Hey, what’s new?
Sunday
Desperate Housewives
ABC
Time slot: 9 to 10 p.m. Premieres Oct. 3.
Who’s in it: Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross (“Melrose Place”), Eva Longoria (“Dragnet”), Nicollette Sheridan.
Who made it: Marc Cherry (“The Golden Girls”), Charles Pratt Jr. (“Melrose Place”).
The premise: A suburban mom with a seemingly perfect life kills herself, then narrates from the hereafter, revealing the secret lives of her neighbors as they piece together the mystery of her death.
Sounds like: “Knots Landing” with a shot of “Six Feet Under.”
Up against: “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” on NBC, “The Partner” on Fox, “Jack & Bobby” on the WB.
Prognosis: Strong cast and pleasantly odd sensibility are pluses, but the show may be too weird for mainstream audiences and not quite out-there enough for the HBO crowd. This one will need help from the critics.
*
Jack & Bobby
WB
Time slot: 9 to 10 p.m. Premieres next Sunday.
Who’s in it: Christine Lahti, Matt Long, Logan Lerman.
Who made it: Greg Berlanti (“Everwood”), Thomas Schlamme (“The West Wing”), Vanessa Taylor (“Everwood”), Mickey Liddell (“Everwood”).
The premise: Two contemporary boys are raised by their single mother, who has an eye on greatness for both of them. From the year 2049, former staffers and the first lady talk about one of the brothers, who’s just finished his term as president.
Sounds like: A teen drama crossed with a nominating convention’s biography video.
Up against: “Desperate Housewives” on ABC, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” on NBC, “The Partner” on Fox.
Prognosis: In a time slot with deep competition, this might be a little too high-concept for viewers to latch on to.
*
The Partner
Fox
Time slot: 9 to 10 p.m. Premieres Nov. 7.
Who’s in it: (unscripted)
Who made it: Chris Cowan, Jean-Michel Michenaud (“My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance”).
The premise: “Book-smart” grads of Ivy League law schools go head to head with “street smart” rivals from lower-rent schools. The prize: a job with a high-powered law firm.
Sounds like: “The Practice” meets “The Apprentice.”
Up against: “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” on NBC, “Desperate Housewives” on ABC, “Jack & Bobby” on the WB.
Prognosis: The thinly veiled class warfare should be fun, but it’ll take some serious personalities among the contestants to make much of a mark.
*
Boston Legal
ABC
Time slot: 10 to 11 p.m. Premieres Oct. 3.
Who’s in it: James Spader, William Shatner, Mark Valley, Rhona Mitra (“The Practice”), Lake Bell (“Miss Match”), Monica Potter (“Patch Adams”).
Who made it: David E. Kelley.
The premise: Basically picking up where the last season of “The Practice” left off, “Boston Legal” follows the lives of a group of civil litigators in Boston. But you probably figured that out from the title.
Sounds like: “The Practice,” obviously, but promising a bit more of Kelley’s offbeat “Ally McBeal” side.
Up against: “Crossing Jordan” on NBC.
Prognosis: There’s something to love about the Spader-Shatner matchup, and the kookiness that laces the show is a welcome respite from hard-edged procedurals. A comfortable sub for “The Practice” in this time slot.
*
Monday
Listen Up
CBS
Time slot: 8:30 to 9 p.m. Premieres Sept. 20.
Who’s in it: Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”), Malcolm-Jamal Warner (“The Cosby Show”).
Who made it: Jeff Martin, Lindy DeKoven.
The premise: A TV sports show host (based on sports commentator Tony Kornheiser) starts writing a column about his life. His wide-open style endears him to his fans but rankles his family.
Sounds like: Think of most any “Home Improvement”-style work-family sitcom. Then think not as funny.
Up against: “Fear Factor” on NBC, “Monday Night Football” on ABC, “7th Heaven” on the WB.
Prognosis: A solid slot before “Raymond” and “Two and a Half Men” may help, but the post-”Seinfeld” curse hovers.
*
Renovate My Family
Fox
Time slot: Premiered last Wednesday. Regular-time premiere 9 p.m. Monday.
Who’s in it: Self-help author Jay McGraw.
Who made it: Jean-Michel Michenaud, Chris Cowan, Ray Giuliani.
The premise: Dr. Phil’s son does family lifestyle makeovers, tackling everything from home decor to weight loss to emotional issues.
Sounds like: Suspiciously similar to the “Dr. Phil” show.
Up against: “Las Vegas” on NBC, “Monday Night Football” on ABC, “Everwood” on the WB.
Prognosis: McGraw will need more than Dad’s daytime audience numbers to survive in the high-stakes world of prime time.
*
Second Time Around
UPN
Time slot: 9:30 to 10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 20.
Who’s in it: Nicole Parker, Boris Kodjoe, Brian White, Melissa De Sousa.
Who made it: Ralph R. Farquhar, Claude Brooks, Michelle Listenbee-Brown.
The premise: A divorced couple gives marriage to each other another try.
Sounds like: A bit of “Mad About You” with upscale, boho African Americans.
Up against: “Two and a Half Men” on CBS, “Las Vegas” on NBC
Prognosis: The CBS sitcom will provide stiff competition, particularly since UPN is otherwise trying to move away from this kind of programming.
*
The Benefactor
ABC
Time slot: 10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 13.
Who’s in it: Tech-stock gazillionaire Mark Cuban and 16 people who want some of his money.
Who made it: David Young (“Dog Eat Dog,” “The Weakest Link”), Clay Newbill (“Road Rules,” “The Mole”).
The premise: Cuban promises $1 million to the contestant who prevails in tests of creativity, competitiveness and entrepreneurial spirit.
Sounds like: “The Apprentice” with more groveling, less arguing.
Up against: “LAX” on NBC, “CSI: Miami” on CBS.
Prognosis: Doubly tough, this faces the “CSI” machine on the West Coast and NBC’s “Fear Factor” on the East Coast, where it airs before “Monday Night Football.”
*
LAX
NBC
Time slot: 10 to 11 p.m. Premieres Sept. 13.
Who’s in it: Heather Locklear, Blair Underwood.
Who made it: Nick Thiel (“Magnum P.I.”), Mark Gordon (“The Day After Tomorrow”).
The premise: Two execs at the world’s fifth-busiest airport jockey to head the entire operation. Meanwhile, they deal with everything from bomb scares to lost pets.
Sounds like: Less procedurally minded than most of the current post-”CSI” shows, it’s something of a throwback to the more fanciful dramas of the ‘80s.
Up against: “CSI: Miami” on CBS, “The Benefactor” on ABC.
Prognosis: Most anybody who might watch the show has probably been snagged by the competition, but Locklear has a curiously loyal fan base.
*
Tuesday
The Billionaire: Branson’s Quest for the Best
Fox
Time slot: 8 to 9 p.m. Premieres Nov. 9.
Who’s in it: Richard Branson and people who want his money.
Who made it: Jonathan Murray (“The Real World,” “The Simple Life”).
The premise: Branson, the high-flying, risk-taking founder of the Virgin Group of companies, enlists a group of recruits to try to keep up with him.
Sounds like: “The Apprentice” with a dose of “Fear Factor.”
Up against: “NCIS” on CBS, “Last Comic Standing” on NBC.
Prognosis: Branson’s outsized personality just might catch on.
*
The Next Great Champ
Fox
Time slot: 9 to 10 p.m. Premieres Tuesday. Repeats 9 to 10 p.m. Fridays. Moves to Fridays Oct. 22.
Who’s in it: Oscar De La Hoya.
Who made it: Paul Buccieri, Joe Livecchi, Oscar De La Hoya, Richard Schaefer.
The premise: Twelve aspiring boxers compete for a title shot.
Sounds like: Countless other competition shows, except this one’s about boxing.
Up against: “The Clubhouse” on CBS, “Scrubs” on NBC.
Prognosis: How many boxing fans are there? This one could be down for the count fast. But then, there’s always “The Contender.”
*
House
Fox
Time slot: 9 to 10 p.m. Premieres Nov. 16.
Who’s in it: Hugh Laurie (“Stuart Little”), Lisa Edelstein (“Keeping the Faith”), Omar Epps (“Brother”), Jennifer Morrison, Jesse Spencer, Robert Sean Leonard (“Dead Poets Society”).
Who made it: Paul Attanasio (“Quiz Show”), Katie Jacobs (“Gideon’s Crossing”), David Shore (“Law & Order”), Bryan Singer (“X-Men”).
The premise: A brilliant diagnostician and infectious disease specialist, Gregory House, has absolutely no bedside manner. An elite team of doctors must put up with him and help him solve medical mysteries.
Sounds like: A quirky take on medical procedure shows.
Up against: “The Clubhouse” on CBS, “According to Jim” on ABC, “Scrubs” on NBC.
Prognosis: More character-driven than obsessed with the plotting of the disease-of-the-week, this could become a fine, fun drama.
*
Clubhouse
CBS
Time slot: 9 to 10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 26. Regular-time premiere Sept. 28.
Who’s in it: Dean Cain, Jeremy Sumpter, Christopher Lloyd, Mare Winningham.
Who made it: Aaron Spelling, Mel Gibson.
The premise: A 16-year-old boy becomes a batboy for a major league baseball team very much like the New York Yankees.
Sounds like: Think “Little ‘Clubhouse’ on the Prairie.”
Up against: “According to Jim” on ABC, “Scrubs” on NBC, “Veronica Mars” on UPN, “One Tree Hill” on the WB.
Prognosis: It may be too clean-cut to grab the teen crowd, but not quite adult enough for real drama hounds.
*
Father of the Pride
NBC
Time slot: 9 to 9:30 p.m. Premiered Aug. 31.
Who’s in it: The voices of John Goodman, Cheryl Hines, Carl Reiner and Orlando Jones.
Who made it: Jeffrey Katzenberg, Jonathan Groff (“Late Night With Conan O’Brien”), Jon Pollack.
The premise: Owned by Las Vegas showmen Siegfried & Roy, a family of lions tries to balance home life with the demands of showbiz.
Sounds like: “Shrek” meets “The Simpsons.”
Up against: “Clubhouse” on CBS, “According to Jim” on ABC.
Prognosis: On the plus side: anarchic comedy and a strong slot just before “Scrubs.” On the minus side: the post-mauling cringe factor.
*
Veronica Mars
UPN
Time slot: 9 to 10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 22. Regular-time premiere 9 p.m. Sept. 28.
Who’s in it: Kristen Bell (“Deadwood”), Enrico Colantoni (“Just Shoot Me”).
Who made it: Joel Silver, Rob Thomas.
The premise: After her father loses his job as sheriff amid a local scandal, 17-year-old Veronica Mars becomes a social outcast, but a vital asset in her dad’s fledgling P.I. agency.
Sounds like: Nancy Drew transfers to “The O.C.”
Up against: “Scrubs” on NBC, “According to Jim” and “Rodney” on ABC, “One Tree Hill” on the WB.
Prognosis: A tough time slot may bode ill for this one, which is too bad. The show has a charming lead in Bell, and a strong sensibility.
*
Rodney
ABC
Time slot: 9:30 to 10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 21.
Who’s in it: Rodney Carrington, Jennifer Aspen (“Party of Five”), Amy Pietz (“Caroline in the City”), Nick Searcy.
Who made it: Ric Swartzlander (“The Ellen Show”), David Himelfarb (“My Wife and Kids”).
The premise: An aspiring stand-up comedian in a small town tries to balance the pressures of family life with pursuing his dreams.
Sounds like: The post-”Raymond” sitcoms with more than a touch of “Roseanne’s” grungy rudeness.
Up against: “Clubhouse” on CBS, “Scrubs” on NBC, “Veronica Mars” on UPN, “One Tree Hill” on the WB.
Prognosis: Carrington is likable enough, but the stand-up sitcom phenomenon ended a couple of seasons ago.
*
Wednesday
Lost
ABC
Time slot: 8 to 9 p.m. Premieres Sept. 22.
Who’s in it: Evangeline Lilly, Ian Somerhalder, Dominic Monaghan (“Lord of the Rings”), Matthew Fox (“Party of Five”).
Who made it: J.J. Abrams (“Alias”), Damon Lindelof (“Crossing Jordan”).
The premise: A group of plane crash survivors stranded on a deserted island struggle to survive amid the mysterious creatures that surround them.
Sounds like: The propulsive, twisting storytelling of “Alias” meets the vintage chestnut “Land of the Lost.”
Up against: “Hawaii” on NBC, “America’s Next Top Model” on UPN, “That ‘70s Show” on Fox, “Smallville” on the WB.
Prognosis: Juggling a huge cast, gory effects, enigmatic monsters and “Gilligan’s Island” played for drama may be too much, even for a talent like Abrams.
*
Hawaii
NBC
Time slot: 8 to 9 p.m. Premiered last Wednesday.
Who’s in it: Michael Biehn (“The Terminator”), Sharif Atkins (“ER”), Eric Balfour (“Six Feet Under”), Ivan Sergei (“Crossing Jordan”).
Who made it: Jeff Eastin (“Shasta McNasty”), Reed Steiner (“The Shield”), Chris Black (“Sliders”).
The premise: The cool cops of Honolulu’s Metro Police Department solve exotic and sexy Hawaiian crimes.
Sounds like: More “Hardcastle & McCormick” than “Law & Order.”
Up against: “Lost” on ABC, “America’s Next Top Model” on UPN, “That ‘70s Show” on Fox, “Smallville” on the WB.
Prognosis: This is the kind of generic cop show that got tossed by the hard-core procedurals. A retro-comeback may be possible, but this probably isn’t the show to launch it.
*
Kevin Hill
UPN
Time slot: 9 to 10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 29.
Who’s in it: Taye Diggs, Jon Seda, Christina Hendricks, Michael Michele.
Who made it: Bruce Davey, Mel Gibson, Alex Taub, Nancy Cotton, Jorge Reyes.
The premise: A playboy lawyer on the rise at a large firm is saddled with a 10-month-old baby girl. Soon, he’s working at a small, female-run law firm.
Sounds like: A gender-reversed take on “Baby Boom.”
Up against: “The West Wing” on NBC, “The Bachelor” on ABC, “The Mountain” on the WB.
Prognosis: Diggs has charisma to burn, and the stuff to carry a series, but he may not have enough star power yet to draw viewers to the show.
*
The Mountain
WB
Time slot: 9 to 10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 22.
Who’s in it: Oliver Hudson, Anson Mount, Tara Thompson, Mitch Pileggi, Barbara Hershey.
Who made it: McG, Stephanie Savage, Shaun Cassidy.
The premise: When the patriarch of a family-owned ski resort dies suddenly, there’s a power struggle on the slopes.
Sounds like: “Dallas” with snow.
Up against: “The West Wing” on NBC, “The Bachelor” on ABC, “Kevin Hill” on UPN.
Prognosis: The WB audience can be hard to predict, and an attractive cast can make up for quite a bit, but the avalanche warnings are up on this “Mountain.”
*
Center of the Universe
CBS
Time slot: 9:30 to 10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 29.
Who’s in it: John Goodman, Jean Smart, Ed Asner, Olympia Dukakis, Diedrich Bader, Melinda McGraw.
Who made it: Mitch Katlin, Nat Bernstein, Eric and Kim Tannenbaum, Alan Kirschenbaum.
The premise: A happily married couple of 20 years deals with the husband’s amusingly nutty family -- parents who always drop by, a whacked-out sister and deadbeat brother.
Sounds like: “Raymond,” and all the other dad-centered family comedies.
Up against: “The West Wing” on NBC, “The Bachelor” on ABC.
Prognosis: With a solid lead-in from “King of Queens,” there’s the terrific cast of veterans here that, given time, might jell into a solid ensemble. But so far, the talent’s stuck telling Granddad-on-Viagra jokes.
*
Wife Swap
ABC
Time slot: 10 to 11 p.m. Premieres Sept. 29.
Who’s in it: (unscripted)
Who made it: Stephen Lambert, Jenny Crowther, Michael Davies.
The premise: Wives from two very different families switch places for two weeks.
Sounds like: Rival show “Trading Spouses.”
Up against: “CSI: NY” on CBS, “Law & Order” on NBC.
Prognosis: Despite (or perhaps because of) the rather unfortunate title, this just might have enough car-crash, pro-wrestling, can’t-take-your-eyes-off-of-it appeal to keep people tuning back for more. It’s been a huge hit in Britain, which may or may not help it here.
*
CSI: NY
CBS
Time slot: 10 to 11 p.m. Premieres Sept. 22.
Who’s in it: Gary Sinise, Melina Kanakaredes, Eddie Cahill, Vanessa Ferlito.
Who made it: Jerry Bruckheimer, Anthony E. Zuiker.
The premise: A crack team of forensic investigators uses high-tech science and gumshoe smarts to crack cases in the Naked City.
Sounds like: “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “CSI: Miami.”
Up against: “Wife Swap” on ABC, “Law & Order” on NBC.
Prognosis: The “CSI” brand can’t be stopped.
*
Thursday
Joey
NBC
Time slot: 8 to 8:30 p.m. Premieres Thursday.
Who’s in it: Matt LeBlanc (“Friends”), Drea de Matteo (“The Sopranos”), Paulo Costanzo (“Road Trip”).
Who made it: Kevin S. Bright, Shana Goldberg-Meehan, Scott Silveri.
The premise: Joey Tribbiani has left New York behind to pursue his dream of being an actor in L.A. There he reunites with his hairdresser sister and her rocket-scientist son.
Sounds like: “Friends” on the Left Coast.
Up against: “Survivor” on CBS, “The O.C.” on Fox, “Extreme Makeover” on ABC.
Prognosis: NBC desperately needs this show to be a hit. But with tough competition in a time slot the network once owned, there’s no telling what might happen.
*
Drew Carey’s Green Screen
WB
Time slot: 8:30 to 9 p.m. Premieres Oct. 7.
Who’s in it: Drew Carey, Brad Sherwood, Colin Mochrie.
Who made it: Drew Carey, Robert Morton, Ron Diamond.
The premise: Improv sketches by Carey and a cast of comedians are performed in front of a green screen, then sent off to animators who fill in the backdrops.
Sounds like: “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” with doodles.
Up against: “The O.C.” on Fox, “Will & Grace” on NBC, “Survivor” on CBS.
Prognosis: Barring a groundswell of support from comedy nerds, “Green Screen” could quickly fade to black in this extremely competitive time slot.
*
Life as We Know It
ABC
Time slot: 9 to 10 p.m. Premieres Oct. 7.
Who’s in it: Sean Faris, Jon Foster, Chris Lowell, Missy Peregrym, Kelly Osbourne, D.B. Sweeney, Marguerite Moreau.
Who made it: Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah (“Freaks and Geeks,” “Just Shoot Me”).
The premise: Three teenage boys navigate friends, school, family, adolescence and, oh yes, girls and sex. Mostly girls and sex.
Sounds like: “My So-Called Life” and “Freaks and Geeks,” shows that only became widely beloved after they got canceled.
Up against: “CSI” on CBS, “The Apprentice” on NBC.
Prognosis: Neither condescending nor nostalgic as it looks at the trials of the teenage years, it could tap into the same audience as “Joan of Arcadia.” But ... see “Up against.”
*
Friday
The Complex: Malibu
FOX
Time slot: 8 to 9 p.m. Premiered Monday. Regular-time premiere was Friday.
Who’s in it: (unscripted)
Who made it: The folks behind “American Idol.”
The premise: Couples move into an apartment complex to redesign and remodel their units. Whoever sells their unit for the most money gets the profits from the sales of all the units.
Sounds like: Home makeover spiced with greed and competition.
Up against: “Joan of Arcadia” on CBS, “Dateline” on NBC, “8 Simple Rules” and “Complete Savages” on ABC.
Prognosis: Based on a wildly popular Australian show, this may be a sleeper.
*
Complete Savages
ABC
Time slot: 8:30 to 9 p.m. Premieres Sept. 24.
Who’s in it: Keith Carradine, Andrew Eiden, Shaun Sipos, Erik von Detten, Evan Ellingson, Jason Dolley.
Who made it: Mel Gibson, Mike Scully (“Everybody Loves Raymond”), Julie Thacker-Scully (“The Simpsons”).
The premise: A single father raises his five boys. After a string of housekeepers, he finally decides it’s time they all learn to do the housework. Rampant loutishness ensues.
Sounds like: The hearty-slob humor of “Married With Children” mixed with the homilies of “Raymond” et al.
Up against: “Joan of Arcadia” on CBS, “Dateline” on NBC.
Prognosis: A painfully thin premise makes this one of the season’s likely early casualties.
*
Commando Nanny
WB
Time slot: 8:30 to 9 p.m. Premieres Sept. 17.
Who’s in it: Owain Yeoman, Gerald McRaney, Kristin Bauer.
Who made it: Mark Burnett (“Survivor”), Rachel Sweet (“Dharma & Greg”).
The premise: A British commando finds himself working as a nanny for a wealthy Beverly Hills family in this scenario based on the experiences of “Survivor” producer Mark Burnett.
Sounds like: Remember “Mr. Belvedere”?
Up against: “Joan of Arcadia” on CBS, “Complete Savages” on ABC.
Prognosis: Burnett’s reality-based fiction just doesn’t have the punch of his other brand of reality.
*
Medical Investigation
NBC
Time slot: 10 to 11 p.m. Premieres Friday.
Who’s in it: Neal McDonough (“Boomtown”), Kelli Williams (“The Practice”), Troy Winbush, Christopher Gorham, Anna Belknap.
Who made it: Laurence Andries (“Boomtown”), Marc Buckland (“Ed”), Jason Horwitch.
The premise: A mobile medical team from the National Institutes of Health is called in to examine and stop unexplained outbreaks and epidemics.
Sounds like: Saying it’s like “ER” crossed with “CSI” is just too easy.
Up against: “Dr. Vegas” on CBS, “20/20” on ABC.
Prognosis: Silly premise but a strong cast and soft time slot could give “M.I.” some legs.
*
Dr. Vegas
CBS
Time slot: 10 to 11 p.m. Premieres Sept. 24.
Who’s in it: Rob Lowe (“The West Wing”), Joe Pantoliano (“The Sopranos”), Tom Sizemore (“Heat”), Amy Adams, Sarah Lancaster.
Who made it: Jack Orman, Steve Pearlman.
The premise: The in-house doctor at a Las Vegas casino has to deal with more than just backaches and emergency medical tech work.
Sounds like: Less “ER,” more “Vega$.” Right on.
Up against: “Medical Investigation” on NBC, “20/20” on ABC.
Prognosis: The cast looks to be having fun, and if you’re home watching TV on Friday night you probably want it about this goofy.
*
Can two curses be lifted?
Listen Up, Mondays, 8:30 to 9 p.m. (CBS)
Everyone, it seems, talks about the “Seinfeld” curse, how the alumni on that show struggle with their follow-up efforts. That talk came up when CBS cast Jason Alexander in its new family sitcom “Listen Up,” which premieres Sept. 20. But almost no one talks about the “Cosby” curse. Yet the actors who played the children on the groundbreaking hit sitcom “The Cosby Show” have had only spotty success with their subsequent series. The network is hoping the combination of Alexander, as a writer-sportcaster who regularly embarrasses his family and friends, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the onetime Theo Huxtable, as the ex-football player who’s his on-air partner, will break any jinx.
*
New cop on a familiar beat
Law & Order, Wednesdays, 10 to 11 p.m. (NBC)
Ex-Chicago cop Dennis Farina goes back to his roots when he joins the cast of NBC’s durable “Law & Order,” which returns for its 15th season on Sept. 22. He’ll play Det. Joe Fontana, replacing 12-year veteran Jerry Orbach. The show’s creator, Dick Wolf, is upbeat about the addition of Farina: “This transition is as seamless and as positive as when Sam [Waterston] came in for Michael [Moriarty]. I think this is the role [Farina] will be remembered for.” (More cast changes, Page E12.)
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