What it needs: More interesting and likable characters.
Happy Family
NBC
Time slot: 8:30-9 p.m. Premiered Tuesday.
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Sound the trumpets
FALL PREVIEW PRIME TIME
Forget the rumors of nonstop reality TV this fall. There's not a new unscripted program among the network debuts, just comedies, dramas and lots of cops. Familiar genres rule. Of course, it's not every year we get to see rappers, underwear models and God. Let the shows begin.
Key cast: John Larroquette ("Night Court") and Christine Baranski ("Cybill," "Chicago").
Behind the camera: Executive producers Moses Port and David Guarascio (both from "Mad About You," "Just Shoot Me).
The gist: A long-married couple can't revel in their newly empty nest because the odd ducks that are their children come flocking back.
Target audience: Adults.
Most like: "Empty Nest," "The Stones."
Main competition: ABC's new "I'm With Her" and UPN's new "All of Us."
What it has: The sublime comic chops of Baranski and Larroquette.
What it needs: Viewers to stick around for a couple of episodes to adjust to its sardonically effective chemistry.
All of Us
UPN
Times slot: 8:30-9 p.m. Premieres Tuesday.
Key cast: Duane Martin ("Deliver Us From Eva"), Elise Neal ("The Hughleys"), Tony Rock, LisaRaye.
Behind the camera: Executive producers Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, James Lassiter ("Ali"), Betsy Borns ("Friends").
The gist: A divorcing dad embarks on a new relationship while struggling with his soon-to-be-ex to raise their 5-year-old son. (The series was inspired by the domestic adventures of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.)
Target audience: Families, functional or otherwise.
Most like: "Bernie Mac" meets "Kramer vs. Kramer."
Major competition: Two other new sitcoms: ABC's "I'm With Her" and NBC's "Happy Family."
What it has: A warm heart.
What it needs: Not-so-tepid humor.
Rock Me Baby
UPN
Time slot: 9-9:30 p.m. Premieres Tuesday.
Key cast: Dan Cortese ("Veronica's Closet"), Bianca Kajlich ("Halloween: Resurrection"), Carl Anthony Payne ("Martin").
Behind the camera: Executive producers Tony Krantz ("24") and Bob Myer ("Cybill"), writer/co-executive producer Tim Kelleher ("Off Centre").
The gist: A new baby rocks a radio shock jock's world and drives his wife stark raving stir crazy.
Target audience: Yuppie parents.
Most like: "According to Jim," "Yes, Dear," etc., etc.
Major competition: NBC's "Frasier," ABC's "According to Jim."
What it has: A dash of realism, a funny co-star in Payne as Cortese's on-air sidekick.
What it needs: To play up the distinctive stuff, such as the radio show.
One Tree Hill
The WB
Time slot: 9-10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 23.
Key cast: Chad Michael Murray ("Dawson's Creek"), James Lafferty, Hilarie Burton, Barry Corbin ("Northern Exposure"), Moira Kelly ("The West Wing").
Behind the camera: Created by Mark Schwahn; Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola ("Smallville") and Ann Hamilton ("Party of Five") are executive producers.
The gist: Basketball and a beautiful girl are about all that links estranged half-brothers, whose battles on and off the court influence a wide range of folks in the small town of Tree Hill.
Target audience: Teens.
Most like: "Dawson's Creek," "Smallville," ESPN's "Sports Center" (during hoops season).
Major competition: Fox's "24," CBS' "The Guardian."
What it has: Good-looking leads and "Smallville's" old-time slot.
What it needs: More zip, more compelling characters, less brooding.
The Mullets
UPN
Time slot: 9:30-10 p.m. Premiered Thursday, on a special night.
Key cast: Michael Weaver, David Hornsby, Loni Anderson, John O'Hurley ("Seinfeld").
Behind the camera: Executive producers Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum, writer/executive producers Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein ("The Simpsons," "Futurama").
The gist: The brothers Mullet have little in common except their weird hairstyles, their sultry and overbearing mom and their strait-laced new stepdad.
Target audience: Anyone who considers "That '70s Show" high comedy.
Most like: "Everybody Loves Raymond" on a bad hair (and not such a great script) day.
Major competition: NBC's "Good Morning Miami," ABC's "Less Than Perfect."
What it has: Talented sitcom veterans Anderson and O'Hurley.
What it needs: A big ratings boost from the rest of UPN's new Tuesday-night lineup.
Wednesday
It's All Relative
ABC
Time slot: 8:30-9 p.m. Premieres Oct. 1.
Key cast: Lenny Clarke ("The Job"), Harriet Sansom Harris ("Frasier"), Reid Scott, Maggie Lawson ("Nancy Drew"), Christopher Sieber, John Benjamin Hickey.
Behind the camera: Anne Flett-Giordano and Chuck Ranberg (both of "Frasier") are executive producers and writers. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (both of "Chicago") are executive producers.
The gist: A Harvard student who was raised by her two gay dads gets engaged to an Irish Catholic bartender with an Archie Bunker-esque dad.
Target audience: "Cheers," "Frasier" fans.
Most like: "All in the Family" meets "Cheers" meets "My Two Dads," with a touch of "Will & Grace."
Main competition: NBC's "Ed," the WB's "Smallville."
What it has: A cute leading couple, an interesting but potentially offensive premise.
What it needs: To walk the politically incorrect line carefully. The characters' stereotypical representations only serve to reinforce the nasty labels.
A Minute With
Stan Hooper
Fox
Time slot: 8:30-9 p.m. Premieres Oct. 29.
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