August 18, 2004
There are a lot of reasons to love fall. Crisp autumn air. Colorful foliage. Finding out if Chloe is really dead on Smallville.
The debut of the fall TV season is just around the corner, and I’m more excited than Ross Geller in a roomful of dinosaur bones. Fall is the time of year when TV junkies return to their couches, renewed with optimism that this may be the year that brings the next Seinfeld or The West Wing.
It’s also the time of year when cliffhanger questions are resolved. And thank goodness. Frankly, I’ve been worried about my boy Danny on Las Vegas and whether he’ll make it home from his military tour. And then there’s poor Seth on The O.C., who set sail for Tahiti from Orange County with little more than a dingy and a bottle of water. And how is Joey doing without his Friends? Sure, not all storylines are resolved at the onset of the season. I’m certain JAG lawyers Mac and Harm won’t confess their undying love, even though they’ve teased viewers for years. But with fall comes hope eternal.
After seeing some promos of the network’s new drama and comedy shows, I can say that this year’s lineup isn’t all bad. Aside from the typical crop of reality shows, the fall TV season may have some potential.
From early buzz, my TV expertise, and what clips I’ve seen, here are my picks for some shows to check out this fall. Take it for what you will. They may all be gone by midseason. 
Clubhouse - Someone in the world of TV executives must have got my bribe. Dean Cain is back in primetime. And he’s once again in uniform. This time, Cain has traded in his Lois and Clark Superman tights for a baseball uniform. Clubhouse is a drama about a 16-year-old boy who lands his dream job of being a batboy for a professional baseball team. The show also stars Christopher Lloyd of Back to the Future fame. If Dean and Lloyd aren’t enough reason to watch, this may sway you: Aaron Spelling and Mel Gibson - yes that Mel Gibson - are two of the executive producers. Clubhouse will preview Sunday, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. on CBS. It premieres Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 9 p.m. on CBS.
Lost - Another reason to tune back into primetime this season, Matthe
w Fox returns to the small screen in this adventure drama. Fox has left behind his Party of Five for a party of plane-wrecked strangers stranded on an island. The plane crash scene alone is reason enough to check out this one. Science fiction lovers may want to tune in, too. I have a feeling those mysterious creatures in the woods aren’t just birds. J.J. Abrams, of Felicity and Alias fame, is the creator behind Lost. It premieres Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Desperate Housewives - From the promos, this soapy drama looks like Sex and the City in the suburbs. Except, the story is told from a dead woman’s point of view. Unusual, yes. And for that reason, I’m willing to try it. The cast looks interesting, too. Teri Hatcher, from Lois and Clark, has finally found something to do instead of those Radio Shack commercials. Marcia Cross of Melrose Place and Eva Longoria of The Young and the Restless also star. Desperate Housewives premieres Sunday, Sept. 8 at 9 p.m. on ABC.
LAX - Monday night’s favorite vixen is back. Heather Locklear returns to Mondays in this drama set in an international airport.
Also starring is Blair Underwood of L.A. Law. The show looks fast-paced from the promos, with romantic entanglements and drama in abundance. Some critics who’ve already viewed tapes of the series don’t love it, but if Locklear is involved how bad can it be? Plus, I predict adorable Australian Paul Leyden will be the breakout star, if he has a big enough role. Leyden is familiar to daytime viewers from for his role on As The World Turns. I met him a few years ago, and he already had a fan following. LAX premieres Monday, Sept. 13 at 10 p.m. on NBC.
Father of the Pride - I love shows that are unusual. And from the previews I’ve seen, boy this one is. From the creator of Shrek, this animated comedy follows a pride of lions who work as performers in the famous Las Vegas Siegfried and Roy show. John Goodman and Carl Reiner provide two of the celebrity voices. Although the show is animated, it’s not for children. Adults only. It premieres Tuesday, Aug. 31 at 9 p.m. on NBC.
Kevin Hill -
Not since Ally McBeal, has Taye Diggs played an attorney. In this drama, Diggs is a legal eagle who inherits a baby girl. Diggs is so talented that whatever he’s in shouldn’t be missed. Kevin Hill premieres Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. on UPN.
Joey – Joey is moving on without his Friends. How can longtime Friends viewers not watch to see what happens when he makes the move to California? Joey premieres Thursday, Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. on NBC.
The Mountain – Set in a mountain resort, this drama involves a family struggling to run a failing business. The scenery looks gorgeous. And so does the cast. 
Oliver Hudson, of Dawson’s Creek and brother of Kate Hudson, stars. The Mountain premieres Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 9 p.m. on The WB.
Originally published 8/18/04 in The Exponent Telegram newspaper.
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