Top 10 List - Most promising new TV shows

By Frank Visco
Collegian Editor
September 13, 2006

With the new TV season just around the corner, it seemed like a good idea to preview the new shows hitting the airwaves this fall:

10) The Class – This sitcom revolves around a group of people from the same third grade class who reconnect 20 years later. Although the plot is humdrum and the characters initially come off as generically contrived, it’s made by executive producer David Crane, one of the masterminds behind Friends, which also had generically-contrived characters at the outset, and look at how that worked out. Classes begin on Monday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. on CBS.

9) Justice – A legal drama that focuses on a law firm that takes on high profile, media-covered cases. The cast (headed by Victor Garbo) is impressive, and each episode ends by showing what really happened, showing whether the client was guilty or innocent. The show, which already began its season, airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on FOX.

8) Help Me Help You – A therapist (Ted Danson) leads a group therapy session choked full of troubled characters. The twist: problems with his ex-wife and daughter make him just as crazy as his patients. The trailer is nicely done, and Danson is always good. Sessions start Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 9:30 p.m. on ABC.

7) Smith – Ray Liotta plays a family man with the perfect life, who also happens to be a criminal mastermind who heads a close-knit group of criminals that pull off intricate heists. It’s always fascinating to see the heart and soul behind a person that does bad things (look up Sopranos, The in the dictionary for proof), especially if said person is played by a firecracker like Liotta. The heists kick-off on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 10 p.m. on CBS.

6) Knights of Prosperity – The concept with this show is just ludicrously appealing: a janitor (Donal Logue) gathers a crew of misfits together to pull off a robbery to acquire the cash needed to fulfill his dream of opening a bar. Oh, did I mention that the guy they intend to rob is Mick Jagger? It’s a great premise that promises to bring on the hilarity. The quirky goodness starts Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 9 p.m. on ABC.

5) Kidnapped – A private investigator (Jeremy Sisto) is hired by a wealthy businessman (Timothy Hutton) when his son is kidnapped. Complicating things a bit, the FBI muscles its way into the case, while the businessman attempts to kept his dirty secrets under wraps. There should be plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers interested. The kidnapping occurs Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 10 p.m. on NBC.

4) 30 Rock – Early buzz is strong for this Lorne Michael’s produced sitcom from writer Tina Fey. It revolves around Liz Lemon (Fey), the head writer of a successful sketch comedy show called The Girlie Show, who is suddenly forced to deal with a new network honcho (Alec Baldwin) who insists on retooling the show around a crazy movie star (Tracy Morgan). The insanity starts on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 8:30 p.m. on NBC.

3) The Nine – Reminiscent of the recent Denzel Washington flick, Inside Man, this show focuses on the nine people who walked out of a 52-hour bank robbery. Having experienced the ordeal together, the nine are forever linked by a common bond. The show, which begins each episode with a flashback of another 10 minutes of the hostage crisis, stars TV veterans Tim Daly, Chi McBride and Scott Wolf. The nine become intertwined on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 10 p.m. on ABC.

2) Jericho – In the aftermath of a nuclear explosion, the residents of an un-hit town in Kansas have to deal with the ramifications and the mystery of whether it was an accident or a terrorist attack. Skeet Ulrich anchors the cast as Jack Green, a mysterious man who returns back home shortly before the attacks. He looks perfectly cast, and judging by the trailer, the show should be aces. The bomb drops on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. on CBS.

1) Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip – A behind the scenes look at the resuscitation of a flailing sketch comedy show. With awesome writing, brilliant acting and Aaron Sorkin behind the wheel, this is a sure thing. The retooling begins on Monday, Sept. 18 at 10 p.m. on NBC.

viscof1@lasalle.edu