A distinct chill in the air and browning leaves appearing on the trees can only mean one thing - a new season of fall TV.
We've all waited on the edge of our seats for the answers to the cliffhangers of our favorite shows from last season, and anticipated the arrival of new shows to replace our cancelled favorites. Now that it's here, was it worth the wait?
It's imperative when talking about this season's premieres to start with Friends (NBC, Thursdays 8 p.m.), the beginning of the end. With tear-filled eyes we all acknowledge that this is the long-running show's final season and even with Matt LeBlanc's (Joey) impending spinoff, it's hard to say goodbye.
The season picked up where it left off with Joey and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) lip locked while Ross (David Schwimmer) and Joey's oh-so recent ex, guest star Aisha Tyler, share some face time in the adjacent room. Joey and Rachael spend the entire episode attempting to tell Ross about their current situation, but alas fail to, only to have him walk into the apartment and finding them kissing. The premiere reminded us why we love the humor of Friends, and why white girls should never get their hair braided with shells.
To continue with NBC's "Must See TV" the new season of Will and Grace (NBC, Thursdays 9 p.m.) was a little flat. The show's central theme of Will (Eric MacCormack) searching for love is getting old and even with Debra Messing's Emmy win, married Grace isn't as enjoyable as single Grace. However, no one can deny the comic genius of Karen (Megan Mullally). Her wit, overtly funny sexuality and mean spirited banter keep the show entertaining to watch.
ER's (NBC, Thursdays 10 p.m.) season premiere started the way every ER season starts, last season's med students are this season's doctors, and a new med student comes on the scene and turns some heads. Besides the horrific car wreck the only tragedy of this season's start is the ruined relationship between Abby (Maura Tierney) and Carter (Noah Wyle).
Two new shows have the pleasure of competition for the Thursday 9:30 audience, NBC's Coupling and The WB's Run of the House. However, there's no real competition, because they're both awful.
Coupling attempts to cash in on raunchy humor and a good-looking cast. The all-sex, no substance center of the show isn't entertaining, rather it's just sad, very sad.
Run of the House stars Joey Lawrence as the older brother of a motley crew of siblings. Someone please tell me why Lawrence, who now insists on going by Joseph, hasn't gotten the hint that he and sitcoms are a recipe for disaster?
The one role that Lawrence plays with minimal damage is Michael Brooks, the American Bandstand producer, on American Dreams (NBC, Sundays 8 p.m.). American Dreams was a breakout hit for NBC last season and will continue to be as we all bite our lip wondering what will happen to J.J. (Will Estes) in the army and what romantic complications will Meg (Brittany Snow) find herself in. With barrage of musical guest stars and the catchy music of the '60s, this show will continue to enchant audiences.
While NBC seems to have hit the nail on the head with most of its programming, we must all pause and ask, why Whoopi?
Using inappropriate jokes to spark controversy and hopefully any interest, Whoopi (NBC, Tuesdays 8 p.m.) fails. Whoopi Goldberg has been around for awhile and has entertained audiences in various mediums. However, sitcoms are not her forte; rather she should return the venue which audience can actually tolerate her in, Hollywood Squares.
The WB is playing it safe.
Gilmore Girls (Tuesdays 8 p.m.), Smallville (Wednesdays 8 p.m.), and 7th Heaven (Mondays 8 p.m.) all return to their faithful audiences with the assurance of plot twists and turns that will keep us riveted.
The careful addition to the WB teen drama line up is One Tree Hill (WB, Tuesdays 9 p.m.) staring Chad Michael Murry of Dawson's Creek and Gilmore Girls fame. The melodrama of two boys who share the same father and go to the same school but live on opposite sides of the tracks, or so the cliché goes, is entertaining in its overly dramatic silliness. However, one casting decision angers me. Who told Hilarie Burton, barely even an MTV VJ, she was an actress?
Fall TV talk is never complete without talk about a reality dating show. This time it's The Bachelor (ABC, Wednesday 9 p.m.), starring Bob. Bob Guiney, who's being called the anti-hunk, poor guy, is the latest Bachelor. Bob may not be the typical Bachelor, he makes women go "awww" rather then "damn," but it'll be entertaining to find out whether women really value a good sense of humor.
Alicia Silverstone hits the small screen, and thankfully not in another attempt at a Clueless spinoff. Miss Match (NBC, Fridays 8 p.m.) stars Silverstone as Kate Fox, a divorce lawyer with a knack for matchmaking. A beautiful girl with the ability to solve everyone's love problems except her own is a cliched concept I'll admit, but Silverstone is too loveable to hate. Should you find yourself in on a Friday night this show will stop your channel surfing.
Hope and Faith is part of the return of an ABC tradition, TGIF. The new TGIF line up consists of George Lopez (Fridays 8 p.m.), Married to the Kellys (Fridays 8:30 p.m.), Hope and Faith (Fridays 9 p.m.) and Life with Bonnie (Friday 9:30 p.m.). The nicest thing I can say about this line-up is it makes me reminisce for the days of Urkel.
Overall, I'm optimistic about this new TV season, but look out for a lot of mid-season replacements when all the stupidly greenlighted shows fail.
