Wow. Look at them on the grid on the next page-the new and returning shows that make up the 2001-02 fall television season.
It’s a lot of stuff, huh? There are more than 30 new shows on that schedule, many of which premiere this week.
In Sunday’s Arts & Entertainment section, media critic Steve Johnson assesses the new offerings. He’ll also provide a day-by-day breakdown this week in Tempo.
But if you just want a short preview, here is at least one series from each network that we think is a must-see (to rip off a catchphrase that a certain network has run into the ground):
“Alias,” 8 p.m. Sundays, ABC (WLS-Ch. 7) — Visually arresting with an interesting lead, this spy caper, one of several making its way on the schedule this fall, is about a government operative (Jennifer Garner) whose cover is being a college student. J.J. Abrams, the maker of “Felicity,” created “Alias.” He seems to have a feel for writing conflicted women faced with jarring challenges.
“The Education of Max Bickford,” 7 p.m. Sundays, CBS (WBBM-Ch. 2) — Academy Award-winner Richard Dreyfuss stars in his first TV drama as a complicated college teacher who re-evaluates his life just as a position he is up for is taken by a former student (Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden).
The series promises strong, complex drama, with Dreyfuss taking center stage.
“24,” 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Fox (WFLD-Ch. 32) — And they say there aren’t any new ideas on TV anymore. The second new CIA-based series plays out in real time, with each hour of a day getting an episode. The show follows an agent (Kiefer Sutherland) trying to prevent the assassination of a presidential hopeful (Dennis Haysbert), while dealing with the disappearance of his rebellious teenage daughter (Elisha Cuthbert).
The producers will have to bank on whether people will want to commit to each and every episode, but the promise of some tight action should help with that.
“Scrubs,” 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, NBC (WMAQ-Ch. 5) — With a visual tip of the cap to Fox’s “Malcolm in the Middle” comes this smart comedy about a group of medical interns led by John “J.D.- Dorian (Zach Braff), who interacts with a flurry of weird doctors and nutty patients.
The film style, appealing cast and subtle drama all help to make “Scrubs” one of the best new comedies of the season.
“Enterprise,” 7 p.m. Wednesdays, UPN (WPWR-Ch. 50) — Although not yet ready for preview, “Enterprise” has two things going for it: It’s a smart take on the durable “Star Trek” legend, and it’s one of only two new shows UPN is presenting this season. And the other show, “One on One,” isn’t the greatest.
The series takes place about 100 years before the original “Trek,” when mankind has just started interstellar exploration.
“Smallville,” 8 p.m. Tuesdays, the WB (WGN-Ch. 9) — With one of the best pilots of the preseason, this is a highly anticipated show. It’s a high-flying action series on Superman’s teenage years,, when young Clark Kent (Tom Welling) deals with both high school angst and emerging super powers.
