Techtite Game Reviews ---

When you look at the title image of the "Fall Preview" article for this year, you may not be too impressed. When I tell you it's from the re-imagined Bionic Woman, everything (hopefully!) changes. It's not that we're telling you what shows with rock the house down; just which ones we're sure to be watching from day one. Sometimes it's all in clever marketing; other times it's a premise that sounds cool, even when read in one paragraph. For whatever reason, the following Fall shows caught our eye this year. Will they succeed? Who knows. They've got our attention, and for this list, that's all that really matters:

Private Practice (ABC, Wednesdays at 9). What's it about? In the shortest summary possible: this is the hotly anticipated Grey's Anatomy spin-off. For some that's the only summary necessary. Yet if you ask us: Grey's Anatomy was getting a little overcrowded, so the thought of sending one or two of their doctors to a separate "private" practice sounds like a good idea. It also means two hours of "Grey's Anatomy" each week, which obviously pleases its fans. What's so cool? Although there are no veterans of medical dramas in the cast, you're bound to remember more than a few names: Kate Walsh (Grey's Anatomy), Tim Daly (Wings), Taye Diggs (Day Break), and Amy Brenneman (NYPD Blue), to name just four. What's not-so-cool? Will the lack of any "veteran" actors to a medical drama be a problem? Maybe, and maybe not. While few of this new series' lead actors have ever starred in a medical drama, they could've said the same thing about romance-comedy movie veteran Patrick Dempsey three years ago...and look at him now. Added Plus: Doctor Montgomery (Kate Walsh) always comes across as the "Frasier" to Grey's "Cheers": the character who was very interesting, yet didn't seem to totally belong in that particular setting. Giving her a private practice of her own sounds like a step in the right direction.

Moonlight (CBS, Fridays at 9). What's it about? Someone remembers a vampire named Angel. Someone misses a vampire named Angel. Actually; we all do...except for that silly cliffhanger in the series finale! Moonlight is, in short summary, another "male vampire working for the forces of good" story... What's so cool? While any fan of vampire stories loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off, Angel, it would've been nice to see what someone other than Joss Whedon could've done with the premise. That's the fun of this series. This series' lead character is on his own. There are no "Vampire Slayers" to help him. There are no apprentice magicians named "Willow" to help him. There are no hot girlfriends with super-powers to help him. He's just a regular guy...er, vampire, who must fight the good fight...alone. What's not-so-cool? After almost a decade of Buffy canon, can fans of vampire lore adapt to a new take on the tale? Example: Nick has no need for a gypsy curse to give him a "soul." He's good because he wants to be. It's changes to the vampire formulae like that, which can either make or break Moonlight. Added Plus: Alex O'Loughlin makes for a great vampire...and we mean that in a nice way. Also; with no Angel and no Buffy for what feels like a century by now, there is a big demand for a new series in this genre.

Bionic Woman (NBC, Wednesdays at 9; premieres 9/26/2007). What's it about? You can thank Heroes for a slew of sci-fi laden action series this fall. Among the most noteworthy of them: a "re-imagining" of the classic 1970's action series, Bionic Woman. What's so cool? No longer in a world of simple "good guys" and "bad guys," this Jamie Sommers (Michelle Ryan) is not a top secret agent working for the government. In the spirit of La Femme Nikita and "Dark Angel," she's a secret weapon "built" for a purpose. Whether she fulfills that purpose, or solves her missions her own way, is entirely up to her...well, sort of. As an added monkey wrench (no pun intended): her boyfriend is the doctor who gave her bionic powers, when he saw no other alternative for her. He's also the head doctor of the secret organization that now feels Jamie "owes" them. I can't wait to see how that love story will play out...! What's not-so-cool? While we can understand the need to nix the campy "nanananana" sound effect when she jumps, we would've loved some sort of super-powered sound effect aside from her simply jumping really high. Added Plus: While they can't literally place the new Bionic Woman against, say, Cylons from Battlestar Galactica, they can do fans one better! Galactica's "Starbuck," Katee Sackhoff, has a recurring role as Jamie's arch rival: the prototype, evil, renegade "Bionic Woman." Their first battle is as cool as it sounds. So is the rest of this series.

Back to You (FOX, Wednesdays at 8). What's it about? Kelsey Grammer returns to sitcom television as Frasier lead newscaster Chuck. Patricia Heaton returns to sitcom television as the wife from "Everybody Loves Raymond" Chuck's co-anchor, Kelly. Together they try to tell the local news. The problem: they can barely stand each other. What's so cool? Imagine the male-female banter from Everybody Loves Raymond coupled with a Frasier-like Kelsey Grammer character. Then imagine that sitcom directed by James Burrows. If you're not impressed yet you're simply not a sitcom fan. What's not-so-cool? Fox has such a freakish approach to cancelling and renewing shows, I've given up trying to comprehend it. They cancelled Wonderfalls. They cancelled Vanished. They renewed House, when that series' first season sucked. They renewed 'Til Death, when that sitcom's season one finale was just plain horrible. If you see a rhyme or reason to FOX's "pattern" here; that makes one of us. Added Plus: Judging by the long run of their prior sitcoms, everybody loves Raymond Grammer and Heaton. This sitcom could be "the next big thing," as long as Fox allows it to be.

Cane (CBS, Tuesdays at 10). What's it about? Jimmy Smits stars in a gritty new nighttime drama, about the sugar cane and rum "empire," and the typical battle for "love, lust and wealth." What's so cool? Even the best TV actor has to have great co-stars to work with. In addition to Smits in the lead role, this drama also stars Hector Elizondo (as Pancho Duque) and Rita Moreno (as Amalia Duque). What's not-so-cool? CBS is playing with the same hand this season in almost all respects. In other words: only five of their shows this fall are "new." This might make it even harder for a new series to make the grade, because obviously come next May, something has to go, right? Yet I'm so intrigued at this new series, all I can say is: I hope it's a hit. Added Plus: It's really not like CBS can do without a good new drama; especially one without "CSI" in the title. With a good lead cast and a very intriguing setting, this drama could work well.

Journeyman (NBC, Mondays at 10). What's it about? From the network that brought us Quantum Leap comes sci-fi's newest time traveler. Dan Vasser (Kevin McKidd) is a newspaper reporter who suddenly finds himself jumping through time. The good news; he always finds himself back in the "present" after his short time trips. The bad news: he has to explain where he's been when he returns...and more importantly, deal with the repercussions of whatever moments in time he's changed... What's so cool? While this sounds like another Quantum Leap, the arguable flaw with Leap was how all actions made by "Sam" were purely argumentative. We never got to really "see" Sam's effect on the future; we just presumed he changed the past "for the better." By the end of each episode of Journeyman, Dan returns to present day, and we all get to see what affects his trips in time caused...for better, or for worse! What's not-so-cool? Dan's first mission really complicates his own life with his wife and kids. That's a far cry from Quantum Leap's sugary sweet approach, where every action Sam made was "obviously" a good one. Will fans of time-traveler sci-fi accept a series where time travel can lead to both good effects...and bad? Added Plus: As the lucky action series that gets to follow Heroes this fall, there doesn't seem to be much that can go wrong with this man's journey. Suffice to say; the only thing that could go wrong here is if the series starts to suck, and we don't see that happening.

New Amsterdam (FOX, Tuesdays at 8). What's it about? John Amsterdam (Nikolaj Coster Waldau) is a man who can't die. Nor can he age. Nor can he apparently be seriously injured, for that matter. What does an invincible man do for excitement? Stop crime; that's what. If only he could forget all the many loves he's lost throughout the centuries... What's so cool? Consider the premise of M. Knight Shyamalan's Unbreakable, with the twist that Bruce Willis' character had known he was "unbreakable" for hundreds of years. That's the premise here, and yes, that's pretty intriguing. What's not-so-cool? It's fair enough to say that this series resembles a lot of dramas FOX has offered in recent seasons...and it's even fairer to say: all those similar series were cancelled in one season. This is not insulting New Amsterdam in the least, as much as saying once again: FOX is not the best network to pitch a new drama series. Added Plus: Airing at 8 on Tuesdays means that New Amsterdam isn't forced to compete with NBC's powerful Heroes block on Mondays. In fact; the only other action series in that time slot is NCIS on CBS. If it can do half as good as NCIS it should do well. If, however, it actually does worse than that bizarre new sitcom "Cavemen" on ABC, you can kiss New Amsterdam goodbye.

The Singing Bee (NBC, Tuesdays at 9:30). What's it about? After tons of game shows trying to make people "millionaires," why not just have some fun for a change? This half hour primetime game show is easy to get the hang of, yet hard to master, as audience members try for the chance at a prize ranging from 5 to 50 grand. What's so cool? Joey Fatone isn't just a good host because of how likeable he is, and how friendly he is to the guests. Having a "singing bee" host who's belonged to an actual music group is a nice touch. Having a live band "begin" each singing bee song is another nice touch, and adds to the fun more than mere CD audio clips. It's just, overall, a very nice and likeable game show! What's not-so-cool? The show must follow a 90 minute episode of The Biggest Loser, which isn't the best time slot for a half hour game show. Added Plus: Airing during the summer as mere "filler," the show did so well that it earned its own Fall TV time slot long after NBC had already announced its "final" fall preview lineup. That's pretty impressive, really.

Big Shots (ABC, Thursdays at 10). What's it about? Four CEOs will do whatever it takes to stay on top. It's a drama about sex and money, from the highest position possible. What's so cool? The premise sounds cliche until I tell you who plays the CEOs: Dylan McDermott (The Practice), Christopher Titus (Titus), Joshua Malina (The West Wing), and Michael Vartan (Alias). What's not-so-cool? There's no denying that women are the biggest fans of nighttime dramas like this. Will they warm up to a drama whose four leads are all men? Added Plus: As the series that gets to follow the coveted Thursday night time slot after Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy, there seems to be very high hopes for this drama. Of course, that's what everyone said about 6 Degrees last season.

Dirty Sexy Money (ABC, Wednesdays at 10). What's it about? Sounds to us like someone wants to "re-imagine" the typical "rich family" primetime dramas of the 1980's: Dallas, Dynasty, and so on. If this series succeeds; the rich and pompous Darling family might be the next "Ewings" or "Carringtons" of television drama. What's so cool? This series' casting department worked overtime on this one: Donald Dutherland and Jill Clayburgh are the heads of the Darling clan. The series' lead character is played by Peter Krause (Six Feet Under, Sports Night). William Baldwin plays the role of Patrick Darling, who might be the next J.R. Ewing based on this series' premise. What's not-so-cool? ABC is the network where dramas not named "Lost" are pretty much doomed to cancellation, no matter how good they might be. They cancelled The Nine. The cancelled Six Degrees. They cancelled Daybreak when by all accounts, that series was only meant as a mid-season "mini series" to begin with! We wish this series lots of success and a hearty renewal, and yet...it's on ABC, and that's bad news for drama these days. Added Plus: Of all the guest characters of The O.C. which we would've loved to see again, one name stands out: Samaire Armstrong, who played Seth's tomboyish girlfriend Anna in the first season. No longer a mere guest star; she's now in the role of the young and mysterious Juliet Darling. As we said before: the casting department worked overtime for this one.

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Think the above shows were easy to make look good? Check out the seven shows that didn't make the cut:

Fall Season's "Unlucky Seven," 2007

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