Say what you will about the new shows this year, but many of them are at the very least unique. Even Heroes, which is obviously inspired by the X-men films, is a TV show concept never attempted up to this time; a drama where just about every lead character is a super hero. While that idea may not be a brainstorm, it's certainly...intriguing. Likewise for the obligatory barrage of shows that want to be the next 24 or Without a Trace or Law & Order; at least they tried to bring something new to each series concept, and not copycat each series verbatim.

Yet how will originality play out in the end? That is up to the viewers. For us, we can only take the time to tip an online hat to the shows which have us intrigued, right out the starting gate. We're not saying these will be "hits." All we know is we're sure to watch their series premieres, and that is half the battle.

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Heroes (NBC, Mondays at 9). The Gist of It: While critics may shrug this off as an "X-men" wannabe; how innovative is it to have such a concept for a TV series? So What's The Big Deal?: Most shows about a super-powered character leave every other "regular" character struggling like ropes on a blimp. I mean, we loved shows like Buffy, but the only "living" lead character with super powers was Buffy. Well, what if every single lead character of a series had a special power? Anything "What Went Wrong" Worthy...?: As always, the last web page any new series wants to be the subject of is this web site's most popular monthly commentary: What Went Wrong? Sometimes even the best ideas end up being implemented in the worst way. So for each of these shows we talk about the "cons" that we'd like dealt with before we have to write another WWWrong column. In Heroes' case, we have but one question: what happens next? Okay, these guys have gifts: what will they do with such power? Chances: Throughout many a promotional reel for this show we've yet to see any "heroes" per se, though rather: a bunch of people that react like, "I have a strange new power. Neat." If these "heroes" don't do anything heroic by November Sweeps, you can say goodbye to Heroes.

30 Rock (NBC, Wednesdays at 8:30). The Gist of It: The main sales pitch here is "Tina Fey penned a sitcom." Saturday Night Live's fans are buzzing with glee. So What's The Big Deal?: Love or hate SNL; Tina has been the driving force behind the show's writing staff for years. This is her own sitcom, with her in the lead...and it even is placed in the perfect setting! Lead character Liz Lemon (Fey) is the head writer of her own comedy series. So all Tina has to do is draw from her own real-life experiences, and the series is golden. The WWWrong Factor: Not to be mean, but how much humor does Tina have to spare? She's been doing SNL for years. Imagine if Seinfeld started his series after doing work elsewhere for years, and "The Soup Nazi" and "Mulva" had already been done. Has Tina's best work already gone to a SNL shtick many seasons ago? Perhaps...Yet we're crossing our fingers that she's still got a few "Soup Nazis" up her sleeve. Chances: Interpret this as you will, but NBC opted not to put this series in the coveted Thursday time slots, that housed "must see TV" sitcoms like Friends, Seinfeld, Mad About You and currently, My Name is Earl and The Office. It is all up to this show to make sure it gets viewers...on Wednesdays. Good luck Tina!

'Till Death (FOX, Thursdays at 8). The Gist of It: Okay; so we fibbed a little. Not all shows this season are novel retreads of old shows. There is that one show that is so glaringly a rip-off salute to a former sitcom, that it actually hurts...if just a little. Stop us if you heard this one before: Bickering, middle-aged Al Bundy Eddie and his wife Peg Joy meet their new next door neighbors, Steve and Marcy Steph and Jeff. Eddie and Joy are Married...With Children a long-time couple, while Steph and Jeff are big pains in the posterior newlyweds, who act oh so cute when together. So What's The Big Deal?: Okay, so this series learns a little from its predecessor's mistakes. Eddie is a teacher (a job which is bound to lead to more funny stories than "shoe salesman"). He also loves Joy more than anything, sardonic as he may be when showing it. As an added little joke: guess who Eddie's new, young vice principal is? So yeah, it's another Married... and yet, directed by Ted Wass (Wings) and starring Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher, this could be Married With Children for the next generation.  The WWWrong Factor: ...but does the next generation want that...? I loved this sitcom concept ten years ago, but it's all in attracting the younger, modern sitcom fan. Chances: A time slot against My Name Is Earl worries us. Then again, Fisher and Garrett are two comedy series veterans. It's not like either sitcom will have it easy toppling the other, if this Death is a good one.

Smith (CBS, Tuesdays at 10). The Gist of It: Among all the attempts at another crime drama, why not a criminal drama? From the producer of ER and The West Wing comes a show about a gang of criminals who tackle a new crime, week after week. So What's The Big Deal?: The lead criminal is played by Ray Liotta (Goodfellas). His wife is played by Virginia Madsen. For that matter, we can't wait to see Amy Smart (Felicity, Road Trip, Just Friends, The Butterfly Effect) on TV again. Then there's executive producer John Wells, whose prior work includes ER and The West Wing....which yes, we had to mention again, because...well, you know. The WWWrong Factor: Yes, this is another attempt at a "thief series," after around three similar series concepts, in the past three years alone. But let's be frank: if a criminal drama doesn't work with Ray Liotta and John Wells behind it, well, you can pretty much kiss the "thief drama" concept goodbye. Chances: Ray Liotta in his own TV series sounds interesting no matter what. With a series pilot that was written by the executive producer himself, all the series needs is an audience.

Standoff (Fox, Tuesdays at 9). The Gist of It: While some may call this a "Without a Trace" wannabe, this series covers all aspects of crimes dealing with negotiations: kidnappers, hostage standoffs, suicides, bomb threats, gang related violence and even stalkers. Enter Matt (Ron Livingston) and Emily (Rosemarie DeWitt), who are the best the FBI's Crisis Negotiation Unit has to offer. Yet Matt relies on "instinct" to solve a problem, while Emily analyzes every angle before acting. Adding to the story's angst; in typical "opposites attract" fashion, they're sleeping together. So What's The Big Deal?: Given how successful 24 has been for Fox, it's surprising that it's taken this long for them to offer a promising crime drama. Think of this as 24 with a different case each episode.  The WWWrong Factor: Even the shortest clip of this show reveals a possible flaw: sorry, but there's just no "heat" between Matt and Emily. Remember the chemistry between Fox and Scully in the series premiere of X-Files? Chances: ... Yet it's a crime drama at its core, so who cares if the chemistry is there? We want a good crime drama. Bring that instead.

Vanished (FOX, Mondays at 9). The Gist of It: As FOX's promotions for the series say it: "Sara Collins is gone. But before the FBI can solve the mystery of where she is, they first need to figure out who she really is." So What's The Big Deal?: Though some may shrug this off as another 24 wannabe, there is no Counter Terrorism Unit forces required here (that we know of anyway), nor any singular 24 hour "day". This is not so much a plot that threatens the entire globe as much as a vanishing wife of a powerful politician...and that sounds pretty interesting.  The WWWrong Factor: Will FOX stick with this mystery until the end? We're still reeling after last year's so-called Reunion that ended before it had a chance to begin. Don't even get us started about Wonderfalls. Then again, FOX did stick with Prison Break, and renewed 24 for two seasons as of now, so... Chances: Set in the time slot that houses 24 every mid-season, this could get that show's fan base...for now...but what happens to Vanished in January, once 24 needs its old time slot back?

Brothers & Sisters (ABC, Sundays at 10). The Gist of It: Brothers. Sisters. Nighttime soap. Follows Desperate Housewives. So What's The Big Deal?: The casting: Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal), Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under), Ron Rifkin (Alias), Patricia Wettig (Thirty-something), Balthazar Getty (Alias), and ---whoa!--- as parents the series has Tom Skerritt and Sally Field. The WWWrong Factor: I don't know about the time slot. Many a show tried to follow Housewives and only similar comedy-dramas succeeded, like Boston Legal and Grey's Anatomy. As much as I like Housewives it's a very quirky show. If this show is similarly quirky it will succeed. If it's too whiney it won't keep the Housewives' audience for long. Chances: The casting is great; good writing is all that's needed for now.

The Class (CBS, Mondays at 8). The Gist of It: Put an Emmy winning writer/producer of Friends with the writer/producer of Mad About You, and you have The Class: a gang of friends since grade school. They haven't seen each other since they were kids, though, as they reunite for a 20 year class reunion. This sitcom's story picks up from there. So What's The Big Deal?: Unlike Joey, this could be exactly what the ex-fans of Friends have been looking for: eight close friends dealing with everyday life. Assisting in the dream of "another Friends" are the writers from both Friends and Mad About You.  The WWWrong Factor: Yet Friends had a few memorable faces from the start. Lisa Kudrow had already been hilarious as the quirky waitress Ursula on Mad About You. Jennifer Anniston was Ferris Bueller's sister, in the TV series based on the movie. Coutney Cox will always be remembered for that Bruce Springsteen music video. This series has John Ritter's son Jason Ritter, but he's working with mostly new talent here. Chances: If America warms up to the relatively "newcomer" cast, all that's needed is funny writing. 

Justice (FOX, Wednesdays at 9). The Gist of It: Jerry Bruckheimer's next series. Any fan of CSI or Amazing Race need not know anything else. Okay, one more detail; it's a law drama. A Bruckheimer Law Drama. Hmm...Cool. So What's The Big Deal?: "Alias' dad," aka Victor Garber, is one of the head lawyers. Kerr "Dawson's Creek" Smith is one of his young protégée's. Add to that an amusing twist at the end of each episode, where we get to see, at the end of each trial, what really happened. The WWWrong Factor: Aside from another spin-off like, say, Law and Order: Candy Stolen From Babies Unit, I can't think of another way the law drama formulae can be shown on TV these days. Then again; it's a Bruckheimer law drama. Chances: Not to drive the message home, but: this is a new series on FOX. Wonderfalls, anyone? Then again it's a Bruckheimer series, so it should get a fair chance.

Jericho (CBS, Wednesdays at 10(?)). The Gist of It: Jericho Kansas is a peaceful little sleepy town until a mushroom cloud can be seen on the horizon...and suddenly, contact with anyone outside of town is gone. What's happened...? So What's The Big Deal?: If you ask us, this show has as amusing of a premise as it has likeable lead stars. The lead role of "Jake Green" is played by Skeet Ulrich (Scream), who is no stranger to stories with subtle suspense and thrills. Similarly, "Emily Sullivan" is played by the adorable Ashley Scott (Into the Blue, "Birds of Prey"). The WWWrong Factor: What this series has to prove right out of the gate is that it won't be some cheap post-apocalyptic Mad Max rip-off. Then again; as interesting as the story is, how far can the story go, aside from a few mushroom clouds in the series premiere? It's not like I'm tuning in each week to see Jake try to buy a fresh carton of milk. Chances: Interesting premise, alongside talented yet rarely-seen-before talent. As the common cliché goes, it's all in the hands of the writers.

Shark (CBS, Thursdays at 10). The Gist of It: James Woods is given a law drama with a criminal-mystery edge to it. He's also given the lovely Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Voyager) as his right hand lady. Add to this the intriguing setting: a high-profile crime unit filled with the best of lawyers tackling the most high profile cases. So What's The Big Deal?: Let's just say that someone at CBS must've really loved the series pilot, because this series knocked poor Without a Trace clear out of the Thursday night park. If this new drama won the coveted time slot after CSI, it's gotta be good to somebody. The WWWrong Factor: Brian Grazer has been a sort of machine gun in the dark lately. Yes he executive produced A Beautiful Mind and 24, but he also is responsible for such unmitigated flops as The Cat in the Hat, and as for The Da Vinci Code, sorry, but the movie was disappointing. Yet with James Woods alongside Jeri Ryan, what could go wrong...? Chances: The series pilot was directed by none other than Spike Lee. Whether that's a sales pitch to you or not is immaterial; his work always draws additional attention, and attention is all any series premiere wants.

Help Me Help You (ABC, Wednesdays at 10). The Gist of It: Ted "Cheers" Danson returns to sitcom television as Dr. Bill Hoffman, who places his patients in a group therapy session each week. Unfortunately, it sometimes seems like the person in the biggest need of group therapy is Hoffman himself. So What's The Big Deal?: Ted Danson will always be known as Sam Malone from Cheers, but just in case you missed it: his TV sitcom Becker also lasted six seasons, which for a rarely-heard-of sitcom isn't that bad of a run at all. All he needs now are co-stars who can make being "slightly crazy" seem slightly funny...comics like Jere Burns, for example (who was frankly one of the best parts of Judd Hirch's similar "group therapy" sitcom, Dear John). The WWWrong Factor: This sitcom is too "Been There Done That." Danson was already a doctor in Becker, even if a different type of doctor. As for therapy, there's been The John Larroquette Show, Dear John...and who can forget The Bob Newhart Show...? Chances: Ted Danson is a sitcom star we like, but we never got "into" Becker. We are still rooting for this series when the premiere airs...

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC, Mondays at 10). The Gist of It: On the surface this is a simple "faux TV show tries to turn things around" story. Yet it stars Matthew Perry in a more dramatic role than usual, so... So What's The Big Deal?: Of all the attempts of "former Friends" to make lightning strike twice, Matthew Perry seems the most likely to succeed, since he's chosen a character not too different from "Chandler" to work with; a neurotic 30-something. He's also surrounded by co-stars that worked well with him in the past (particularly Amanda Peet; The Whole Nine Yards)...and for that matter, who doesn't like a story about "underdogs" trying to turn their lives around...? The WWWrong Factor: Can this drama series from the creators of The West Wing keep the audience of its lead-in shows: the game show Deal or No Deal at 8, and the sci-fi laden drama Heroes at 9? Chances: We'd love to see Amanda Peet and Matthew Perry together again, if only because of The Whole Nine Yards. Then again, The Whole Ten Yards pretty much sucked, though we'll forget that one (gladly) ...as long as this series is less of the latter and more of the former.

Big Day (ABC, Thursdays at 8). The Gist of It: Think of all the planning and attention that goes towards any wedding. Now imagine a whole season which covers this, episode to episode. Now imagine that series is from the writers of What Women Want and 13 Going on 30, with the adorable Marla Sokoloff as the blushing bride, and the hilarious Wendie Malick as her mom. So What's The Big Deal?: Who knew a series about a wedding would take the "whole season in a day" format? Yes; the whole season is a la 24, only in this case the grand finale is not a terrifying attack but a lush fairy tale wedding...  The WWWrong Factor: ...that is, if the series can make it to its first-season finale...and what about after the wedding? This is one of those shows that makes you wonder if a second season was ever planned (a second wedding?). Then there's the time slot. Hey, ABC; if you want to play fair next season, kindly throw something with far less promise to the Thursday-at-8 wolves, like Supernanny or According to Jim. Chances: I don't like to make predictions, but here's the bitter reality check: in the past half dozen seasons, no series airing Thursdays at 8 on ABC has yet to make it to a half season, let alone a second season. We'd love to see an exception though, and who doesn't want to see Sokoloff and Malick return to TV...?

Ugly Betty (ABC, Fridays at 8). The Gist of It: Salma Hayek (yes, that Salma Hayek) produces a drama about the "square peg" who by a twist of fate is suddenly the fashion industry's right-hand-girl. How'd that happen? Well, some fashion magazine bigwig hands the reigns of his magazine over to his son, on the condition that Betty is his assistant. Why? Because to hear this series claim it, she's the only girl in NYC that his son won't sleep with...until November sweeps, anyway. So What's The Big Deal?: Executive producer Hayek based Betty on a Latin TV series that was a smash hit. Helping her "Americanize" the series are America Ferrera (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) and Eric Mabius (The L Word). The WWWrong Factor: Maybe we're overanalyzing this, but it's a little bit odd that one of the most gorgeous Latina women in Hollywood is producing a series about the bad-bad fashion industry that doesn't give the "ugly girl" a fair chance, boo-hoo. If they're so shallow and she's so "not shallow," why does she so badly want to work with them? Chances: Take away the obvious make-up job and the costuming, and ask yourself this: how "ugly" is Ugly Betty...really? America Ferrera may not be America's version of a twerp "supermodel," but she's hardly uneasy on the eyes either. We're expecting a Maxim cover shoot three weeks after her FHM pictorial. Hopefully, those will both be three weeks before the series is renewed for a second season. After all; it's a hit on Latin TV, and it isn't like Friday at 8 is a competitive time slot.  

Kidnapped (NBC, Wednesdays at 10). The Gist of It: Was there some kidnapping script on a desk that every network got a look at...? Yes, this is another missing person series, which in this case involves a fifteen year old son. So What's The Big Deal?: Series leads Jeremy Sisto, Delroy Lindo and Dana Delany have already gotten rave reviews from TV critics who saw the premiere. As for the series itself; a "trust no one" element adds to the suspense. In fact, the paranoia is so great, that the parents enlist the help of a "24" style of hostage expert, to get their son back by any means necessary. The move may not be good for a real life parent, but it's apparently good for the series, in a story where everyone is a suspect. The WWWrong Factor: Maybe it's just us but we're a bit creeped out by the premise of a kidnapped child, which is a bit too "edgy" for us. Chances: ...then again, if it's not too "edgy" for other TV viewers, the premise hardly sounds boring.

Twenty Good Years (NBC, Wednesdays at 8). The Gist of It: Jeffrey Tambor and John Lithgow in a sitcom together; it's "The Odd Couple" for a new generation. So What's The Big Deal?: Like Jeffrey Tambor and John  Lithgow in a sitcom together doesn't sound totally cool? So cool is the sound of this series; it earned an 8 o'clock time slot, which for a new sitcom is quite rare. The WWWrong Factor: The overall theme of the show may be a bit too morbid for some; John Mason (Lithgow) and Jeffrey Pyne (Tambor) have concluded that they both have just 20 good years left to live. They've decided to live each day to the fullest...but how funny will their decisions be? Chances: Lithgow and Tambor in a sitcom together will get people to watch the premiere. Whether people tune in for later episodes is up to the writers.

The Nine (ABC, Wednesdays at 10). The Gist of It: This drama is about nine people who have been close ever since meeting each other in a bank...while it was being robbed by armed criminals. So What's The Big Deal?: Using the same formula as Lost, each episode includes flashbacks to that fateful bank robbery, showing exactly why each of these people are so close now...and what really happened that day. Cast members include Tim Daly (Wings), Kim Raver (24), Chi McBride (Boston Public), and Scott Wolf (Party of Five). The WWWrong Factor: Lost is interesting because of the kooky island they got stranded on. Will people remain interested in "what really happened" long enough to learn what really happened, inevitably, in the season finale? Chances: It uses the same formula as Lost and it's on the same night as Lost. If this show inevitably fails, it's not due to poor scheduling.

6 Degrees (ABC, Thursdays at 10). The Gist of It: You know that game that tries to link everyone to Kevin Bacon in 7 moves or less? Well, this series implies that everyone is like that; everyone is linked to everyone else in just six degrees. This nighttime drama is not about six close friends, but six almost-total-strangers, who are linked to each other whether they know it or not. So What's The Big Deal?: The idea of linking characters --even total strangers-- intrigues us. The link-up is even pretty interesting as nighttime soaps go. As the promo summarizes it: "Laura, a grieving single mother, begins the chain. Then to Whitney, the self-made success story who thinks her boyfriend is cheating. Move on to Steven, the artist/photographer who believes he's lost his 'eye.' Follow with Damian, who can't escape his criminal brother's shadow. Then to Mae, the girl with a dangerous past she's hiding from. And finally to Carlos, the good guy with a crush who doesn't know what he's in for." The WWWrong Factor: Thursday nights are either NBC's game (comedy & drama) or CBS' (reality & drama). Can ABC get a piece of the pie? Chances: If this was against a heavyweight like Without a Trace on Thursday nights, I'd say, "No way." Yet it's actually up against newbie Shark...and what if that sucks?

Men in Trees (ABC, Wednesdays at 10). The Gist of It: Imagine the movie Hitch where someone is a relationship expert for people in need of a relationship overhaul. Only now "Hitch" is a woman played by Anne Heche. So What's The Big Deal?: I mean this in the nicest possible way, but this is an intriguing series to us only because it's clearly another "Sex in the City" wannabe about relationships and first dates and blah blah blah, and some viewers apparently love that sort of thing. So hey; we wanted to keep the list at an even "20," and this show intrigued us...sort of. We're intrigued...if not terribly interested. The WWWrong Factor: Don't shoot the messenger, please; you know what we mean when we say this. While Anne is now married with children, she's best known as Ellen DeGeneres' infamous ex. Will viewers warm to the idea of Ellen's ex being a relationship coach? Again: Don't. Shoot. The. Messenger! We're just saying. Chances: It's on Friday nights right after America's Funniest Home Videos. Who gave a new drama series a lead-in like that?

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In conclusion to this list is the need to repeat: these are only the most intriguing shows. See you once again, this same time next year, to see if "intriguing" means the most important TV word of all: "renewed."