Television

NBC

DRAMA

E-Ring

Wednesday 9 PM

L-R: Aunjanue Ellis, Benjamin Bratt, Dennis Hopper and Kelsey Oldershaw NBC Photo:

Executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer (C.S.I. franchise), Oscar-nominated director/producer Taylor Hackford (Ray) and actors Benjamin Bratt and Dennis Hopper join forces for storytelling inside the nation's ultimate fortress: the Pentagon. It's a hub of explosive conflicts between our military heroes and the civilians to whom they report, a world where crises can escalate into life-and-death climaxes for individuals and entire nations. It's often a delicate balance between protecting the homeland, all of mankind or the life of a lone soldier.

Cast:
Benjamin Bratt, Dennis Hopper, Aunjanue Ellis, Kelsey Oldershaw, Kelly Rutherford

Surface

Monday 8 PM

L-R: Rade Sherbedgia, Lake Bell, Jay Ferguson, Carter Jenkins, Leighton Meester NBC Photo:

Ever wonder what life would be like if a new form of sea life began to appear in locales all over the Earth? Naval officers in the South Antarctic Sea, a family in San Diego, the Oceanographic Institute in Monterey, and fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico are about to find out. The organisms are beautiful, but are these innocent creatures more than what they seem? Embark on this unfathomable journey to discover what might be lurking just below the surface.

Cast:
Lake Bell, Jay Ferguson, Rade Sherbedgia, Carter Jenkins, Leighton Meester

Looks good.

Inconceivable

Friday 10 PM

L-R: Kevin Alejandro, Joelle Carter, Ming-Na, Jonathan Cake, David Noroña, Mary Catherine Garrison Photo

This delightful ensemble drama concerns one of the most complicated questions: to conceive or not to conceive. The doctors of the Family Options Fertility Clinic are on a noble quest to help desperate couples give birth. Except these doctors are often distracted by their personal quests involving sex, deception and secrets. Navigating through ultrasounds and super-egos, missing frozen embryos and impending malpractice suits, it's positively clear that life inside this clinic is anything but sterile.

Maybe... It's certainly ground breaking!

Cast:
Ming-Na, Jonathan Cake, David Noroña, Kevin Alejandro, Joelle Carter, Mary Catherine Garrison

Comedy

My Name Is Earl
Tuesday 9 PM

L-R: Nadine Velasquez, Jason Lee, Ethan Suplee, Jaime Pressly, Eddie Steeples - NBC Photo

Karma is a boomerang and it's about to hit Earl in the back of the head. A likeable low-rent crook, Earl has an epiphany after winning a small fortune in the lottery and hearing words of wisdom from none other than Carson Daly. Determined to turn his good luck into a life-changing event, he sets out to right all his past wrongs. This comedy, like Earl himself, has a voice and style all its own.

Cast:
Jason Lee, Ethan Suplee, Jaime Pressly, Nadine Velasquez, Eddie Steeples

Reality

The Apprentice: Martha Stewart

Wednesday 8 PM

Need we say more?

Three Wishes

Friday 9 PM

Far right: Amy Grant NBC Photo

NBC will be making wishes come true in this new series hosted by five-time Grammy-winning artist Amy Grant. Leading a team of experts to small towns across the country, Grant will help make the hopes and unbelievable dreams of deserving people a reality. From paying tribute to an unsung hero to helping a homeless family in the grip of a life-threatening medical crisis, this emotional and inspirational series will remind us never to underestimate the impact one life can have on another.

Host: Amy Grant
Featuring: Carter Oosterhouse, Eric Stromer, Amanda Miller, Diane Mizota

Returning
Will & Grace, The West Wing, Las Vegas and Medium

SCI FI Channel
Battlestar Galactica

ABC

DRAMA

Commander In Chief

Premieres Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 9/8c

ABC Photo

Mackenzie Allen (Academy Award®-winner Geena Davis), the 45-year-old Independent Vice President of the United States, is about to venture into territory no woman has entered before. While at an official ceremony with husband and Chief of Staff Rod Allen (Kyle Secor), she is informed by the President's Chief of Staff, Jim Gardner (Harry Lennix), and the Attorney General that President Bridges is about to undergo emergency brain surgery for a tumor.

Mackenzie is stunned when Gardner tells her that, in the event the President does not recover, the party doesn't want her to succeed him. Instead, she's asked to step down in order to allow the Speaker of the House to assume the post, as he shares the party's ideals.

Mackenzie's doubts are confirmed when she visits President Bridges at the hospital and hears from him directly that he wants her to resign. Bridges dies before transition plans are finalized, however, and after sitting through an insulting and sexist conversation with Speaker of the House Nathan Templeton (Donald Sutherland), Mackenzie decides to forge ahead and assume the presidency, despite the obstacles that lie ahead.

Aside from the challenges Mackenzie faces, husband Rod has his own hurdles to overcome, as he finds himself being ushered into a pink and feminine office by the first lady's aide. Her children, six-year-old Amy (Jasmine Anthony), as well as twins Horace (Matt Lanter), one of the most popular kids in school, and Rebecca (Caitlin Wachs), a rebellious teenager with raging hormones, must also learn to deal with their mother's new role as leader of the free world.

Meeting with a saddened Congress and addressing a stunned nation, Mackenzie delivers an inaugural speech with the help of press secretary Kelly Ludlow (Ever Carradine), which manages to unite a grieving country, quell the critics who feel she's not up to the task, and look to the bright future which lies ahead, led by the first female President of the United States.

The series was created by Rod Lurie, acclaimed writer/director of the Oscar-nominated film, The Contender. Mr. Lurie, Marc Frydman and Dee Johnson serve as executive producers. The pilot was written and directed by Rod Lurie. Commander in Chief is produced by Touchstone Television in association with Battle Plan Productions.

CAST
Geena Davis: Mackenzie Allen, Donald Sutherland: Nathan Templeton, Harry J. Lennix: Gardner, Kyle Secor: Rod Allen, Ever Carradine: Katheryn, Caitlin Wachs: Rebecca Allen, Matt Lanter: Horace Allen, Jasmine Anthony: Amy Allen

Invasion
Premieres Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 10/9c

ABC Photo

From famed writer/producer Shaun Cassidy (Cold Case, American Gothic, Cover Me) comes a suspenseful tale of a blended family trying to recover from a devastating hurricane and its mysterious aftermath.

For centuries man has searched the skies for signs of intelligent life forms. What if those life forms were already here? And what if some of the natural disasters we've been experiencing of late were merely smokescreens to mask something far more ominous?

For dedicated park ranger Russell Varon (Eddie Cibrian, Third Watch), a divorced father of two who is expecting a third child with his new wife, local television reporter Larkin Groves (Lisa Sheridan), the hurricane proves to be merely the beginning of a long journey into the unknown. Always skeptical about the paranoid conspiracy theories of his wayward brother-in-law, Dave (Tyler Labine, ABC's That Was Then), Russell may have to revise his thinking when a number of bizarre occurrences start taking place in his community. Though Russell's young daughter, Rose (Ariel Gade), claims to have seen hundreds of lights floating towards the water during the storm, Russell initially dismisses her claim - until he begins to suspect that something is very wrong with his ex-wife, Dr. Mariel Underlay (Kari Matchett, Angel Eyes). The morning after the storm, Mariel is found naked in the water -- with no memory of what transpired the night before.

As the tiny town of Homestead, Florida struggles to rebuild itself, Sheriff Tom Underlay (William Fichtner, 2005's The Longest Yard, Black Hawk Down, Armageddon, Go, Contact) -- who is married to Russell's ex-wife -- suspiciously orders the entire area quarantined. Russell starts to investigate the strange goings on and unknowingly begins a fight for the survival of his family, his community, and what might ultimately be the whole human race.

Shaun Cassidy created the series and serves as executive producer. Lawrence Trilling (director -- Alias, Nip/Tuck, Scrubs) is co-executive producer and multiple Emmy Award-winning director Thomas Schlamme (The West Wing, ER, Sports Night) is executive consultant. Invasion is from Shaun Cassidy Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.

CAST
William Fichtner: Sheriff Underlay, Eddie Cibrian: Russell, Lisa Sheridan: Larkin, Kari Matchett: Mariel, Tyler Labine: Dave, Evan Peters: Jesse, Ariel Gade: Rose, Alexis Dziena: Kira, Aisha Hinds: Mona Gomez

Night Stalker
Premieres Thursday, Sept. 29 at 9/8c

L-R: Photo

Carl Kolchak is the "Night Stalker," a newspaper reporter who investigates strange deaths and unexplained phenomena. He asks the questions that no one else will about the cases the police can't -- or won't -- solve.

Based on the cult favorite '70s classic, Night Stalker is an all-new mystery series starring Stuart Townsend (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), Gabrielle Union (The Honeymooners), Cotter Smith (X2) and Eric Jungmann (Not Another Teen Movie).

Eighteen months ago, a sudden attack on a deserted highway left Kolchak (Townsend) injured but alive. His wife wasn't so lucky. Since then, the reporter's determination to find out who - or what -- killed her has led him to track other unexplained, violent deaths, all touched by the supernatural. But he's trying to piece together a puzzle that keeps changing shape. How are the crimes related? And why do some victims end up with a strange red birthmark on their wrists?

Kolchak is convinced that something terrible is happening, but the authorities don't seem to agree with him, especially the FBI -- in their eyes, Kolchak is the number one suspect in his wife's death.

A murder shockingly like his wife's leads Kolchak to Los Angeles, where he has signed on as a writer with the L.A. Beacon newspaper. His former boss, Tony Vincenzo (Cotter Smith), grateful that Kolchak once made Vincenzo's career with one of his scoops, has given him a second chance as a crime reporter.

Kolchak's colleague, senior crime reporter Perri Reed (Union), is just as eager to get a good story, but she's skeptical of Kolchak's wild theories. Still, she's impressed by his uncanny ability to ferret out information that no one else dares to. Young and ambitious photographer Jain McManus (Jungmann) is a little more eager to go along with Kolchak. Together Reed and McManus will aid him as he follows bizarre and the inexplicable stories that you won't find printed in any newspaper.

Frank Spotnitz (The X Files) is creator and executive producer of the series. Dan Sackheim (The X Files) is executive producer and director of the series, from Touchstone Television.

CAST
Stuart Townsend: Carl Kolchak, Gabrielle Union: Perri Reed, Eric Jungmann: Jain McManus, Cotter Smith: Tony Vincenzo

This ain't like the original!

In Justice
Mid-Season

L-R: Photo

There are a lot of procedurals on the air that focus on putting people in jail. This is a show about getting them out.

Every year, hundreds of innocent men and women get convicted of crimes they didn't commit. Sloppy police work. False testimony. Biased juries. In the blink of an eye an innocent man can lose his life to the mistakes of an imperfect system. And every year the number of innocents who live without hope behind bars multiplies, while the real criminals walk free.

The innocent have finally found a champion in a blustery but charismatic attorney named David Swayne. A legendary litigator, Swayne is the head of the Justice Project, a high-profile, non-profit organization made up of hungry young associates who fight to overturn wrongful convictions, liberate the falsely accused and discover the identity of those really to blame. Whether the ego driven Swayne is doing this in the pursuit of justice or publicity remains to be seen. Thank goodness he has his partner, crackerjack investigator and ex-cop Charles Conti, to keep him honest. He's the serious to Swayne's swagger and together they work to rectify the mistakes of the justice system one case at a time.

Real life stories inspire this legal drama reminiscent of Reversal of Fortune in which clients who are presumed guilty must ultimately be proven innocent.

CAST
Jason O'Mara: Charles Conti, Kyle MacLachlan: David Swayne, Constance Zimmer: Brianna, Daniel Cosgrove: Jon, Marisol Nichols: Tina

The Evidence
Mid-Season

ABC Photo

People lie. The evidence doesn't. It's the foundation of every conviction - with evidence, justice is possible; without evidence, guilty men walk free.

Acclaimed producer John Wells, (ER, The West Wing, Third Watch) and director Gary Fleder (Blind Justice, Runaway Jury) put a fascinating twist on the standard police procedural. At the top of each episode, all of the clues (a locket, a phone, a severed finger) are revealed in a videotaped evidence log. The show then flashes to the day the crime was committed and invites our viewers to play along with our heroes as they find each clue, determine its meaning, put the pieces of the puzzle together and figure out who done it.

No one knows the importance of evidence more than Inspector Sean Cole. After he lost his wife in a brutal murder, the only evidence the cops had was accidentally destroyed, and it ruined his faith in the system. Fortunately his partner and best friend, Bishop, is there for him, pulling him back to work, pushing him forward, as they both try solve these complex cases set against the beautiful streets of San Francisco.

CAST
Martin Landau: Dr. Sol Gold, Orlando Jones: Cayman Bishop, Nicky Katt: Inspector Sean Cole

What About Brian
Mondays at 10/9c (Starting January)

ABC Photo

Brian is the guy everyone wants as a best friend. He's the guy who'll stand by you at your wedding, drive you to the hospital, cheer your kids on at their little league game... the guy who every wife dotes on and every husband wants to either grab a beer with or live vicariously through him. But as all of his friends pair off and Brian emerges as the last bachelor standing, questions begin to arise in his head: Is there such a thing as Miss Right? Why does love have to be so complicated? What is his problem with commitment? And the most pressing question of all, could all of his problems stem from the fact that he is harboring a crush on his best friend's girl?

At 34, Brian is the last single guy in his group of friends: his best friend Adam was going to break up with picture-perfect Marjorie but proposed instead. Brian's sister, Nic, and her boy-toy husband, Angelo, are trying hard to have kids. The bohemian Dave and Deena have three little girls and no sex life. And, like all married people, they can't wait for Brian to join their "club," though they're not exactly sure why. As for Brian, well, he's a serial monogamist but still holds out hope that one day he'll open the door and be blinded by love.

What About Brian is from the producers of Lost and Alias and the screenwriter of City of Angels and For Love of the Game.

CAST
Barry Watson: Brian, Matthew Davis: Adam, Polly Shannon: Marjorie, Rick Gomez: Dave, Amanda Detmer: Deena, Raoul Bova: Angelo, Rosanna Arquette: Nic

Comedy

Emily's Reasons Why Not
Mondays, 9/8c

Heather Graham - ABC Photo

Emily Sanders has many things going for her. She's young, single, has terrific friends and a great job in publishing. In fact, she's got the hottest selling book in town. Unfortunately, she's just closed the chapter on her relationship with the roguishly handsome, two-timing author.

Now a lovelorn Emily must face the fact that the self-described "flutter-flutter" of her heart can't be considered a trusted compass. However, like any successful professional, Emily has a plan. From here-on-out, she's going to listen to the "Reasons." Five "Reasons Why Not" and he's history. The "Reasons" will not only guide her in matters of love, but life in general. For instance, steering clear of her back-stabbing former assistant, Glitter.

Based on the bestselling novel of one successful single woman's search for love, this smart and stylish comedy explores life, love and sex in the city from an independent woman's point of view.

CAST
Heather Graham: Emily Sanders, Nadia Dajani: Reilly, Khary Payton: Josh, Smith Cho: Glitter

Crumbs
Mid-Season

Maggie Lawson, Fred Savage, Eddie McClintock, Jane Curtin, William Devane - ABC Photo

Family is enough to drive anyone a little crazy. Children keep secrets from their parents so they won't upset them, dads leave for other women and moms try to run over dads with the car. Actually, that was the point when the Crumb family knew Mom was crazy.

Estranged brothers Mitch and Jack Crumb reunite in their small hometown to deal with their mother Suzanne, who is being released from a psychiatric country club and has yet to discover that her ex-husband is about to have a baby with his new girlfriend. They have issues… major issues. Central to everything is the dynamic between these two brothers; Mitch is the prodigal son who is returning home after a failed Hollywood career, and Jack is the older brother who has stayed in the confines of their small New England town to run the family business. Together for the first time as adults, this family will have to stick by one another despite their combustible relationships.

The creator of Caroline in the City mines his own WASP family for comic gold that's smart, funny and surprising. Starring Fred Savage (The Wonder Years) and Jane Curtin (two-time Emmy Award winner for Kate & Allie, SNL, 3rd Rock from the Sun) and from the producers of Smallville and One Tree Hill comes an offbeat comedy everyone can relate to.

CAST
Fred Savage: Mitch, Jane Curtin: Suzanne, Eddie McClintock: Jody, William Devane: Billy, Maggie Lawson: Andrea

Freddie
Premieres Wednesday, October 5 at 8:30/7:30c

Photo Photo

Freddie Prinze, Jr. makes his television series starring debut in this offbeat family comedy from the team behind The Drew Carey Show and George Lopez. Freddie Moreno (Prinze) had finally escaped from the raucous house of women with whom he grew up. Having achieved some success as head chef at a trendy Chicago restaurant, he's ready for love and everything else that single life has to offer, including hanging out with his best friend and neighbor, Chris (Brian Green, Beverly Hills 90210). Unfortunately, there's one slight hitch: After the death of his older brother and the collapse of his sister's (Jacqueline Obradors, NYPD Blue) marriage, goodhearted Freddie took in his impulsive sister-in-law, his pragmatic sister with her 13-year-old daughter (Chloe Suazo, The Comeback) and their irascible grandma (Jenny Gago, Coach Carter), who refuses to speak English and only responds in Spanish -- even though she understands every word. But while the members of this unconventional brood may test Freddie's patience endlessly, they also support and take care of one another, just as they always have. Now all Freddie has to do is figure out how to maintain his thriving bachelor lifestyle in a house overflowing with estrogen.

Freddie is inspired by Freddie Prinze Jr.'s real life, growing up in a house filled with women (his mother and Puerto Rican grandmother). His life-long friend, Conrad Jackson, co-created this series with Prinze, along with executive producers Bruce Helford and Bruce Rasmussen. The friendship between Freddie and Chris in the show is loosely based on their lives. Prinze stars in the new sitcom, which he has co-created and will write, and for which he will also assume a role as the youngest executive producer in ABC's history.

Bruce Helford, Deborah Oppenheimer, Bruce Rasmussen and Freddie Prinze, Jr. serve as executive producers. Freddie, which is filmed before an audience, is from Warner Bros. Television.

CAST
Freddie Prinze, Jr.: Freddie, Jacqueline Obradors: Sofia, Brian Green: Chris, Mädchen Amick: Allison, Jenny Gago: Grandma, Chloe Suazo: Zoey

Hot Properties
Premieres Friday, October 7 at 9:30/8:30c

ABC Photo

From one of the Emmy Award-winning producers of the mega-hit Frasier comes an ensemble comedy featuring four unpredictable women working together in a Manhattan real estate office. These very different career women are at various stages in their lives and, when they're not catering to high-end clients, they're coping with their own personal predicaments.

Fortysomething realtor Ava Summerlin (Gail O'Grady) runs the Hot Properties real estate firm. This former party animal is totally in love with her new husband, a handsome 25-year-old who doesn't know her real age -- a fact her co-workers remind her of often. Ava and her husband want to start a family as soon as possible, but something's not right and Ava wonders if it's her age or his "swimmers" that are preventing their dream from coming true.

Then there is Chloe Reid (Nicole Sullivan), who could find happiness with any guy who could simply remember her the day after their date. A self-help book junkie, Chloe is still digesting the book that has helped her realize that no one has ever been that "into" her.

Recently divorced after being married to a gay man -- unknowingly -- for ten years, voluptuous Lola Hernandez (Sof'a Vergara) needs to sharpen her "gay-dar" before jumping back into the dating pool -- which she dreads. Unafraid to speak her mind, Lola seems oblivious to the effect she has on men.

The latest addition to this eclectic work group is the young, rich and never-worked-a-day-in-her-life Emerson Ives (Christina Moore). Emerson instantly bonds with the women -- who began their relationship with her as her real estate agents -- upon learning that her supposedly virginal fianc? was anything but.

Down the hall, the ladies' office neighbors consist of cute, divorced therapist Dr. Sellers Boyd (Evan Handler), who analyzes and overthinks everything, and cocky, sexy dermatologist Dr. Charlie Thorpe (Stephen Dunham), a guys' guy who shoots from the hip and likes to keep things on a skin-deep level.

The floor's receptionist and resident busybody is Mary (Amy Hill), mother of five and married forever. She delivers messages and packages to the gang, as well as unsolicited advice and the latest gossip.

Strong friendships are fueled by all these distinct personalities. Though they may be at different points in their lives, these friends and officemates share a common bond of being there for each other through thick and thin.

The creator/executive producer is Suzanne Martin and the co-executive producer is Jay Daniel. Hot Properties tapes before a studio audience at the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, and is from Interbang Inc., in association with Warner Bros. Television.

CAST
Gail O'Grady: Ava Summerlin, Nicole Sullivan: Chloe Reid, Sofia Vergara: Lola Hernandez, Christina Moore: Emerson Ives, Stephen Dunham: Dr. Charlie Thorpe, Evan Handler: Dr. Sellers Boyd, Amy Hill: Mary

Sons & Daughters
Mid-Season

ABC Photo

Fred Goss (Significant Others) stars in this unique hybrid comedy series that offers a mix of improvisational and scripted humor in an unadulterated look at marriage, raising children and living in close proximity to an extended family. Series creators Goss and Nick Holly borrow from their own middle-American, middle-class upbringings to deliver a very real and relatable modern-day family comedy.

At the center of the family dynamic is Cameron (Goss), happily married to his second wife, Liz (Gillian Vigman, Mad TV), and the father of three children with her. One of the speed bumps on their road to domestic bliss comes from Cameron's resentful teenaged son from his first marriage who recently moved in and is not adjusting well to life with his father and new step-family.

Cameron's life is further complicated by his sister, Sharon (Alison Quinn), and her husband, Don (Jerry Lambert), seemingly happily married with two teenaged children -- yet both in deep denial on several issues, including a current years-long sex drought.

Cameron and Sharon's very pretty younger stepsister, Jenna (Amanda Walsh) -- the "it girl" when she was in high school -- had her career plans derailed by becoming a single mom. She continues to be attracted to "bad" boys like Tommy White, AKA Whitey (Greg Pitts), and not to the nice guys -- like Wylie (Desmond Harrington) -- who are attracted to her.

The three siblings' parents, Colleen (Dee Wallace) and Wendal (Max Gail), are extremely devoted to their adult children and their grandchildren but, not surprisingly, have some issues of their own. Colleen, a little uptight and impulsively judgmental, both likes and dislikes the safe and comfortable environment that husband Wendal has provided for 25 years. A good guy, Wendal juggles and struggles with the varied relationships he has with his extended family members.

Executive producers are multi-Emmy Award-winning producer Lorne Michaels (Saturday Night Live), JoAnn Alfano (The Tracy Morgan Show), Fred Goss and Nick Holly. The pilot was co-written by Fred Goss and Nick Holly. Sons & Daughters is from NBC Universal Television Studio and Lorne Michaels' Broadway Video Television.

Fred Goss: Cameron Walker
Gillian Vigman: Liz Walker
Alison Quinn: Sharon Fenton
Jerry Lambert: Don Fenton
Amanda Walsh: Jenna Halbert
Greg Pitts: Tommy White
Desmond Harrington: Wylie Blake
Dee Wallace: Colleen Halbert
Max Gail: Wendal Halbert

Reality/Alternative

The Miracle Workers
Mid-Season

The Miracle Workers are an elite team of physicians who embrace revolutionary medical treatments many never knew existed. Each week, the show will focus on a single patient with a serious medical condition and follow as this dream team of medical professionals changes his or her life forever through treatment. The team will utilize their extraordinary expertise in cutting edge medical technology to restore not only the health but also the hope of the patient. Each episode will feature some of the world's most renowned medical experts performing breakthrough procedures to heal those who need it most. For individuals who otherwise would never have access to elite medical specialists or the ability to afford costly procedures, The Miracle Workers will make possible what was previously thought impossible.

CBS

DRAMA

Close To Home
Tuesday 10 PM

Jennifer Finnigan - CBS Photo

Megaproducer Jerry Bruckheimer (CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, COLD CASE) now turns his focus from crime to punishment in a compelling and suspenseful look at suburbia through the eyes of an aggressive prosecutor (Jennifer Finnigan) with a perfect conviction rate. It's suburbia's quiet and peaceful streets that sometimes hide the darkest horrors and the most troubling offenses. It's up to this working new mother, as determined and skilled as Bruckheimer's many other heroes, to investigate those offenses and bring the malefactors to justice.

Jennifer Finnigan as Annabeth Chase
John Carroll Lynch as Steve Sharpe
Kimberly Elise as Maureen Scofield
Christian Kane as Jack Chase

Ah, it's a giant leap. A little too daytime soapy.

Criminal Minds
Wednesday 9PM

Mandy Patinkin, Thomas Gibson, Lola Glaudini - CBS Photo

From executive producer Mark Gordon ("The Day After Tomorrow") comes CRIMINAL MINDS, a thrill-a-minute drama about a group of "mind hunters," the elite squad of profilers in the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, who meticulously piece together portraits of killers and other major offenders, leading to what they hope will be the arrest of a prime suspect. Emmy® winner Mandy Patinkin ("Chicago Hope") returns to CBS as the leader of a team of investigators, including Golden Globe nominee Thomas Gibson ("Dharma & Greg"), who are as skilled as they are determined to get inside the criminal mind and get the criminals off the streets.

Mandy Patinkin as Gideon
Thomas Gibson as Hotch
Lola Glaudini as Elle
Shemar Moore as Morgan
Matthew Gray Gubler as Reid

Not bad.

Ghost Whisperer
Friday 8 PM

Jennifer Love Hewitt - CBS Photo

Jennifer Love Hewitt returns to series television in a riveting look at the link between the living and the dead, between life and death. Inspired by the cases of famed psychic James Van Praagh, it focuses on a young newlywed endowed with the unique ability to communicate with spirits, who has spent her entire life coping with this extraordinary gift, but who also yearns to lead an ordinary life--if only the dead would stop talking. And what they are saying leads her to some unusual psychic investigations.

Jennifer Love Hewitt as Melinda Gordon
David Conrad as Jim Clancy
Aisha Tyler as Andrea Moreno

Mixed feelings. Part Medium, Part Ghost. May have potential. Jennifer Love Hewit is just too poppy.

Comedy

How I Met Your Mother
Monday 8:30 PM

CBS Photo

Marshall has just dropped a bombshell on best friend Ted. He's going to propose to his long-time girlfriend. Now don't get Ted wrong: he's thrilled with the news. But it makes him realize that he had better get a move on if he hopes to find the kind of true love that Marshall and all his other friends have. Rest assured, and flash-forward to a happy ending for Ted as he recounts, in flashback, to his young children (and us) the story of how he finally met his one true love, the story of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER. And with the eccentric company that Ted kept as a young man on the hunt, it's amazing that he met any girls at all.

Josh Radnor as Ted
Jason Segel as Marshall
Alyson Hannigan as Lily
Cobie Smulders as Robin

Has potential. Neil Patrick HArris carries the show nicely.

Out of Practice
Monday 9:30 PM

Paula Marshall, Henry Winkler, Stockard Channing, Christopher Gorham - CBS Photo

Ben's (Christopher Gorham) family has never considered him a real doctor. He's just a psychologist, and they are all real doctors. Older brother Oliver (Ty Burrell) is a successful plastic surgeon, sister Regina (Paula Marshall) is an ER-action junkie, Mom (Stockard Channing) is a prominent surgeon whose career eclipsed Dad's long before their divorce, and Dad (Henry Winkler) is dating his receptionist. But all the real docs look as though they could learn a thing or two from Ben. From the Emmy®-winning team behind the legendary "Frasier" comes the story of a family of physicians who each need a bit more practice and the not-so-"real" doctor whose professional advice each of them just may end up seeking.

Christopher Gorham as Benjamin Barnes
Henry Winkler as Stewart Barnes
Stockard Channing as Lydia Barnes
Ty Burrell as Oliver Barnes
Paula Marshall as Regina Barnes
OK, has some potential.

Threshold
Friday 9PM

Carla Gugino, Charles S. Dutton - CBS Photo

In the middle of the ocean, a cargo freighter makes a chilling discovery: an extraterrestrial craft has landed on earth. Enter Molly Anne Caffrey (Carla Gugino), recruited to await the planet's first contact, along with a carefully assembled team made up of a brilliant physicist with strong religious beliefs, a language and communications expert and a highly trained covert operative. Together they implement the long-gestating Operation: Threshold, charged with finding out the purpose of the landing and the fate of the ship's crew, and preparing for the worst-case scenario of an alien invasion.

Carla Gugino as Molly Anne Caffrey
Charles S. Dutton as JT Baylock
Brent Spiner as Nigel Fenway
Rob Benedict as Lucas Pegg
Brian Van Holt as Cavennaugh
Peter Dinklage as Arthur Ramsey

Looks interesting.

Our 2005 Video Special continues with these offerings::

Our video special continues with these offerings from 2004:

Camcorders 2004 | Capture Cards 2004 | HD-DVD
Digital Theatrical Movies | JVC HD Camcorder | Sigma SD9 and Foveon Technology
Color Imaging Technology | V-Chip | 2004 Network Prime Time TV Shows

From our archives with these offerings from 2003:

Camcorders | Hi-Def TV | Promote Ur Videos | Future of DVD | Computer DVD Burners
New US TV Shows for 2003-2004 Prime Time

From our archives we have these articles from the 2002 Issues:

Buying a Camcorder | Producing A Cable Access Show | Producing Broadcast TV
A Technical Look and History of Film, Video and TV | Stream Video and Webcasting

HDTV | Capture Cards