The most surprisingly thing about FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS isn’t that it doesn’t actually air on Friday Nights. Rather it’s the fact that this TV addict, who’s never actually watched a football game in its entirety, was riveted by the first two episodes from the moment the pilot kicked off.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, based on the popular movie of the same name, revolves around the small rural town of Dillon, Texas, and its obsession with their local High School Football Team (the town literally shuts down on Fridays to attend the games). The show stars Kyle Chandler (GREY’S ANATOMY, KING KONG) as the team’s coach and features Connie Britton (SPIN CITY, 24) as his supporting wife. Taking a page from DEGRASSI’S playbook, the show has actually cast actors who refreshingly look like they could be in high school, including Scott Porter (ALL MY CHILDREN), Gaius Charles (BOOK OF DANIEL), Taylor Kitsch (KYLE XY), Zach Gilford (THE LAST WINTER) and Minka Kelly (WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU).

Of course, the big question is whether the television audience [especially women] will tune into a weekly show about football. “The show isn’t just a ‘football’ show. It’s a character driven series, with football as the backdrop.” Promises executive producer Peter Berg, “We’ll be dealing issues such as grade fixing, and the personal relationships between players. Issues that we would have loved to include in the movie, but we never had time for.”

One thing that wasn’t lost in the transition to the small screen was the unique and gritty style of the film. Director Peter Berg shots the pilot almost as if it’s a documentary, or better yet, a reality show — complete with shaky camera and actor improvisation. The docu-drama style perfectly compliments the show, making the audience feel as if they’re part of the the small town of Dillon. Through Berg’s camera, the audience will quickly grasp how much pressure is on these young athletes, and how an entire town’s hope and pride is pinned on this football team.

For his part, producer Brian Grazer is used to the pressure of a weekly television series. Having produced original hits such as FELICITY and 24, he’s cautiously optimistic, “I know that an unconventional format is often subject to a rough start. I’m confident though that if people tune into the show, they’ll stay with it, and their interest will accelerate. Our fingers our crossed that people will tune in.”

But back to the show’s somewhat inaccurate title. Would Grazer rather see FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS air on Friday Night? “I don’t want to tempt fate or second guess it right now.” Grazer trails off, “I don’t know… we’ll have to wait and see.”

If creator Tim Kring had one super power, it would be the ability to ensure that all of America tunes into the series premiere of HEROES. Yet since Kring has yet to be affected by a total eclipse of the sun or an experiment gone terribly wrong, he’ll settle for getting this message across to television viewers across the country: “While HEROES tells the story of everyday people who have extraordinary powers, the show isn’t just for comic book fans,” he stresses. “We’re going for a much broader audience”

Ordinary people with super powers — sounds familiar right? But before you jump to Collusus-sized conclusions, know that HEROES is not an X-Men clone. In fact, Kring admits that he didn’t even read comic books as a kid. Instead, the inspiration for the NBC series — which debuts at 9 p.m. on Monday, September 25 — stemmed from two recent movies he fell head-over-heels in love with: THE INCREDIBLES and ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND. In fact, with a multi-cultural, globe-spanning cast of characters linked together by a mysterious destiny, HEROES has more in common with another serialized TV drama you may be familiar with: LOST.

For viewers worried about diving into yet another complicated continuing drama, Krieg is quick to offer up assurances that HEROES focuses more on character than mythology. Chimes in star Greg Grunberg — who plays mind reader Matt Parkman — “We have a lot of fun as we discover what we can do with our powers. As I learn to better control my abilities in future episodes,” he continues, “I start to use [them] to better please my wife!”

Needless to say, with great power comes great responsibility. And as one might predict, Kring previews that not all of our budding heroes will use their powers for good. Guessing which characters will be drawn to the dark side of their powers is part of the fun… and not just for the audience. “There’s an honesty and immediacy to the performances when actor’s don’t know what’s going to happen next,” says Grunberg. Not that he wouldn’t love to have his character’s mind-reading ability… if only to reassure himself about the security of his job! “I’d love to be in Tim’s head and learn the future of the show,” the actor admits. “If an episode is titled, ‘Farewell To Parkman, I’ll know I’m in trouble!”

Director Jon Turteltaub made us smile with THE KID, tear up during PHENOMENON and laugh at WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING. With his latest project, JERICHO, odds are you won’t be laughing or crying — you’ll be running to your emergency supply cabinet to ensure you’ve stocked up on duct tape and bottled water.

The premise of JERICHO is simple: What would happen if your town was completely cut off from the rest of the world in the wake of a nuclear blast? “JERICHO will explore all the things that could occur when people are left to their own devices,” executive producer Turteltaub explains. “How are people in the town of Jericho going to deal without phones, groceries or money? There are no more lawyers, judges or police. When you don’t have someone telling you what’s morally right or wrong, what would you do?”

The series premiere centers on the return of former Jericho resident Jake Green (Skeet Ulrich), who tries dealing with his estranged dad, reconnecting with his high-school sweetheart and, in the wake of the all-too-real disaster, stepping into the role of reluctant hero when not telling a rather inconsistent series of lies regarding where, exactly, he’s been for the past few years.

By the end of the hour, viewers are — of course — left with more questions than answers. But Turteltaub offers viewers assurances that unlike the fine folks of Jericho, he and his staff know exactly what’s going on and aren’t simply making things up as they go along. In fact, the only question he — and, we’d assume, the executives at CBS — has is perhaps the most important one of all: In an age when we are barraged by news of terror alerts and it’s far too easy to imagine the horrific scenario painted by JERICHO, will the show be able to find an audience? “I realize nobody wants to turn on the TV to be more miserable,” says the exec. “And I realize we’re talking about nuclear war, not EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND. But I want to stress the humanity involved with our show.”

In other words, this isn’t the gloom and doom hour. “JERICHO is about rediscovering the greatness of humanity,” he continues. “How, even after a horrible event, life goes on. There still is love, relationships and sex — perhaps even more of it!”

And should tales of hope and humanity in the face of tragedy fail to attract viewers, Turteltaub jokes that he isn’t opposed to the notion of attention-grabbing stunts. “We’ll have a special episode where Osama Bin Laden dances with the stars!”

JERICHO premieres tonight at 8PM on CBS (Eastern Standard Time).
Canadian Viewers can catch JERICHO at 8PM on A-Channel (EST).

SMITH (10PM CBS, Debuts Sept. 19) Audiences were quick to reject NBC’s HEIST and ABC’s THIEVES, so why does creator John Wells (ER) think that his hour long drama featuring charismatic bank robbers will be a success? How about an all star cast featuring Ray Liotta (Goodfellas), Simon Baker (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA), Shohreh Aghdashloo (24), and Virginia Madsen (SIDEWAYS). With a great timeslot (following THE UNIT), a like-able cast, and really cool bank robberies, SMITH may turn into Well’s biggest hit since ER — assuming audiences don’t [yet again] reject the bank robbing premise.

Also Premiering tonight (but not on theTVaddict’s Must Watch List!)

NCIS (CBS, 8PM)
THE UNIT (CBS, 9PM)
LAW & ORDER: Criminal Intent (NBC, 9PM)
LAW & ORDER: SVU (NBC, 10PM)

UGLY BETTY (8PM ABC, Debuts Sept. 28) Historically, Thursday nights have been home to television’s most beautiful faces. We fell in love with Rachel’s hairstyle, Clooney’s eyes and the entire cast of the OC. But come September 28, a girl named Betty is about to change Thursday nights forever.

America Ferrerra (THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS) stars as UGLY BETTY. An ‘ugly duckling’ who lands an entry-level job at Manhattan’s most glamorous fashion magazine (think: THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA). “It’s a makeover show from the inside,” Said Ferrerra to Entertainment Weekly. “Betty is beautiful and charming and intelligent on the inside. The audience will fall in love with her because of that, not because of who she is on the outside.”

ABC has already fallen for BETTY, moving the show from the graveyard of Friday night to the lead-in for GREY’S ANATOMY (ABC’s hottest show). Now all that’s left is for America (the country, not the actress) to fall in love with the show as well. America loves a fish-out-of-water story,” executive producer Salma Hayek told EW, “I have no doubt that [UGLY BETTY] will be incredibly successful.” This TV addict couldn’t agree more. UGLY BETTY, with any luck, will be gracing the cover of magazines for years to come.

GREY’S ANATOMY (9PM ABC, Returns Sept. 21) McDreamy, McVet, Va-Jay-Jay. If these words mean nothing to you, then you’re missing out on television’s hottest, sorry, McDreamiest drama. But rest easy, it’s not too late to jump on the GREY’S bandwagon. The first and second seasons of GREY’s ANATOMY are out on DVD. Pick them up and before you can say McDreamy you’ll be hooked on the best medical drama since ER.

For it’s third season GREY’S is prepared to pull out all the stops to remain on television’s most talked about show. Guest stars already on board include Embeth Davidtz (SCHINDLER’S LIST), Abigail Breslin (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) and Diahann Carroll (as Burke’s mother). One return fans shouldn’t expect is that of Izzie’s departed fiance Denny. But SUPERNATURAL creator Eric Kripke is happy to point out, “If you want to see Denny (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) in bed, tune in to SUPERNATURAL!” Thanks Eric, we’ll pass that along to Izzie!

THE OFFICE (8:30PM NBC, Returns Sept. 21) The question on every OFFICE fans mind this summer wasn’t who stole the $3,000? (see: THE OFFICE webisodes), it was what’s the deal with Jim and Pam? In May’s season finale, NBC’s hottest couple since Ross and Rachel finally kissed, after Jim surprised Pam by professing his love to her. Creator Greg Daniels promises a resolution [of sorts] in the season premiere, telling the readers of Entertainment Weekly to be sure to tune into the first episode. Like there was a chance we wouldn’t!

THE OC (9PM FOX, Returns Nov. 2) After a critically boring third season, the writers [and fans] of THE OC are hoping Marissa’s death injects some much needed energy into the show. The fourth season, starting late thanks to Baseball will jump forward a few months after Marissa’s death, as we see how the gang has adjusted to College in addition to dealing with the the death of their friend. Not surprisingly, Ryan isn’t handling it well. Rumors run rampant that Ryan will join a ‘fight club’. Those writers really will use any excuse to have Ryan in a ‘wife beater’ t-shirt!

Viewers wary of yet another season of ‘angry Ryan’ should take solice in the fact that the OC writers have promoted two of last season’s bright spots to series regulars. Returning full time is Marissa’s sis Kaitlin Cooper (Willa Holland) and Taylor (Autumn Reeser). Also on board for a guest stint is EVERWOOD alum Chris Pratt (Bright Abbott). Television executives take note: Any show that uses any cast member from EVERWOOD is much watch in our books.

SMALLVILLE (8PM CW, Returns Sept. 28) I have a surprising confession to make, and considering I’m a self professed TV addict, this may shock some of you. Okay, here it goes (deep breath) — I haven’t actually watched last season’s finale of SMALLVILLE. It’s saved on my PVR, but I’ve yet to watch. Why you ask? I’ll tell you.

SMALLVILLE infuriates me. The show has so much potential, and at times can be fantastic. I really enjoy the Clark vs. Lex mythology, while at the same times want to gauge my eyes out everytime Clark and Lana play out their inevitably doomed romantic storyline. Don’t get be wrong, I have nothing against Kristin Kreuk (the actress who plays Lana), it’s just unfortunate that the ‘Lana’ storylines completely suck out all the energy and entertainment from the show.

That said, I’m a sucker for the Superman Mythos and will definitely be tuning into the sixth season premiere.

SHARK (10PM CBS, Debuts Sept. 21) James Wood could read the yellow pages and keep this TV addict riveted. For a full review of CBS’s latest legal procedural, click here.

“On No She Didn’t!”

Once we picked our jaws up off the ground, those were the four words uttered by GILMORE GIRLS fans across the country after seeing Lorelai in Christopher’s bed during the shocking final moments of last season’s cliffhanger. After years of waiting for the quick-speaking heroine to hook up with Luke, we were tongue-tied by her ill-advised decision to hop into the sack with Rory’s dad.

As if that wasn’t enough of a shock, we then had to contend with the fact that Amy Sherman-Palladino — the show’s creator and driving force — left the show following an extended and failed contract negotiation with Warner Brothers. As much as fans may have griped about last season (the first half of which saw Lorelai and Rory estranged, and the second half of which found Luke and his favorite coffee drinker drifting apart), they feared a changing of the guard even more. Would new show-runner David Rosenthal be able to get things back on track? Or would TV’s most underappreciated — by Emmy voters, at least — be so hopelessly derailed by these developments?

That’s a lot of baggage for any show to lug into its seventh season, but watching the first fresh episode (airing Tuesday, September 26 at 8 p.m. on The CW), you can’t help but walk away thinking our girls are in good hands. Whether it’s Rory and Lorelai’s quick-volleying conversation about racquetball or Taylor sharing his latest misguided notion, Rosenthal has done the impossible by penning a GILMORE GIRLS episode that might very well have flowed from Sherman-Palladino’s pen.

And not only is it the girls who are back in fighting form, but so are their friends and neighbors. Need proof? How about a classic Paris moment in which the high-strung poster girl for intensity tries signing a teen up for her SAT prep course by taking a hard-sell approach with the girl’s mom. “She’s got a C average, which means she’s either lazy or stupid,” says the ever-forthright Paris. “I can work with either. Frankly, sometimes stupid is easier. I can scare stupid out of you, but the lazy runs deep.”

And what of Lorelai and the mess she’s made of her life? Let’s just say that the Rosenthal and company have their work cut out for them, but the two-tissue ending makes it clear they know her journey won’t be a simple one. Which may well be a fitting metaphor for the show’s relationship with some disenchanted viewers: Given the chance, Luke and Lorelai can find happiness together… just as we at home can, if courted properly, fall back in love with the show we’ve taken into our heart for the past six years. If this episode is an indication of the wooing to come, fans should prepare to be swept off their feet.

This image (above) is the exclusive copyrighted property of The CW. No CW images may be sold, leased, duplicated, distributed or archived by organizations or agencies other than The CW. Permission for any usage can be granted only by The CW. All rights are strictly reserved.

[theTVaddict.com note] Recently, Jenny (author of THIS WEEK ON TV) had the chance to take part in a press conference with SURVIVOR host Jeff Probst. The following is her preview of the new season: SURVIVOR COOK ISLANDS.]

If you have never watched Survivor, this season may be a reason to start. Host Jeff Probst is more excited about this season than he has been since Season 1. He said it has re-energized them, that the show & contestants have a freshness like Season 1 had. He believes they have reinvented Survivor, that there is no going backwards now. The reason for this excitement? This season, there are 20 contestants. They will be split into 4 groups of 5 each. Now, that in and of itself isn’t a big deal, right? The shock to everyone is that they will not be divided by age or sex, but by race: whites, blacks, Asians & Hispanics. Shocking, yes?

In a recent press conference, Jeff also said that most people flinch when they first hear the decision because it is such a sensitive topic, but that he thinks if they give it a chance, they will be surprised. “This show has completely changed my perspective about how I view other ethnicities,” Jeff remarked. “Not in terms of judging them but in terms of understanding that it’s ok to not know something, and it’s ok to ask the questions [when you don't].” He said he came to that realization after spending 39 days with the castaways and seeing the ethnic pride in all the groups.

In fact, it’s that ethnic pride that pushed CBS, Executive Producer Mark Burnett, Jeff Probst & the entire creative team into making the decision to split the tribes by race. The original idea was to have the most ethnically diverse group of people on TV. (Rather than just a few contestants in the larger group that were not Caucasian.) But during the casting process, they noticed a theme of ethnic pride shining through and as Jeff said on The Early Show, “Wow, if culture is still playing such a big part in these people’s lives, that’s our idea. Let’s divide them based on ethnicity.” And that’s how the new season’s division came to be.

Apparently this was the single biggest job for Survivor ever. Normally they just find the contestants from the thousands of applications. But this season, they went to places they had never been to before to find the ethnic diversity they wanted, such as calling the Miss Korea Town Pageant in Seattle, Washington. A result is the best group of contestants since Season 1 and of course, the most diverse.

One major thing about race, not just in Survivor, but in life, is stereotyping. On this season of the show, we will see people defying stereotypes but the show won’t be avoiding anything that happens (we’ll see if they handle it well or if they play up the backlash, any racism showing, etc for the ratings!). During the conference call, Jeff gave a hint about episode 1, saying, “The notion of stereotypes and perpetuating those stereotypes comes up in the 2nd episode within 1 tribe about whether they are helping to perpetuate their own stereotype by acting in a certain way, and it becomes an argument.” So the racial division apparently becomes an issue from the very beginning.

The castaways will start off like last season on a boat and will have 30 seconds to get out what they can carry, so each tribe will have to work together from the start. He gave no hint about when the groups will come together but did say that having 20 contestants allows them to keep the castaways on their toes. They can no longer assume that every 3 days, 1 person is going home. One day, they can get to a challenge or meeting and find out suddenly that 1 member of every tribe is going home. In my opinion, that should definitely make things more interesting!

I have a few tidbits about this season, so if you really don’t want to know more spoilers, don’t read! There were 3 love connections of varying degrees during the 39 days on the island, 1 of which is the strangest we’ll have ever seen on Survivor & possibly any reality show period. This season will also have the most heroes & the most underdogs in a long time, plus the most fish ever caught, an octopus is caught and there are a record number of blindsides during Tribal Council. It’s definitely an indication of the level of game play this season.

I plan on watching this show every week, and am going to actually make a chart of my predictions and opinions every week to see how it changes as the show goes on. Jeff Probst said that something so big happens mid-season that will turn everyone’s opinions around, so I’m looking forward to seeing what that big something is! Survivor premieres this Thursday, September 14th, at 8/7c!

Talk about your simple concept: Beautiful people do ugly things.

That’s pretty much the entire premise behind MyNetwork TV’s telenovela FASHION HOUSE, in which models boff artists, secretaries bed bosses and a day without a bitchslap is like a day without sunshine. This is the kind of sudsy saga which gives soaps a good name, and could, in all honesty, teach its daytime counterparts a thing or two about how to hook – and keep – an audience. Because one thing the folks behind this show know is that to keep people coming back five nights a week – which is perhaps the biggest challenge faced by the upstart network – you gotta keep ‘em wanting more. And when done right, that’s what soaps are all about.

Fortunately, FH knows better than to take itself too seriously. As in the Spanish telenovelas on which MyNetwork’s offerings are based, FH proves there is no room for mellow in melodrama. Every back has a knife sticking out of it, each (bra) cup is overflowing and if a character is holding a champagne glass when the scene begins, chances are it’ll be flung at someone before it ends. This ain’t your grandma’s soap opera.

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The story is simple: Maria Gianni (played to unlikely perfection by Bo Derek) is the head of a fashion empire which is under attack from all sides. Her only son, Luke, falls in love with a beautiful young designer whom Maria deems unworthy. That’s it, in a nutshell. Oh, sure, the designer’s husband is sleeping with – who else? – his secretary. And when not being blackmailed into the bed of an investor she kinda has the hots for, Maria’s trying to keep her company out of the hands of arch nemesis Sophia Blakley (as portrayed by Morgan Fairchild, who has spent her career perfecting the role of bitch goddess). Throw in Maria’s scheming assistant, Luke’s scheming girlfriend and a photographer who seems nice but no doubt is scheming something and you’ve got enough characters to keep things bubbling along for years.

But fear not, TV addicts! For this drama – as well as it’s sister serial, DESIRE, which makes the potentially fatal mistake of taking itself far too seriously – asks only that you give it 13 weeks, at which point the storylines will be resolved and we can all go back to our busy lives. After that, MyNetwork will launch a new telenovela (although already there are whispers of a FASHION HOUSE sequel) in the time slot. ?
And for those fearing that it might prove difficult to jump into a serial mid-stream, the show proves incredibly accessible by providing not only a recap of the action so far before each episode and plenty of flashbacks during, but a weekly episode designed to fill viewers in on what transpired during the previous week.

Like any addiction, expect to find yourself fighting it at first. “I dont’ have time,” you’ll say. But give this show an hour of your time, and this is one HOUSE you’ll want to call home.

At July’s San Diego Comic Convention, Edward James Olmos (Admiral Adama) had this to say when discussing the much anticipated third season of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: “Man, it’s brutal. I can honestly tell you the first two years cannot prepare you for what happens in the third. Not even close. The third season is dark… the darkest we’ve ever gotten”.

Having just viewed the first five episodes of season three, this TV addict can’t help but think the actor may have been understating the case just a tad: The third season of BSG is intense, terrifying and might — were we talking about any other show — be difficult for viewers to watch. But let’s not forget that we’re talking about the series so cool as to have single-handedly made science fiction hot again by taking a tired genre and infusing it with a combination of excitement and relevance that reminds us just how powerful the genre can be.

By creating characters and spinning storylines which not only intrigue but generate controversy, discussion and debate, creator Ronald D. Moore takes viewers to a world which is light years from our own… and yet oddly familiar. As with the best of science fiction, he has created scenarios which seem entirely within the realm of possibility.

As with what has come before, season three continues the BSG tradition of tackling controversial subjects head on. Over the course of the first five episodes, our intrepid heroes are forced to deal with suicide bombings, an invading, occupational force, a corrupt government… sound familiar? And it is that very “ripped-from-the-headlines” feel which gives the new episodes their relevance, not to mention their dark tone. It’s no coincidence that viewers will be reminded of (and made to think about) the war in Iraq. More importantly, they may find themselves seeing issues in new and completely unexpected ways. This is television which both engages and challenges the viewer, showing us what the medium is capable of when creative minds are given free reign.

One thing’s certain: As the third season progresses, our Battlestar-bound pals may find themselves reflecting fondly on the relatively peaceful days when all they had to do was remain one step ahead of the Cylons.

LOST (9PM ABC, Returns Oct. 4) Ancient ruins? A hatch explosion? A really cold (Antarctic?) listening post? Not surprisingly, last season’s LOST finale left most viewers, well lost. With that in mind, showrunners Damon Lindeloff and Carlton Cuse promise that season three will focus more on character, romance and action with less of an emphasis on the ‘mythology.’

Uncovering spoilers for the new season of LOST is as challenging as deciphering the secrets of the island itself, but here’s what we’ve found out. Three new castaways join the island: ER’s Elizabeth Mitchell, RELATED’S Kiele Sanchez, and the ‘Brazilian Tom Cruise’ Rodrigo Santoro. More importantly though, an event will occur midseason that will apparently ‘change everything’. As Lindeloff put it to EW, “Something’s going to happen in the middle of season 3 that blows the doors off the show again. You’ll look at [the Penny scene] again and say, ‘Sixty percent of what I thought I saw was dead-on, but the other 40 percent I never event considered!”

THE NINE (10PM ABC, Debuts Oct. 4) Although the title of this new drama refers to the number of people caught up in a life-changing bank robbery, it might just as well refer to the number of minutes it took for me to be sucked into this compelling new series.

With an all-star cast led by Tim Daly (WINGS), Scott Wolf (EVERWOOD), Kim Raver (24) and Chi McBride (BOSTON PUBLIC) — not to mention a new twist on the storytelling gimmick which has helped turn LOST into a cultural phenomenon — ABC would seem to have a can’t miss show on its hands. Throw in the fact that THE NINE will air in the much-coveted post-LOST timeslot, and it’s safe to assume that this show is like money in the bank.

30 ROCK (8:00PM NBC, Debuts Oct. 4) For the past few years, Tina Fey’s ‘Weekend Update’ was the only reason to flip on the [highly unfunny] SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. With 30 ROCK, you’ll not only get a little more sleep on Saturday night, you’ll also get to watch Tina Fey for a full half hour each week (okay 24 minutes minus commercials). Tina Fey stars (and created) 30 ROCK — a comedic look at a behind the scenes (SNL-type) show called ‘The Girlie Show’. Historically, viewers have rejected behind-the-scenes shows (see: ACTION, SPORTS NIGHT and GROSSE POINT), but thanks to Tina Fey and a highly likable supporting cast including Alec Baldwin, Rachel Dratch and Tracy Morgan, 30 ROCK looks to be a winner.

JUSTICE (9:00PM FOX, Debuted Aug. 30) Thanks to the success of HOUSE, the cantankerous yet brilliant professional is all the rage on TV – and nobody does ‘icy stare’ like Victor Garber. Fresh off his five year stint as TV’s coolest Dad (ALIAS), Garber returns to series television as Ron Trott, a brilliant, yet ego-driven attorney who will take on any case (as long as it’s high profile and ensures him a spot in the media limelight). Each week, viewers can watch Trott and his team (including DAWSON’S CREEK alum Kerr Smith) prepare for trial using the latest and greatest forensic (read: CSI-esque) technology. Already two episodes in, the show has featured some fascinating stories and top-notch acting. If there’s any ‘justice’ in TV land, Garber will remain on the small screen for years to come.

ONE TREE HILL (9:00PM CW, Returns Sept. 27) Television’s biggest mystery isn’t why audiences still enjoy 7th HEAVEN, it’s how on earth Chad Michael Murray (Lucas) and Sophia Bush (Brooke) can still act on the same show after their marriage collapsed amidst headlines of infidelity on CMM’s part. Aside from watching CMM and Sophia act as if they’re still in love (to their credit, they do an excellent job), viewers will also learn who didn’t survive the big limo crash in May’s finale and which of the women on OTH are pregnant. The show that parental supervision forgot returns September 27.