Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 74

1 4 4 ft at -i. "-nL A 1Ieasuring quality PROMISING SHAKY jj FIRST RATE Useless flotsam stable as a straw hut in Hurricane Floyd; think of every sitcom Tony Danza made after Taxi. Can't-miss material thaf so well-made, you might consider blowing off your wedding or a major medical procedure to see it The vast vista of material thaf merely mediocre; over time, these may stink up the joint like a busted sewer pipe. In a 200-channel TV universe, the need for a quick gauge of quality is obvious. Who wants to waste time on rickety fare such as ABC's Two Guys and a Girl (at least they dropped the pizza place this year), when the sleek, well-constructed theatrics of NBC's White House drama The West Wing awaits? At right is how we rate the shows.

Below are capsule reviews of all the season's new shows along with the buzz on shows of note making their return. ERIC deggans Good starts worth a long look. And guilty pleasures as flavorful and bad for you as a Big Mac and a large side of fries. (Admit it, you like seeing WWF star Stone Cold Steve Austin cracked over the head with a folding chair.) nnnRrm 'A t4 1 131 M- 11 ML 131ml It-JlML 111 MB ml "4 7pm Tltim. IfJL 1:31 j.

pm 11 0 the WanderfUWoridri Disney ZlZZIIIZIl'nVae6M 60 Minutes Touched By an Angel CBS Sunday Movie Wferitfs King of Futurama The X-Files bcainews Eh Funniest the Hi Simpsons DateineNBC tfS NBC Sunday Night Movie 7lh Heaven Beginnings Felicity ydAS sm. I Two Guys I Norm I The Drew psHGw Up 2020 and a Girl Carey Show "y.l dT Cosby 'wrAvitnM CCSV: Al. Beverly Hils, 90210 SX 1 local news Dateline NBC Law Oder MAM 7 Days Star Trek: Voyager rmmwim-mi mjii iiuf ijiwium mj Dawson's Creek R. Spin City I It's Know Dharma Greg Sports Night Oricaar -'i-in JAG 60 Minutes Uudiyig Aiy lW-JjIl TtafOsShow Party of Rye localnews Just Shoot Me 3rdRock Grace peK'W vi Dateline NBC From the Sun SW" (ijM OJbert McK jsty TteSuy fiuffy the Vampire Slayer Angel 2020 Monday Night Footbal King of Queens laf-JsV-ai -Loves Raymond Becker fayLaay 1' 1 Time o'Voj; Lie" AlyMcBeal fe Suddenly Susan Veronica's Closet la.v S. Orae'r is Ur! DateCne NBC 5h" Moesha )Sww 0p Moln' 7th Heaven Safe gaiat JZZZZj E3 mshra sht far shew: mm dm sM, far tr riMw: mw dit far MtMwk f1 sknr tat riM.

fey Ktmt 1 n'l f-'rrS ff I i I i 1 'MM a if Ji I 1 1 il ill I JUDGING AMY: From left, Tyne Daly, Amy Brenneman and Dan Futterman. NEW SHOWS NBC THE WEST WING: From left, John Spencer, Rob Lowe, Martin Sheen, Allison Janney. a is- it I 1 1 A I NBC rvioira iveny ana craaiey vvnmora. LAW ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT: Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni. NEWSHOWS NEW SHOWS Christopher Meloni and THE MIKE O'MALLEY SHOW, 9:30 P.M.

(premieres Tuesday on NBC, WFLA-Ch. 8): How desperate is NBC for a new comedy? So desperate, they'll hire the guy from ESPN's The. commercials star asa eluelest lsguy; trying to beame i more mature. Hilarity should ensue, but it doesn't Condemned: How good can a half-hour dose of The Rick" really be? Wffl it survive? About as long as the commercial. Dead Winters) Promising: TIME OF YOUR LIFE, 8 RM.

(premieres Oct 25 on fa I If from Green Day's sentimen- I If ftftftJPf i If, nit- show gels as one of the season's best Lowe is a George Stephanopouios-style aide, while Sheen is the POTUS (thaf the President of the. United States to you and me). First rate: Challenging drama and intrigue that rises a notch when Animal House alum Tim Matheson signs on as a scheming vice president Wifl it survive? Preceding ratings champ Law Order can't hurt, but dulring it out with strong lineups on ABC, the WB and Fox wifl. WORK WITH ME, 8:30 RM. (premieres Sept 29 on VVTSF-Ch.

10'): Yet another waste of videotape that makes you wonder, how could a cast so talented produce something so bad? Comic Kevin PoHak is Jordan Better, a Wall Street lawyer who joins his wife, Julie (Nancy Travis) in her practice when a promised promotion doesn't come through. The result is so conventionally ordinary it will make your teeth ache. Condemned: Richard Simmons' new talk show NBC THIRD WATCH: From left, Bobby Cannavale, Anthony Ftuivivar, Kim Raver and Michael Beach. CBS Fox MX fcsL- -J NEW SHOWS WORK WITH ME: Kevin Pollak and Nancy Travis. TIME OF YOUR LIFE: Jennifer Love Hewitt ONCE AND AGAIN: Sela Ward and Billy Campbell.

ALLY, 8 RM. (premieres Sept 28 on Fox, WTVT-Ch. 13): Fox calls it a revolutionary concept a shaved-down, half-hour dose of Ally McBeal outtakes and "repurposed" old footage. Critics say if a testament to Fox's desperation fora good BOrniinute comedy that doesn involve animated characters. Shaky: My mastermind David E.

Kelley.jcre-ator. of Qticago Hope and The Practice, may be the only person who could make this work. Will it survive? With KeHey's track record and power, there's little doubt SHASTA McNASTY, 8:30 RM. (premieres Oct 5 on UPN, WTOG-Ch. 44): Rap trio gets record deal, uses advance money to move into summer rental, loses record deal and hangs out on the beach (advertisers needn't worry, though they play rap, only one of the three stars is black).

Condemned: Ifs supposed to be the Monkees meet the Beastie Boys, but early promos look more like a thinly veiled ripoff of There's Something About Mary. With bad rap music. WiE it survive? Despite a sneak preview just before WWF Smackdown! and a cameo from a wrestler ask yourself, is the world really clamoring for another Monkees? THE STRIP 9 RM. (premieres Oct 12 on UPN, WTOG-Ch. 44): A buddy adventure series for the "90s, featuring Powder's Sean Patrick Flanery and Martin's Guy Torry as ex-cops hired by a casino owner to keep the peace in rip-roaring Las Vegas.

With producer Joel Silver on board a guy better known for high-testosterone films such as the Lethal Weapon franchise expect lots of explosions and in-your-face dialogue. Condemned: Ifs from the guy who produced Commando and The Last Boy Scout And ifs on UPN. Will it survive? Given how much it costs to film in Las Vegas, I wouldn't bet on it ANGEL, 9 P.M. (premieres Oct 5 on the WB, WTTA-Ch. 38): Spun off from the most excellent Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this show takes Buffy's hunky boyfriend Angel (David Boreanaz) coincidentaBy, the only vampire with a soul and plops him in the City of Angels with rich brat Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and halfdemon Doyle (former Roseanne co-star Glenn Quinn).

Promising: Harnessing the same absurd fun and vivid characterization that makes Buffy click is the key. Wifl it survive? See previous sentence. fiance at the altar, and they have to figure out how to live as friends in the same building. Shaky: Partially because there are five other new shows this fall with the same general premise. Wifl it survive? If Felicity can drag enough youngsters over to the WB on Sundays, it has got a shot SNOOPS, 9 RM.

(premieres Sept 26 on ABC, WFTS-Ch. 28): Gina Gershon and Paula Marshall bring toads of catty attitude to this lighthearted adventure, focused on a female-run, hi-tech private eye agency. But the pilof storyline verges on incoherence, despite lots of help from creator and My McBeal mastermind David E. Kelley. Shaky.

Given the sorry state of the pilot onty KeDey's name keeps this from total stinker status. Wil it survive? Airing right before his hit The Practice, expect ABC to cut every break possible. THIRD WATCH, 8 P.M. (premieres Sept 26 on NBC, WFLA-Ch. preview Thursday at 1 0 p.m.): If not for a razor-sharp cast, including Michael Beach (Soul Food), this would be yet another cops 'n' firefighters workout As it is, following the police, firefighters and paramedics on "third watch" (3 to 11 p.m.) dredges up every cliche you can imagine.

Shaky. You've got to hope axreator John Wells (jER) can do better if given time. Will it survive? Gritty drama rarely works well so early on Sundays. ACK JILL, 9 RM. (premieres Sept 26 on the WB, WTTA-Ch.

38): Yet another series about beautiful, confused twentysomethings finding their way in life. This time, JaqueKne "Jack" Barrett (Amanda Peet) meets David "JilT Jfflefsky (Ivan Sergei) and falls hard He's got a girlfriend, she's just left a cheating has more substance. WiO it survive? Following a weakened Cosby and up against Norm Macdonald's surprisingly popular sitcom on ABC? Not a chance. R0SWELL, 9 RM. (premieres Oct 6 on the WB, WTTA-Ch.

38): Wrapping its youth-oriented formula in equal parts X-Files and My-So-CaUed Life, the WB offers a drama about teen aliens in Roswefl, NM, raised as humans after their spaceship crashed there in 1947. Their identity is revealed to a couple of human kids when the lead alien (saucer-eyed Jason Behr from Dawson's Creek) uses his powers to save a girl he has admired from afar. Shaky: The pilot seems silly and contrived, but with appealing Behr and spooky William Sadler as a town sheriff who suspects the truth, anything can happen. Will it survive? The time slot is brutal, squaring off against everything from The Drew Carm Show to Star Trek Voyager, but follow I GET REAL, 9 RM. (premiered Sept 8 on Fox, WTVT-Ch.

13): The biggest chunk of reality here is the fights between parents Mitch Qon Tenney) and Mary Green (Debrah Farentino). As their marriage withers, the show focuses on their three teenage children, dissing shows like Party of Five and Dawson's Creek even as it steals their thunder. Promising: But get the kids to stop talking to the camera, please. WS it survive? Considering that it follows the severely weakened Beverly Hills 90210 competition like this doesn't get any more real in TV land OH GROW UR 9:30 RM. (premieres Wednesday on ABC, WFTS-Ch.

28): Every so often a network has to try a lame-o comedy about a three guys who refuse to move beyond the never-never land of yuppie bachelorhood. This show treads the same ground but with two twists: one of the guys is gay and the ladies' man character also has a long-lost daughter. Expect at least one After School Special-style reconciliation scene. Condemned: Unless you really like bad Sam MaloneTed Danson ripoffs. Will it survive? With ABCs habit of supporting awful youth-friendly sitcoms (see: Two Guys and a Girl), don't be surprised.

UPN GROWN UPS: Jaleel White. irs'formulameyTl-use how to mesh a complex cast or how to deal with an hour of cops-dominated action. Will it survive? Monday has been starving for a good drama since David E. Kelley decided Ally McBeal was a comedy. And with reruns airing 13 days later on the USA Network, there's a lot of financial incentive to keep this spinoff on air.

GROWN UPS, 9 RM. (premiered Aug. 30 on UPN, WTOG-Ch. 44): Former Family Matters star Jaleel White tries to show some maturity in this empty-headed comedy about an urbane guy and his two best friends. Imagine Urkel without the funny walk, funny voice or funny lines.

Shaky: Ten minutes watching this and you'll see why cellar-dwelling UPN was the only network clamoring for the next Jaleel White sitcom. WiO it survive? See The Parkers. SAFE HARBOR, 9 P.M. (premieres Monday on WB, WTTA-Ch. 38): Drafted as a wacky companion to family-oriented hit 7th Heaven, this show features Gregory Harrison as the sheriff of an oddball Florida town why are so many oddball TV towns set in Florida? who fives in an old hotel with his three sons and mom (Rue McClanahan).

Recast to include a black child, the show (partly filmed in Jacksonville) wED, one hopes, offer a different flavor than the off-balance pilot sent to critics. Shaky: As a companion to 7th Heaven, at least it will be wholesome or as wholesome as the WB gets, anyway. Will it survive? Following Heaven, now the WB's most-watched show, it has a good chance. FAMILY LAW, 10 P.M. (premieres Monday on CBS, WTSP-Ch.

10): Ifs an old nremise husband leaves tai mi ana a star iriuu us. a other Gen weeper, Party of Five, mis show gives Jennifer Love Hewitt "Lowe" to her pals the star-making platform she has deserved for years. As POSs Sarah Reeves, she leaves San Francisco for New York City to find her biological parents. But with a pilot that has been overhauled so drastically they're basically filming it again, the buzz isn't good. Promising: Audiences will love Love, even if the scripts don't deserve it Wffl it survive? Beautiful, vulnerable youth star Hewitt in a show just before breakout hit My McBeal? Need you ask? LADIES MAN, 8:30 RM.

(premieres Monday on CBS, WTSP-Ch. 10): If a formula you'll see a lot of this fait a flustered, ineffectual guy surrounded by demanding, wisecracking women. Here, if Brit Alfred Molina as Jimmy Stiles, a well-meaning guy surrounded by his wife, ex-wife, mother, mother-in-law and two daughters. With stars that include Dixie Carter, Betty White, Sharon Lawrence, Park Overall and NewsRadio's Stephen Root mark this empty comedy as the worst waste of cast talent since Nathan Lane and Joan Howright tanked in Encore! Encorel Condemned: The opening scene features the women crowding into Stiles' bathroom until he's forced out Give this show similar space. Will it survive? With lame-o competition from NBC's Veronica's Closet and The Parkers on UPN, the comedy bar on Mondays is lower than ever.

THE PARKERS, 8:30 RM. (premiered Aug. 30 on UPN, WTOG-Ch. 44): Comic MoNique Jackson takes I center stage as Nikki Parker, i mother to Countess i Vaughn's Kim Parker in this Moesha spinoff The ladies, attending college together, chase men, roll their eyes and play bad mama like they're trapped in a scaled- ONCE AND AGAIN, 10 RM. (premieres Tuesday on ABC.

WFTS-Ch. 28, until Nov. 9 when NYPD BLUE resumes) Forget about all these teen-oriented shows clogging the dial the best new drama of the fall centers on fortysomethings Billy Campbell and Sela Ward as divorced parents who start dating. So why did ABC put it in NYPD Blue's timeslot for six weeks guaranteeing it will bow out in November until football ends? First Rate: Ward and Campbell ignite serious sparks, with snappy dialogue from the guys who created thirtysomething and My So-Catted Life. Wffl it survive? By the time viewers find this show in the fall, it will be gone for weeks.

In a 200-channel universe, such instability is ill-advised. JUDGING AMY 10 RM. (premieres Tuesday on CBS, WTSP-Ch. 1 sneak preview tonight at 8): Blame the success of NBC's Providence for this one, starring Amy Brenneman (NYPD Blue) as a single mom who moves to Hartford, for a job as a family court judge. Like Providence, it treats a major East Coast dry like a small town, pits the main character against her demanding mother and features an underachieving sibling.

Shaky: Unfortunately, like Providence, ifs also confusing, sappy and hopelessly improbable. Wffl it survive? Providence scored as an inter mum ii mi ll mil i .11 1 ing Dawson's Creek can't hurt THE WEST WING, 9 RM. (premieres Wednesday on NBC. WFLA-Ch. 8): Combining a powerhouse cast (Rob Lowe, Martin Sheen) with a crackling script from American President scribe Aaron-Sorkin, this 7 .4 i RETURNING SHOWS 7 UPN -1 4 THE PARKERS: Countess Vaughn and Mo'Nique Imes Jackson.

I esting tidbit on Friday mghf vast 1 waste- i 1- ABC WB land, nttea against popular iarc suui as NYPD Blue and Dateline NBC, Judging Amy hasn't a chance. JACK JILL: Ivan Sergei SNOOPS: From left, Paula Jai Parker, Gina Gershon, and Amanda Peet. Danny Nucci and Paula Marshall. RETURNING SHOWS RETURNING SHOWS THE DREW CAREY SHOW, 9 RM. (premieres Wednesday on ABC WFTS-ChJZ8): Drew's nemesis, MimL not only marries his brother, but finds she has a tiny doppelganger MintMimi who copies her unique fashion style after seeing the latest Austin Powers movie.

With plans afoot to perform a November episode live for each of three U.S. time zones (Eastern, Central and Pacific), this may be the show's most challenging season yet LAW ORDER, 10 RM. (premieres Wednesday on NBC, WFLA-Ch. 8): Fresh from a career-making stint as Ally McBeal's mterracial love, Jesse Martin steps into Benjamin Bratf shoes on Law Order, playing a young cop with a love of gambling and street-oriented attitude Expect lots of delicious friction, as he gets to know Jerry Orbach's jaded Lennie Briscoe. i 7 SPIN CITY, 8 p.m.

(premieres Tuesday on ABC, WFTS-Ch. 28): Moving to the hot spat nn Tuesdavs. this Michael J. Fox FEUCrTY, 8 RM. (premieres Sept 26 on the WB, WTTA-Ch.

38): Does wizened college sophomore Felicity Porter (Keri Russell) drive cross-country with her crush Ben (Scott Speedman) or head to Germany with the guy who loves her, Noel (Scott Foley)? the answer, but getting there. FUTURAMA, 8:30 RM. (premieres Sept 26 on Fox, WTVT-Ch. 1 3): Some of us already thought this inventive animated comedy centered on a 20th century loser who gets frozen for 1,000 years deserved to air behind creator Matt Greening's other car COSBY, 8 RM. (premieres Sept 29 on CBS, WTSP-Ch.

1 0): Moving to Wednesdays, this lukewarm comedy faces the stiffest competition of its life pushing it to become an even bigger clone of star Bill Cosby's earlier groundbreaking NBC sitcom. TWO GUYS AND A GIRL, 8 RM. (premieres Wednesday on ABC, WFTS-Ch. 28): Dropping the pizza place from its title and setting, this show sorts out romance among the threesome, as Sharon (Florida State University grad Traylor Howard) considers a marriage proposal from pal Johnny (Ryan Reynolds). The real question is whether the series can transcend its relentless mediocrity.

DAWSON'S CREEK. 8 RM. (premieres Sept 29 on the WB, WTTA-Ch. 38): With creator Kevin Williamson gone, this teen drama promises to turn up the sex quotient as Dawson hosts a show by strippers at his home while mom is away. Fans can only hope producers turn down the soap and give these young stars something to sink their acting chops into.

NORM, 8:30 RM. (premieres Wednesday on ABC, WFTS-Ch. 28): No longer The Norm Show, this empty-headed sitcom gets some comedic juice from Unhappily Ever Afies Nikki Cox. who reraises her -V? CBS wife, taking all their stuff set in a shared law practice that loses most of its clients FAMILY LAW: Kathleen Quinlan, left, and Dixie Of course, the fun ot Felicity isn't knowing Carter. I down rerun of Gimme a Urcik Condemned: As much as TV needs vehicle has a simple mission maintaining the Tuesday franchise left hanging by Home Improvement demise.

Doesn't hurt that Melrose Place vet Heather Locklear is joining the cast this season as the mayor's new campaign manager. WILL GRACE, 9 P.M. (premieres Tuesday on NBC, WFLA-Ch. 8): Producers promise gay attorney Will (Eric McCormack) has dates this season while re-examining his friendship with straight gal pal Grace (Debra Messing). Gay friend Jack (Sean Hayes) deals with his mar toon success, tie Simpsons.

Nice to see it only took Fox nine months to wise up. THE X-FILES, 9 RM. (premieres Nov. 7 on Fox, WTVT-Ch. 13): The question isn't whether this is the show's last season (probably) or whether David Duchovny's Fox Mulder wDl recover from the when the rat hits the road.

Kathleen Quinlan is engaging as deserted spouse Lynn Holt despite a nonsensical stripping scene in the pilot that seems less liberating than titillating. Promising: With Designing Women's Dixie Carter and Doc Hollywood's Julie Warner on board, all this show lacks is writing to match its powerhouse cast Will it survive? In a spot that has already killed off promising dramas CO black-centered TV shows, it may not need mis one. Wffl it survive? In UPN's universe of diminished expectations, ifs likely. LAW ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT, 9 RM. (premieres Monday on NBC, WFLA-Ch.

8): Ifs got a great pedigree and a great cast (including Richard Belzer crossing over as Homicide's Det John Munch and two guys CO like Brooklyn bourn and LA. Vocsi lis 4 1 from HBO's slamming prison opus, Oz doubtfuL strange psychosis he displayed last season (surety). But will series creatorexecu-tive Droducer Chris '-iNy --f RETURNING SHOWS Carter still speak to his handsome star, following role from the show's pilot as a reformed teen hooker. Oh goody, another excuse for star Norm Macdonald to use the word on national TV. Duchovny lawsuit riage of convenience to a Hispanic maid, kicking off a season sure to prove this show is among TVs best SPORTS NIGHT, 9:30 P.M.

(premieres Oct 5 on ABC. WFTS-Ch. 28): The pressure here is to justify last year's tremendous critical buzz. With Robert Gufllaume returning to limited duty after a stroke, hope remains that producers will cut down on the speechifying and boost the comedy at this faux SportsCenter. SPIN CITY: Heather Locklear and Michael J.

Fox. alleging Carter helped Fox cheat the actor out of millions in show even a hunk injection from Melrose Place's Rob Estes can't save this show. VERONICA'S CLOSET, 8:30 P.M. (premieres Monday on NBC, WFLA-Ch. 8): Finally removed from its protected spot behind Must-See Frasier on Thursday nights, this not-quite-there Kirstie Alley vehicle will likely go the way of Caroline in the City and The Single Guy.

If we're lucky. SUDDENLY SUSAN, 8 RM. (premieres Monday on NBC, WFLA-Ch. 8): The one bright spot in this cookie-cutter NBC comedy was the wiH-they-or-won't-they? romantic spark between Brooke Shields' put-upon magazine columnist and publisher Judd Nelson. So it makes sense that the network would let Nelson leave and replace him with Monty Python's Eric Idle? Following Nelson's departure and suicide of cast member David Strickland, co profits? FUTURAMA: The 'toons Fry, Leela and Bender.

CJ1 V.2S. Fox 1 i i a m- i.