TVSquad

It's kind of nice when the networks spread out their premieres, ensuring me a fighting chance at sampling most of the new shows. Call me crazy, and you definitely wouldn't be the first, but I have this weird obsession with trying to catch at least one episode of virtually every new major show that premieres and, if at all possible making that the pilot episode. It's allowed me to see a lot of great shows, and a lot of stinkers. But it makes this time of year a busy blast, too!

I also try to keep up with returning shows to see what they've done in their off-season. If it's one I watch, then I want to see if they've tweaked the formula in any way; and if it's one I don't, then I'm always interested to see if they've come up with something to pull me in. With tonight the unofficial start of the fall season, we see the newest networks, FOX and The CW getting an early start by returning three prominent shows. We also say goodbye, maybe forever, to one of the most enjoyable new shows of the summer while TNT takes the chance to bow a new series.

TNT's original dramas are kind of hit or miss for me. I'm absolutely in love with The Closer, but have zero interest in Saving Grace, despite its good reviews and Holly Hunter's Emmy nomination. It was while I was watching The Closer that I saw the ads for Raising the Bar, TNT's newest series, which premieres on Monday, September 1 at 10 pm. I've got to say, I had the same reaction when I first saw promos for Saving Grace: "meh."

I love a good lawyer show, but there was something about Raising the Bar that just struck me as bland. I really didn't know if I'd even bother checking out the premiere. However, when I got the chance to see the first three episodes, I decided to jump on it. This way I could check it out at my leisure, but more importantly, I could figure out just what the hell is going on with Mark-Paul Gosselaar's hair.

Natalia Cigliuti has joined the cast of Raising the Bar, a new legal drama from TNT. She will play public defender Roberta "Bobbi" Gilardi. Joining Cigliutti are Mark Paul Gosselaar (NYPD Blue), Gloria Reuben (ER), Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle), Teddy Sears (Ugly Betty), Melissa Sagemiller (Sleeper Cell), Currie Graham (Boston Legal), J. August Richards (Conviction) and Jonathan Scarfe (Into the West).

Cigliuti will co-star with Gosselaar. Her character Bobbi, a Brooklyn native, is brought in to help with the strenuous workload at the public defender's office. Gosselaar flirtatiously calls her "Bobbi from Brooklyn" and takes an interest in his new co-worker.

According to the entertainment reporter over at Fox News, actor Bradley Whitford "almost" got the role as the new Assistant District Attorney on Law & Order. Sam Waterston is vacating that position to play the District Attorney, now that actor Fred Thompson is leaving the show to run for president.

Everybody got that? Good.

(S01E01) It's kind of surprising, in a fall season that has so many buzz-worthy pilots, that a new comedy staring Cheers legend Ted Danson is getting very little attention. It might be because his new show, Help Me Help You, is in a no-win slot against procedurals like NCIS and L&O:CI, and, after the playoffs, House. But overlooking the show is a mistake because, while the premise isn't exactly fresh, its still a pretty funny show. Why? It's all in the writing and execution, my friends; the right choice of actors and writers can overcome any shortcomings that the actual idea behind the show may have.

I haven't watched Malcolm in the Middle much the past few years. There's always something else on at the same time, but the one or two episodes I saw were pretty damn funny. Matthew Gilbert over at The Boston Globe has an appreciation of the series, which airs its series finale tonight. It's sorta spoilerish, so click at your own risk.

Did you know that the last name of Malcolm's family is ... Wilkerson?!? Me either. I guess they've only said it once in the whole run of the series.

At one point last year, I remember being surprised to hear that Malcolm in the Middle was still on television. I watched it when it first launched on FOX on Sunday nights and I loved it. But, then it disappeared to Friday nights and, quite frankly, I forgot all about it. Well, it turns out the show is still on the air and it's actually in the middle of its fifth season! Since FOX moved Malcolm to Fridays, its numbers have dwindled down to about 3.5 million viewers, giving it the unfortunate title of being the least-watched show on FOX. Malcolm arrives in its new time slot starting on January 29 at 7 pm EST. Let's hope the Sunday night slot will give Malcolm new life! I know I'll be watching.

Now that 2005 is behind us, we can look forward to new and returning favorite shows all this month on television. What will you be watching?

South Beach (Wednesdays, UPN) Two hot, New York City working-class bachelors leave the big city behind to follow one of their girlfriends to South Beach, FL, only to discover that she has a new boyfriend. They get mixed up with the rich and famous in the club scene. After viewing a sneak preview on UPN's website, it looks like a guilty pleasure like The O.C., except with more sex and no high school. Jennifer Lopez is the executive producer and it co-stars Vanessa Williams as a club owner and mother to one of the main characters. South Beach premieres on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 8 pm.