”).

Behind the camera: Executive producer Madeleine Smithberg (“Late Night With David Letterman,” “The Daily Show”) and Harvey.

The gist: A talk/variety show without the celebrity guests, it presents ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Target audience: Families.

Most like: Does anyone remember “Stupid Human Tricks” from “Late Night”?

Main competition: CBS’ “Survivor” and NBC’s “Friends.”

What it has: The talented Mr. Harvey and a cast of potentially thousands.

What it needs: A team of really good casting directors, and a consistent way of showcasing the star’s personality.

Run of the House

The WB

Time slot: 9:30-10 p.m. Premiered Thursday.

Key cast: Joseph Lawrence (“American Dreams”), Kyle Howard (“Grosse Pointe”), Sasha Barrese (“Just Shoot Me”), Margo Harshman (“Even Stevens”).

Behind the camera: Executive producers Betsy Thomas (“Then Came You”), Eric & Kim Tannenbaum and Robert Sternin & Prudence Fraser (“The Nanny”).

The gist: With the parents off to Arizona for the winter, the household is left to the four “kids,” who range in age from mid-20s down to 15.

Target audience: Families.

Most like: “Party of 5,” only funnier.

Main competition: ABC’s “Extreme Makeover.”

What it has: Family members with quirks for every taste.

What it needs: A chill pill for Lawrence’s uptight character and new locks to thwart the irritatingly nosy neighbor.

Friday

Joan of Arcadia

CBS

Time slot: 8-9 p.m. Premieres Sept. 26.

Key cast: Amber Tamblyn, Joe Mantegna, Mary Steenburgen.

Behind the camera: Created by Barbara Hall (“Judging Amy”).

The gist: Like the maid of Orleans way back when, teenager Joan Girardi has conversations with God. Will those chats help her with school? Help her police chief dad solve crimes? Don’t bet on it.

Target audience: Confused teens, concerned parents

Most like: Not much, although bits of “Buffy” pop up. And CBS will shoot anyone who compares it to “Touched by an Angel.”

Main competition: NBC’s new “Miss Match” and WB’s sturdy “Reba.”

What it has: A clever, original premise and Tamblyn (daughter of actor Russ Tamblyn) is a real find.

What it needs: A better time slot and open-minded audiences.

Miss Match

NBC

Time slot: 8-9 p.m.; premieres Sept. 26.

Key cast: Alicia Silverstone (“Clueless”), Ryan O’Neal (“Love Story”).

Behind the camera: Executive producers Darren Star (“Sex and the City,” “Melrose Place”) and Jeff Rake (“The Practice”).

The gist: Silverstone plays a divorce lawyer with a heart of gold and a penchant for matchmaking.

Target audience: Single twentysomething/thirtysomething women, Silverstone’s male fans.

Most like: “Ally McBeal” meets “Elimidate.”

Main competition: “George Lopez” on ABC, “Joan of Arcadia” on CBS, “Wanda at Large” on Fox.

What it has: Silverstone is adorable and has a fabulous wardrobe. The juxtaposition of the beginning and ending of relationships is interesting, and the soundtrack is full of catchy tunes.

What it needs: More zingers, less dingers in the dialogue.

Married to the Kellys

ABC

Time slot: 8:30-9 p.m. Premieres Oct. 3

Key cast: Breckin Meyer (“Clueless,” “Inside Schwartz”), Kiele Sanchez (“That Was Then”), Nancy Lenehan, Emily Rutherfurd (“The Ellen Show”), Sam Anderson (“Angel,” “Boomtown”).

Behind the camera: Created by Tom Hertz (“Spin City,” “Less Than Perfect”).

The gist: A Manhattan fish is out of water with his wife’s perky Kansas family, one populated with, naturally, an eccentric mix of characters.

Target audience: Young marrieds.

Most like: “Green Acres” meets “The Ellen Show.”

Main competition: Fox’s “Luis.”

What it has: A premise the whole family could love.

What it needs: Laughs.

Luis

Fox

Time slot: 8:30-9 p.m. Premieres Friday.

Key cast: Luis Guzman (“Traffic,” “Punch-Drunk Love”), Jaclyn DeSantis.

Behind the camera: Executive producer/writer Will Gluck (“The John Larroquette Show”).

The gist: A Latino landlord/doughnut-shop owner in Spanish Harlem presides over much multicultural malarkey.

Target audience: Families.

Most like: “Whoopi.”

Main competition: The WB’s “Like Family.”

What it has: “All in the Family”-style culture clashes.

What it needs: A more luminous star to hold this Spanish-Harlem universe together.

Like Family

The WB

Time slot: 8:30-9 p.m. Premieres Friday.

Key cast: Holly Robinson Peete (“For Your Love”), Diane Farr, Kevin Michael Richardson (“The PJs”), J. Mack Slaughter.

Behind the camera: Co-executive producer Dan Fogelman with executive producers Rick Wiener & Kenny Schwartz (“Mad About You”) and Warren Littlefield (“Keen Eddie”).

The gist: A middle-class black family in New Jersey opens its home to a white single mom and her teenage son.

Target audience: Family sitcom fans

Most like: “Diff’rent Strokes,” “The Cosby Show.”

Main competition: NBC’s “Miss Match,” CBS’ “Joan of Arcadia.”

What it has: Funny and likable characters.

What it needs: A little less crass humor.

Hope and Faith

ABC

Time slot: 9-9:30 p.m. Premieres Sept. 26.

Key cast: Faith Ford (“Murphy Brown”), Kelly Ripa (“Live With Regis & Kelly”).

Behind the camera: Executive producer/creator (and one-time soap actress) Joanna Johnson; executive producers Emile Levisetti, Rob Hanning (“Malcolm in the Middle”) and Guymon Casady.

The gist: A control-freak soccer mom (Ford as Hope) must learn to cope when her diva actress sister (Ripa as Faith) moves in with the family after the soap-opera character she plays is killed off.

Target audience: Soccer moms with unresolved sibling rivalry.

Most like: “My Sister Sam,” plus just about every other family comedy.

Main competition: “Dateline NBC,” CBS’ “JAG.”

What it has: Ripa is not as annoying as she is on “Regis.”

What it needs: Everything about this show is a cliche.

All About the Andersons

The WB

Time slot: 9:30-10 p.m. Premiered Friday.

Key cast: Anthony Anderson (“Barbershop”), John Amos (“West Wing”), Roz Ryan (“Amen”), Damani Roberts.

Behind the camera: Executive producer/director James Widdoes (“Reba,” “My Wife and Kids”), executive producer Marco Pennette (“Caroline in the City”) and producer/actor Anderson.

The gist: A struggling single-dad actor moves back in with his parents to give his 8-year-old son a more stable life but conflicts abound with cantankerous dad.

Target audience: Families.

Most like: “Happy Family.”

Main competition: CBS’ “JAG,” UPN Friday Movie.

What it has: Warmth and biting humor, not necessarily in that order.

What it needs: A stronger, better-matched lead-in than “Grounded for Life.”

The Handler

CBS

Time slot: 10-11 p.m. Premieres Sept. 26.

Key cast: Joe Pantoliano (“The Sopranos,” “Memento”).

Behind the camera: Created by Chris Haddock.

The gist: “Sopranos” refugee Pantoliano works with FBI agents who go deep ... deep undercover.

Target audience: “Sopranos,” “Mission: Impossible” fans.

Most like: “Donnie Brasco” and its TV spinoff, “Falcone.”

Main competition: NBC’s “Boomtown.”

What it has: Pantoliano has long been a dependable, likable character actor, now due for a breakthrough.

What it needs: Wiseguys who stay home watching TV on Friday nights.

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The Practice

A new crop of legal eagles

Sundays, 10 p.m. (ABC)

Cast changes are nothing new on TV; “ER” this season is adding its umpteenth new doctor (“Bend It Like Beckham’s” utterly charming Parminder K. Nagra), “NYPD Blue” has cycled through detectives and so on. But what happened to “The Practice” between seasons was a cast overhaul. A combination of budget and storytelling issues led the show’s boss, David E. Kelley, to jettison half the cast, including stars Dylan McDermott and Lara Flynn Boyle. This season, look for a return to stories about murder cases and for the arrival of James Spader as a new member of the firm. First case of the fall features Chris O’Donnell as a husband whose pregnant wife is murdered (no, her name isn’t Laci Peterson). Sharon Stone is also due for a story arc. Court, apparently, is back in session.

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The West Wing

Under new management

Wednesdays, 9 p.m. (NBC)

John Goodman’s Glenallen Walken, the GOP replacement for Martin Sheen’s President Bartlet, is back for only the first two episodes this fall, but NBC’s highly acclaimed, recently embattled flagship series is bound to look, feel and sound quite a bit different throughout its fifth season, which begins Wednesday. Creator-writer Aaron Sorkin and director Thomas Schlamme left at the end of last season, leaving the show to be run by their fellow executive producer, John Wells (“ER”), who wrote the first two episodes. Wells has brought in new writers and some new cast, including Annabeth Gish as Bartlet’s eldest daughter, Steven Eckhold as her politically ambitious husband, and Gary Cole as the new vice president. It’s likely to remain the cream of television dramas, but whether it will recapture the old mojo remains to be seen.

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TV list

Capsules -- Samantha Bonar, Josh Friedman, Mark Sachs, Scott Sandell, Jonathan Taylor