You've seen one new fall season you've seen them all, right? Not this time. No sooner does Sci-fi channel's Friday night line-up get gaining praise, then suddenly there are four brand new sci-fi dramas, on four different networks. Not that I'm complaining. Nor am I complaining about the many additional, unique show concepts, from the 20-year time span of Reunion, to the "told to our kids in the future" style of the new romance sitcom How I Met Your Mother.

However; does a show listed here mean its guaranteed success? Hardly. Much like People Weekly's Most Intriguing People lists, "intriguing" is up to interpretation. Some shows are unique, while others simply caught our eye because "Fonzie" is returning to sitcoms (Ayyyyy!). If you ask us, succeed or fail; the series that follow are all...intriguing.

Updated! As the season progresses, these shows will get a full review over at the Techtite TV Reviews page. To jump to these reviews, click on the link added to that series' title.

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Invasion (ABC, Wednesdays at 10). The Gist of It: The slogan of the recent remake of War of the Worlds was "they're already here." Invasion, as written by Shawn Cassidy (Cold Case), takes the idea one further. What if all those recent natural disasters were just a smokescreen for alien invasion? Yeah, I know what you're thinking. Park Ranger Russell Varon (Eddie Cibrian) thinks this is all malarkey, too...until his daughter sees glowing balls of light float into the nearby ocean. Then Russel's ex-wife is found near that same location...naked, and with no memory of where she's been...and what's more, she's beginning to act rather strangely. So What's The Big Deal?: Ever since the departure of X-Files, sci-fi fans have been longing for another Earth-based science fiction series. ABC is hoping this may be the one.  Anything "What Went Wrong" Worthy...?: There's only one flaw that may make this series What Went Wrong Worthy (or "W-4," for short). With all due respects to an appealing cast, no names jump out at you; a major hurdle, in a new TV season that includes everyone from Allyson Hannigan to David Boreanaz, and from Henry Winkler to Stockard Channing. Even the adorable Heather Graham has a new series. Can these eight new faces compete? Chances: The show's chances are less based on the viewer and more on ABC. A year ago I would be hesitant to think ABC would give this series a chance at all, after canceling every promising new drama they had. Then ABC got its drama legs back, with successful shows like Lost and Grey's Anatomy, so...maybe.

Killer Instinct (Fox, Fridays at 9:00). The Gist of It: Created by Josh Berman (CSI), this is a crime drama where Detectives Hale (Johnny Messner) and Lyford (Marguerite Moreau) try and solve the most peculiar crimes, within the San Francisco Police Department's Deviant Crime Unit. As the official web site describes it, "Exploring the idea that 'behind every monster there’s a mystery,' the stories [of Killer Instinct] remind us that the 'monsters' are everyday people, hidden in plain sight – and that, in each of us, a monster may lurk just beneath the surface." So What's The Big Deal?: Imagine a pair of agents as enjoyable to watch as X-Files' Scully and Mulder, if they solved everyday murder mysteries, not fanciful ones. The comparison fits if you remember that series' premiere, of which this series' back story sounds vaguely familiar. Detective Hale is a veteran of the force with various secrets from his past to contend with; Lyford is a no-nonsense rookie detective, whose "hidden agenda" may work against Hale. Has she been sent to keep an eye on him? What's the W-4...?: So much for early publicity! This series has had three title changes in as many months. Before "Killer Instinct" there was "The Gate" and before that, it was titled "Deviant Behavior." it doesn't bode well for a series when the show's crew cannot even decide on a solid title. Chances: Title or not, this looks very promising, and with a good cast. Those who saw Life As We Know It and The O.C. know how eye catching Marguerite is (a big plus!). It's all in the writing though.

How I Met Your Mother (CBS, Mondays at 8:30). The Gist of It: For fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer --and American Pie, for that matter!-- all they need to know is that this new romance-comedy has Allyson Hannigan in a lead role. "Willow"...! ...in a lead role! Surely you don't need to know more right? No...? So What's The Big Deal?:  You know those TV critics who insist that a romance comedy series never works because the guy will never get the girl until the series finale...? Well...take this! The whole series is a flashback, Wonder Years style, told by dad to his kids. What is the topic? "How I Met Your Mother..." What's the W-4...?: Look at any classic sitcom and I'll show you a flawed first season. Not just a series premiere, mind you; a whole first season! Seinfeld, Simpsons, and many others needed at least one full season to get their footing. Will CBS give this series a chance to get a footing of its own? Chances: Allyson Hannigan back on TV...in a lead role! Oh, give it a fighting chance. Please?

Out of Practice (CBS, Mondays at 9:30). The Gist of It: A new sitcom, starring Henry Winkler, Paula Marshall, and Stockard Channing. Winkler plays the patriarch of the family; a successful doctor. His wife (Channing) is a successful doctor. Their daughter (Marshall) is a successful doctor. Their son Ben (Christopher Gorham) is a successful...physiologist. Close enough right? So What's The Big Deal?: This is being pitched as having the same team behind it that created Frasier. In addition, you have such sitcom vets as Winkler, Marshall and Channing. What could possibly go wrong here? What's the W-4...?: Are two veteran comedians all a new sitcom needs? Three pairs of words answer that question: John Larroquette, Christine Baranski...and Happy Family. This series has a fantastic cast but it's all in the writing. Chances: You'd think that a series about doctors would never fall into the abyss of "idiot husband next to understanding wife" clichés, and yet mom is portrayed as being a "clearly" better doctor than dad. How so...? If this series becomes a sexist cliché this early on, the prognosis doesn't look good. 

Ghost Whisperer (CBS, Fridays at 8:00). The Gist of It: Any fans of the movie Ghost...? Jennifer Love Hewitt stars as a young woman who can talk to ghosts and help them do whatever it is that is keeping them from going, well, wherever spirits go (insert personal, after-death religious preference here). Mind you; this isn't her first choice of jobs! She's actually just a simple, young newlywed wife, who wants a normal marriage...if only these ghosts would stop talking to her! So What's The Big Deal?: Interestingly enough; this series is allegedly based on the real-life cases of psychic James Van Praagh. This may or may not be why the stories seem so much more...alive. What the dead are telling her is not always "be sure I left the oven light off." It all looks pretty cool. What's the W-4...?: With the surprise cancellation of Joan of Arcadia only recently, can a similar show about faith and religion succeed...and in the exact same time slot? Chances: Good, if Joan's fans warm up to it.

Emily's Reasons Why Not (ABC, Mondays at 9:00). The Gist of It: The best one-line sales pitch for male viewers is: "This is the new sitcom starring Heather Graham." For the ladies, we have a sort of a network-TV Sex and the City, as written by Emily Kapnek (Nickelodeon's As Told By Ginger). It's the story of Emily Sanders (Graham), who has great friends, a great job in publishing, and one of the hottest selling books in town. The only problem...? She's not that good at dating. Emily's plan each episode is to list the reasons to date the latest guy she's met. Five reasons "why not," and he's history. So What's The Big Deal?: Not unlike Sex and the City, this sitcom is based on a popular novel. What's the W-4...?: Unlike SatC, this series is on network TV, without the grit of an HBO cable series. Chances: To be perfectly blunt, ABC needs some fresh blood in sitcoms. A popular movie actress and good writing might help.

Threshold (CBS, Fridays at 9:00). The Gist of It: This is a new sci-fi series, with Carla Gugino (Karen Sisco, Sin City) in the lead role. The plot involves a government analyst named Molly Caffrey (Gugino), who heads a team of scientists investigating the arrival of a new life form. They are told to engage in Operation Threshold: investigate the extraterrestrial craft, determine where its crew may have gone, and discern what their mission is. So What's The Big Deal?: In addition to Carla Gugino, stars include Brent Spiner (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Carles S. Dutton (Roc), William Mapother (Lost) amd Robert Benedict (Felicity). Behind the cameras are writers David Goyer, and Star Trek Enterprise's Brannon Braga. What's the W-4...?: After the downward spiral of everything Star Trek, many fans of the genre blame Braga...which may prove a hurdle when trying to get sci-fi fans to watch Threshold. Chances: I'm a major Brent Spiner fan, and Carla Gugino deserves a hit series, too. I know I'll be watching this...but who else will be watching, too?

E-Ring (NBC, Wednesdays at 9:00). The Gist of It: Benjamin Bratt and Dennis Hopper star in this action drama about the outer "ring" of the Pentagon. Executive Producer is Jerry Bruckheimer (CSI). To hear this series tell it, the "E-ring" is the area of the pentagon that links the military heroes with the civilians they report to. So What's The Big Deal?: Think of this as "24," right in the pentagon, without the "one day" limitation. Speaking of that series; 24's Sarah Clarke co-stars...and not as an arch-villainess. At least, we don't think so... What's the W-4...?: In only the past half decade I've seen government anti-terrorist shows come and go, and among them all, only "24" has succeeded. Will this series be another exception? Chances: With good lead stars and an amusing premise, put this series in your TV schedule for at least one full season.

Related (WB, Wednesdays at 9:00) The Gist of It: Imagine if Sex and the City was about four sisters. Imagine if one of those sisters was played by Just Shoot Me star Laura San Giacomo. Another sister is played by Spin City's Jennifer Esposito. Rounding out the sibling quartet is Laura Breckenridge and Lizzy Caplan. Add veteran Sex and the City writer Liz Tuscillo for scripts. Sounds like another contender vying for the Sex and the City sitcom crown (or is it a tiara?). So What's The Big Deal?: This is actually an hour-long comedy drama. If you ask me, some weeks it seemed like that's what Sex and the City should've been. What's the W-4...?: "WB" what...? Long after Buffy, Angel, Roswell, and even Felicity, the spattering of fans for that "other" commercial network are slimmer each season. Even if this is a hit, how long will it take word-of-mouth to get people to notice? Chances: Produced by Friends' Marta Kauffman, this could be the next really big thing in comedy drama...and WB needs one of those.

Commander-In Chief (ABC, Tuesdays at 9:00). The Gist of It: An ailing U.S. president leads to female VP Mackenzie Allen stepping in. That's about all we know yet, aside from the star roster: Donald Sutherland, Kyle Secor (Veronica Mars), Julie Ann Emory (In the Line of Fire), Leslie Hope (24), Ever Carradine (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back), Caitlin Wachs (13 Days) and Harry Lennix (The Matrix movies). Assisting with writing/directing is Rod Lurie (The Contender, Line of Fire). In the hot seat is Geena Davis...both figuratively and literally. So What's The Big Deal?: Feminists will eat this series up with a spoon. So will fans of shows like West Wing, though how about fans of family drama...? Word is that most episodes will center on Mackenzie's home life more than Oval Office work. What's the W-4...?: To look at sneak peeks of this series, it can sometimes be a bit cornball with the force-fed chauvinism. As of this article's posting, the series premiere has even the current president, in his dying breaths, asking that Mackenzie step down so someone else can take charge. Huh...? He chose her as vice president! It's one thing if Mackenzie faces sexism from a likely source, but if you're going to have her come across sexism from "everywhere" --just for cheap dramatic angst-- this series will become very unrealistic, very cornball...and very cancelled. Chances: What this series has to prove isn't that a woman can be president, though more specifically, that the actress who starred in campy comedies like Beetlejuice and Earth Girls are Easy can portray a President. Don't get me wrong; anyone deserves to "grow into" a role. So far, I'm just not feeling it. Sorry.

Just Legal (WB, Mondays at 9:00). The Gist of It: Jonathan Shapiro was a frequent writer for The Practice and Boston Legal. Now he is the writer for this comedy-drama on the WB, that, as the series' promotional web site puts it, is all about "the relationship between a young prodigy lawyer and his mentor, a jaded defense attorney who has fallen from the big leagues." So What's The Big Deal?: To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time the WB has attempted a lawyer drama. Based on their track record of mostly high school and college age fare, it will be interesting what spin they'll give to Just Legal. What's the W-4...?: One thing bothers me: how does a lawyer "fall from the big leagues"...? I know this series stars one of the actors behind Million Dollar Baby, but force feeding a "jaded mentor" and "wide-eyed newcomer" story into a law drama may be too big of a stretch. Chances: Can WB make mature lawyer dramas as easily as teen dramas...? We'll have to see, eh?

Close To Home (CBS, Tuesdays at 10:00). The Gist of It: Jerry Bruckheimer, the producer of CSI and Cold Case, offers this tale of suburbia through the eyes of a hard-nosed prosecutor Annabeth Chase (Jennifer Finnigan). So What's The Big Deal?: The one flaw with Cold Case's first season was how little we saw of any character's "family" life, making it slow to know the characters. Annabeth is a happily married mom, who most likely has to keep from bringing work home with her...as is often the case (no pun intended).  What's the W-4...?: This series' promotion sneaked up on us during the summer. Do enough people know about it...? Chances: This is sort of like Cold Case, but with a married mother, and "current" cases. Sounds like another Bruckheimer hit to me.

Freddie (ABC, Wednesdays at 8:30). The Gist of It: Freddie Prinze Jr. co-wrote this sitcom, based loosely on his own life in a femme-filled family. His character is a chef, who was raised in a house of four women. When the women include NYPD Blue's Jaqueline Obradors, Alien Nation's Jenny Gago and Grounded for Life's Megyn Price, it sounds like a fun place to grow up, you know? Well, hold that thought when Freddie's brother-in-law passes away, leading Freddie to offer his sister, sister-in-law, niece, and grandmother to all move in with him in his now ex-bachelor-pad. Whoa. So What's The Big Deal?: This is one of those sitcoms that doesn't have to be hilarious as much as engaging. Even when he's not funny, Freddie seems like one whale of a nice guy. Families in particular should warm up to this family-savvy sitcom. What's the W-4...?: ABC's sitcom world is pretty bizarre. It's hard to say exactly what will be needed from Freddie (both the man and the sitcom), to be renewed on ABC.  Chances: With the creative force behind The Drew Carey Show and The George Lopez Show, this may last at least as long as they did (FYI; George Lopez' show is entering its fourth season).

Everybody Hates Chris (UPN, Thursdays at 8:00). The Gist of It: Co-created by comedian Chris Rock, this is a semi-autobiographical tale of Chris' life growing up in a mostly-white school in 1982. It stars Tyler Williams as a teenage Chris (the adult Chris provides narration), and co-stars Tichina Arnold (Big Momma’s House), Terry Crews (White Chicks), Tequan Richmond (Ray) and Vincent Martella (Deuce Bigelow: Male Gigolo). So What's The Big Deal?: Think The Wonder Years with 1980's nostalgia, and more "hip" humor. What's the W-4...?: The truth hurts: Chris Rock totally botched this year's Oscar awards show. Getting people to watch a comedian, after botching up the most watched program of the year, is pretty hard. Just ask David Letterman how far his ratings tanked after his own Oscar night mishap. Then there's how Whoopi Goldberg tried her own luck in sitcoms, soon after her own Oscar night. By the way: did anyone watch "Whoopi"...? Hello? Chances: UPN scored a hit with Veronica Mars but it's not like it has much else. For Chris this is awesome news. This series only has to be "fair" for it to stay on UPN's schedule for many seasons. Chris Rock is a good enough comedian to improve it as it goes along.

Surface (NBC, Mondays at 8:00). The Gist of It: Anyone for another sci-fi laden series this fall? This one seems coined from James Cameron's cult hit, The Abyss, where a new form of sea life has been discovered. Actually, "discovered" is a weak term, because this new form of life is found, quite suddenly, all around the Earth. The good news is how "beautiful" these new sea creatures are. The bad news is...well, they're not telling us that yet. They are telling us who stars in this series, though: Lake Bell (Boston Legal), Jay Ferguson (Judging Amy), Rade Sherbedgia (Mission Impossible 2), Carter Jenkins (Bad News Bears), and Leighton Meester. So What's The Big Deal?: I'd say Lake Bell leaving the successful Boston Legal to be the lead on this series is a very big deal...especially when hers was one of the few female characters with room to grow in that series (no offense Monica Potter but if your character had more "whine" she could own a vineyard). What's the W-4...?: On the one hand this series has the intrigue of involving creatures from the deep. On the other hand; filming near, around, or even under water is very costly. This may be one reason why the series' title was changed only recently, from "Fathom" to "Surface," with new promos  implying that the sea creatures are getting their "land legs." Seeing as how an underwater angle was this series' sales draw, was that really a good plan? Chances: Are four (yes four) alien invasion series too many? Four separate networks; four separate styles of "aliens among us" tales. The battle is on for which of these shows will succeed. It's up to viewers to make sure this series is one of them.

Bones (Fox, Tuesdays at 8:00). The Gist of It: This is a crime mystery series, involving the cases where only the slightest of bone evidence remains. Said cases are solved by a forensic anthropologist and an FBI agent, played by Emily Deschanel (Boogeyman), and David Boreanaz (Angel), respectively. For teenagers, "Boreanaz in a new series" is perhaps all I need to say, though I will say more: the series is created and co-produced by Hart Hanson (Judging Amy, Joan of Arcadia), and co-executive produced by Barry Josephson (Hide and Seek). Most importantly of all: this is inspired by the stories of a real-life forensic anthropologist and novelist, Kathy Reichs. So What's The Big Deal?: Here's the sales pitch of this latest crime drama: Emily's character has grown accustomed to discerning the little details of a crime from a victim's own bones. She is called on when the bodies of a crime are too badly decomposed or damaged to solve the case with regular methods. Don't shrug this off as another CSI, though; Boreanaz's character is a cynic, and totally against the notion that these high-tech methods will ever solve a case...yet oddly enough, he's the agent often in charge of the investigation whenever she's called upon. You can just smell the love-hate romantic angst in the air, can't you? What's the W-4...?: After so many seasons as "Angel," can fans see Boreanaz as anything but a quasi-superhero vampire? Chances: If the answer to that last question is "yes" --and even if it isn't-- this show looks very good.

Reunion (Fox, Thursdays at 9:00). The Gist of It: Taking the term "most intriguing new shows" to the extreme, this show covers a 20 year time span, in just the first season. The season begins with the characters as 18 year olds and ends with them in their late 30's. Said characters are played by Will Estes (American Dreams), Sean Faris (Life As We Know It), Alexa Davalos (The Chronicles of Riddick), Amanda Righetti (The O.C.) Dave Annable (Little Black Book), and Chyler Leigh (Not Another Teen Movie). So What's The Big Deal?: The series opens in "present day" at the funeral of one of the gang's friends. Before we even know who died, we jump back to 1986, where everyone is enjoying high school graduation. Episode one will show us their trials and tribulations in that summer of '86. The second episode jumps one whole year to 1987, and the next goes to 1988, and so on, for a 20-year season. Yet throughout the season we'll wonder whose funeral that was...and how their death happened. What's the W-4...?: Personally I love novel series concepts like this, but dare I ask a show of hands, that read that whole summary above, and responded with: "Huh...?" Chances: This is an intriguing premise that just may work.

Supernatural (WB, Tuesdays at 9:00). The Gist of It: I'd probably recommend this series to anyone who loved Wolf Lake, even though it's not about werewolves, as much as mysterious towns with a secret. Two brothers take a cross country road trip to solve the murder of their mother, who passed away 20 years ago. The brother team is played by Jensen Ackles (Dark Angel, Smallville) and Jared Padalecki (Gilmore Girls, House of Wax). Here's the odd part: their mother's death involves some really creepy X-Files style stuff, the strange perpetrators of which are being hidden within the otherwise nondescript little towns down the turnpike. So What's The Big Deal?: "The X-File Brothers"...? Sounds cool. Each week the brothers approach a town like some sort of two-man Scooby Doo episode on steroids, discovering various ghost stories and hopefully, one must presume, solve their mother's mysterious murder. What's the W-4...?: Are spooky stories all an X-files clone needs? Based on the crash and burn of The Lone Gunmen, it's clear that people loved the romantic angst of Scully and Mulder as much as they love spiffy sci-fi stories. Will a brotherly duo fill Scully and Mulder's shoes? The Lone Gunmen could not...but Ackles and Padalecki might. Maybe. Chances: This show needs at least one female lead for the female demographic to identify with. Aside from that it sounds promising.

Head Cases (Fox, Wednesdays at 9:00). The Gist of It: A new law drama centers on the life of a hotshot attorney right after a breakdown. Said attorney, played by Chris O'Donnell, was living the good life at a prestigious law firm when his wife Laurie (Krista Allen) walked out on him. Three months later, Jason (O'Donnell) finds himself just released from a "wellness center" with no job and no place to live, and the only comfort coming from his assigned "wellness buddy," Shultz (Adam Goldberg). The good news: Shultz was once a lawyer too, albeit one of those low-rent lawyers that takes the cases of deviants and petty criminals. They set up a shingle together, as the saying goes, and help each other through their newest law cases, all while trying to keep sane. So What's The Big Deal?: In addition to the two leads, the series also stars the often under-appreciated Rachael Leigh Cook, as a female friend Jason met while in the center. Oh; did I mention this new lawyer drama was created by writer Bill Chais (The Practice, Family Law)? What's the W-4...?: Shows about characters who just got out of some sort of "wellness center" never succeed if you ask me...but maybe this will work. Chances: With a good lead cast and a strong writer/creator behind it, this could be the next underdog hit, and very easily.

Prison Break (Fox, Mondays at 9:00). The Gist of It: Michael Scofield (The Human Stain's Wentworth Miller) has a brother in the slammer. He's convinced that Lincoln (John Doe's Dominic Purcell) did not commit the crime, but with only months before his brother's execution, time is running out. In one of those bizarre decisions that only makes sense on TV, Michael purposely engages in (and fails) a bank heist, to get himself incarcerated right alongside his brother. Once inside, we learn that Michael is a structural engineer with all the plans for this prison memorized. His plan is to break out of prison and, with no more execution looming over his head, he can then set out to prove his brother's innocence. So What's The Big Deal?: The entire first season is said to be one big prison break, moment by moment. Imagine Eastwood in Escape from Alcatraz, expanded to a full season of television...albeit, without Eastwood. What's the W-4...?: For one thing: what happens when they break out...if they even actually do? There is also an alleged bigger conspiracy behind Lincoln's frame-up, but will that keep viewers watching, or simply keep Lincoln in jail until the series finale? Chances: The series sounds good, but...I don't know about this.

...don't think we're just sucking up to a few networks, though. These aren't the shows that will surely succeed; just the most intriguing of them. Come this fall, you'll see what I mean. The good news: TV shows are new again!