Deja view - Fall TV lineup is last year all over again

LOS ANGELES -- Broadcast networks are in big trouble this season if federal regulators add being derivative to the list of TV trespasses.

Networks are copying their own series, sometimes with a third or fourth edition ("CSI," "Law & Order") or putting on shows that have the whiff of copycat about them ("The Contender" vs. "The Next Great Champ").

Television is used to milking ideas for all they're worth, but the trend is nearly overwhelming in the 2004-2005 season -- nearly, but not quite.

There are a few wayward and promising originals, including ABC's suburban satire "Desperate Housewives"; CBS' coming-of-age baseball drama "Clubhouse"; the WB's "Jack & Bobby," about a future U.S. president's youth, and NBC's animated Siegfried & Roy comedy "Father of the Pride."

Mostly, however, viewers will get what's been proven to work because networks figure playing it safe is the sanest course of action.

"The networks will continue to create similar shows or variations of franchises as long as the audience continues to watch," said industry analyst Bill Carroll of Katz Television Group.

Since people flock to CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "CSI: Miami," give 'em "CSI: NY." Or a fourth "Law & Order", coming midseason. Or two more reality series in which rich guys spread the wealth in the tradition of NBC's hit "The Apprentice" ("The Benefactor," "The Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best").

Imitation is sincereAfter all, one of the best characterizations of the medium, right behind Newton Minow's "vast wasteland," is the late satirist Fred Allen's assertion that imitation is the sincerest form of television.

There's deja vu in casting as well, with familiar TV faces in new places, among them Rob Lowe ("The West Wing") in "dr. vegas"; Neal McDonough ("Boomtown") and Kelli Williams ("The Practice") in "Medical Investigation," and John Goodman ("Roseanne"), Jean Smart ("Designing Women") and Ed Asner ("Lou Grant") in "Center of the Universe."

(Heck, even "Jeopardy!" is bringing back last season's ongoing champion, Ken Jennings, when the syndicated game show returns in September.)

The goal for networks is to keep their footing in the unending battle against cable TV's innovative, often racy programming which broadcast can match in only a pallid fashion.

If it tries to do more than that, the Federal Communications Commission is waiting to enforce indecency regulations -- now even more vigorously since Janet Jackson's Super Bowl exposure.

Broadcasters may need a laugh but they're not searching for comfort in comedy. A paltry seven new sitcoms are debuting, making an already drama-heavy schedule even more so. All told, the six networks will field up to 49 dramas by the first quarter of 2005, compared to some 37 comedies.

For the first time in two decades, NBC won't have four sitcoms on Thursday night. It will have "Joey," the "Friends" spinoff starring Matt LeBlanc and one of the season's high-profile newcomers.

Another season hallmark is the sizable number of new reality shows -- six -- and their introduction at the season's start. This year, they're not second-string substitutes for failed dramas and sitcoms.

The result: an extreme, if gradual, makeover.

"Comedy and newsmagazines are pushed out by the influx of reality shows -- or infestation," said Shari Anne Brill, an analyst with the ad buying firm Carat USA.

Advertisers welcome the shows because they attract younger viewers but don't like how they play havoc with marketing plans when abruptly tossed on the air, said TV analyst Stacey Lynn Koerner of Initiative Media.

"There's nothing more irritating to an advertiser to be told you're scheduling a scripted series and then you change it to a reality series," she said, because the audience shift has a ripple effect across the dial.

Order is relative, however. The tradition of all shows debuting in the same fall week has been upended despite the season's official Sept. 20 start date.

Fox, accommodating the interruption caused by its postseason baseball coverage, is moving to year-round scheduling. It already debuted a trio of series ("North Shore," "Quintuplets" and "Method & Red") in June.

WB had its own summer rollout in July with "Studio 7" and "Blue Collar TV."

NBC, seeking to capitalize on its new series promos during the Olympic Games, is introducing part of its schedule immediately after the Games wrap up Sunday.

Now, let the Network Games begin.

The upcoming season's new series, network by network (all times Eastern):

ABC:

After yet another ratings shortfall (fourth among advertiser-favored young adult viewers last season), the emphasis on comedy is diminished. Four new dramas are part of the network's rebuilding effort, along with a pair each of reality series and comedies.

Donald Who? In "The Benefactor," billionaire businessman and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban dangles $1 million before 16 people who have to prove they deserve it. Debuts 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13.

"Rodney," 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, stars standup comedian Rodney Carrington as a man happy with his family but unhappy with his day job. The punch line: He wants to be a standup comedian.

An island, a plane crash, 48 survivors and very unusual wildlife make up the big picture in "Lost," debuting 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22. Matthew Fox stars in the drama from "Alias" producer J.J. Abrams.

"Complete Savages," 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, stars Keith Carradine as the single dad in charge of a pack of unruly boys. Mel Gibson, drawing on his experience as a large-brood parent, is an executive producer.

Women trade families and homes in "Wife Swap," a reality series starting 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29. For half the time, the women have to respect family dynamics; then things are done their way, or else.

Perfect homes hide unhappy secrets in "Desperate Housewives," a satiric take on suburban life starring Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross and Eva Longoria. It debuts 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3.

"Boston Legal," the reincarnated version of "The Practice," also bows Oct. 3, at 10 p.m. James Spader stars as a lawyer with borderline ethics but winning ways; William Shatner is the firm's co-captain.

Growing up is hard to do in "life as we know it," 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7. The drama about the yearnings of three teenage boys -- a jock, an artist and an overachiever -- also features Kelly Osbourne.

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CBS

The nation's most popular network is cruising in a comfort zone and its stable schedule, including three new dramas and two new comedies, reflects that. The big question is whether CBS can catch NBC among the young adult viewers favored by Madison Avenue.

"Listen Up," 8:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, a sitcom based on the work of sportswriter and columnist Tony Kornheiser, stars Jason Alexander as the writer and Malcolm-Jamal Warner as his TV show sidekick.

In "Clubhouse," a teenager lands a coveted batboy job with the New York Empires but still faces school and his single mom. Dean Cain and Mare Winningham star in the drama previewing 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, and in its regular time slot 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28.

John Goodman and Jean Smart star in the comedy "Center of the Universe," 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29, as a couple coping with parenthood and his oddball family (Ed Asner, Olympia Dukakis among them).

When crime hits New York City, Gary Sinise and Melina Kanakaredes hit back in "CSI: NY," the third member of the "Crime Scene Investigation" family. It debuts 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22.

Rob Lowe is the in-house doctor at a glitzy Las Vegas hotel, keeping high-rollers and casino bosses healthy in the drama "dr. vegas," 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24. Joe Pantoliano co-stars.

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FOX

With its year-round programming strategy, Fox is handing viewers the challenge of finding when and where favorite shows can be found. Several new and returning programs will share time slots over the course of the year -- for instance, "The Casino," "The Swan" and "24" in succession 9 p.m. on Mondays. A reality-heavy schedule includes four new shows in the genre.

In "The Complex: Malibu," 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30, a condominium building gets a makeover and eight couples get a shot at cashing in on the results -- if they've got the right renovation stuff.

It's lawyers vs. lawyers in the reality series "The Partner," 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, which pits "street smart" lawyers against Ivy Leaguers in mock trials presided over by a celebrity judge.

Hugh Laurie stars in "House" as a brilliant, icy doctor, Greg House, who solves medical mysteries despite a complete lack of bedside skills. The drama, 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, co-stars Robert Sean Leonard.

And in this corner, "The Next Great Champ," debuting 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10. Twelve aspiring boxers compete for a contract with boxer Oscar De La Hoya's company and a World Boxing Organization title fight.

Donald and Mark who? Virgin airlines mogul Richard Branson tests the mettle of young entrepreneurs on a worldwide trek in "The Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best," debuting 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9.

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NBC

The one-time Tuesday-Thursday night comedy powerhouse hopes the loss of "Friends" and "Frasier" will be eased by two comedies, including the "Joey" spinoff and a high-risk animation venture, three dramas and a reality series, "The Contender," which was announced first but gets into the ring after Fox's entry.

Book 'em, Seano. The crime drama "Hawaii," 8 p.m. Wednesday Sept. 1, stars Michael Biehn as Detective Sean Harrison. Sharif Atkins and Eric Balfour co-star with palm trees and bikinis.

"Father of the Pride" is a comedy with claws, a DreamWorks Animation ("Shrek") production about the on and offstage life of Siegfried & Roy's Las Vegas tigers. The show, created before Roy Horn's onstage mauling, debuts 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31.

Heather Locklear and Blair Underwood play ambitious rivals in "LAX," 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6, about those who run Los Angeles' airport and the travelers, pets and luggage just passing through.

Matt LeBlanc trades his "Friends" in for family on "Joey," the spinoff in which he leaves Manhattan for Hollywood and bonds with his sister (Drea de Matteo) and nephew. Debuts 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9.

National Institutes of Health doctors (Neal McDonough, Kelli Williams) are the heroes in "Medical Investigation," debuting 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, and in its regular 10 p.m. Friday slot Sept. 10.

In this corner "The Contender," produced by reality mogul Mark Burnett, Sylvester "Rocky" Stallone, and DreamWorks' Jeffrey Katzenberg. Boxing hopefuls battle for $1 million. The November debut date for the 8 p.m. Tuesday show was unannounced.

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UPN

Once known primarily as the home of wrestling and "Star Trek," UPN continues its move toward more mainstream programming with two new dramas and a comedy. The challenge is to attract younger viewers to its version of traditional genres.

"Veronica Mars" (Kristen Bell) is an intrepid detective willing to tackle the powerful interests in her wealthy town -- and she's only 17. After a 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, preview, the series moves into its regular 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, slot.

Taye Diggs stars in "Kevin Hill" as a high-powered, sexy attorney who finds fatherhood changes everything after a family death leaves him in charge of a baby girl. Debuts 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29.

"Second Time Around," 9:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, stars real-life couple Nicole Parker and Boris Kodjoe as an artist and an architect who were married, divorced and, eyes wide open, try marriage again.

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WB:

Last season's ratings dip prompted an overhaul of Wednesday and Friday nights and a stab at reality with "Studio 7." But young-skewing WB's emphasis on drama remains, with nearly half the schedule devoted to hourlong series, including two newcomers.

The roots of greatness are explored in "Jack & Bobby," about a future American president's childhood and the brother who influenced him. Christine Lahti co-stars in the drama starting 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12.

Improv is the game and Drew Carey is the name in "Drew Carey's Green Screen Show," 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16. After Carey and 10 comics act out the audience's skit ideas, artists fill an empty "green screen" background with animation, photos and film clips. Kathy Kinney is among the merrymakers.

It takes a baby sitter with military training to handle three rich kids in Beverly Hills in "Commando Nanny," 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, based on reality czar Mark Burnett's own experience. Gerald McRaney stars.

It's the Carvers' world and everyone else is just living in it in "The Mountain," 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, a drama set in the plush ski resort and town the family founded. Barbara Hershey and Oliver Hudson star.

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On the Net:

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EDITOR'S NOTE -- Lynn Elber can be reached at lelber"at"ap.org