Fall TV preview, part i

Well, it's September so you know that I am gearing up for my 2nd annual Fall TV preview. This year, like last year, I warn you ahead of time that I am not heading off to California and New York to conduct personal interviews with TV producers or bothering Tom Welling or Dominic Monaghan. Rather, I am sitting on my butt in my own home and reading Entertainment Weekly's Fall TV double issue and surfing to a few websites.

In short, I am blatantly repurposing the hard work of real journalists and passing it along to you. I hope you don't mind. I doubt that I will cover every new show or give opinions on every returning show. Instead, I'll try to convey what some new trends are for this year, what are the shows getting lots of early interest, discussing some favorites from the past, and casting criticism on bad shows that should never have money wasted on them (Whoopi anyone?).

But, in an effort to spice things up a bit this year and to make it more interesting for you and me, I will present my thoughts on shows in haiku form . . . so, its fun for everyone.

On with the preview.
Fall TV is upon us.
Let's get it started.

*****
SUNDAY

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
(abc@9)
Emmy noms for them
Alfre on Wisteria
Is it hot once more?

WEST WING
(nbc@8)
Now on Sunday night
Alda runs for White House berth
Does anyone care?

THE WAR AT HOME
(fox@8:30)
New sitcom on Fox
Smells like Married . . . with Children
Dime-a-dozen show

AMERICAN DAD
(fox@9:30)
Works for CIA
Voted for Dubya--no doubt
It's no Family Guy

EXTREME MAKEOVER:
HOME EDITION
(abc@8)
Ty P. as savior?
What happens when camera's off?
Palace in the 'hood!

THE SIMPSONS
(fox@8)
Seventeen seasons . . .
How can they keep it going?
More Sideshow Bob, please!

GREY'S ANATOMY
(abc@10)
Never watched the show
But it's got Sandra Oh, right?
No wine; she's a doc.

MONDAY

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL
(fox@8:30)
Alias' Will and
Xander from Buffy means that
I'll give it a shot.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
(cbs@8:30)
Flashback from future
Tells of dates in the present
Wonder Years . . . Doogie!

7TH HEAVEN
(wb@8)
Ten years of this crap?
Only on WB, I reckon
Red States must love it?

PRISON BREAK
(fox@9)
Debuted last Monday
Already gets lots of buzz
Brothers in the clink

SURFACE
(nbc@8)
This is a "Lost" clone
Sea creatures cause stir world-wide
I think about Signs.

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
(fox@8)
Critics love this show
but its ratings always poor;
will Mondays fix that?

WIFE SWAP
(abc@8)
Returns from last year
Want to try out a new spouse?
e-mail ABC