If a show could get by on atmosphere alone, ABC's stylishy shot "Night Stalker" (9 tonight, WTAE) would be an outright success. It is creepy, spooky and scary. Scenes re-shot for tonight's premiere make it a much better hour.

But all this isn't enough to overcome what will likely prove to be an insurmountable problem: casting.

As newspaper crime reporter Carl Kolchak, Stuart Townsend is a drag. The Scully to his Mulder, Gabrielle Union plays rival reporter Perri Reed with wooden joylessness, which fits the character, a killjoy of epic proportions (unlike, say, Scully, who was always empathetic, even at her most doubting).

At least boy photographer Jain McManus (Eric Jungmann) sparks some semblance of life into this show simply by virtue of his energy and enthusiasm.

In addition to tracking down paranormal crimes of the week, Kolchak also continues to investigate the murder of his wife and others who develop a red squiggly line on their wrists after death. Maybe if I cared more about Kolchak, I'd care more about this back story, but so far I don't.

Developed by Frank Spotnitz ("The X-Files"), "Night Stalker" is based on a 1970s series of the same name. It starred Darren McGavin, and fans of the original are advised to keep a lookout for McGavin, digitally inserted into tonight's premiere in a newsroom scene; the hat McGavin's Kolchak wore also hangs in the new Kolchak's home.

A subsequent "Night Stalker" episode sent for review has a shocking, disturbing opening but then grows tiresome. We've seen stories of possession and evil so many times, it just doesn't feel fresh, no matter how much stylish new gloss is applied.

'SMALLVILLE'

As much as I'm drawn to shows with a mythology, series where the creators have an end point for their saga, I'm equally frustrated by them.

A story that should play out over roughly three years will, if the program is a hit, be drawn out for seven. We've seen it before ("The X-Files"), we'll inevitably see it again ("Lost") and we've seen it for a couple years already on The WB's "Smallville" (8 tonight, WCWB).

But after at least two seasons of dawdling, "Smallville" finally takes, not a leap or bound, but a baby step forward in telling the story of a teenaged Superman-in-the-making Clark Kent (Tom Welling). And that's a greater step than this series has taken in quite some time.

"Smallville" has always excelled at playing with the Superman mythology (Clark's red and blue wardrobe, knowing lines of dialogue here and there) and that continues in tonight's fifth season premiere with trips to the Fortress of Solitude, a visit by disciples of General Zod and a cameo by the Phantom Zone.

I'm still not convinced that even with the forward momentum of the story or changes in Clark's relationships (with Lana and Chloe) that "Smallville" will be a must-watch, but at least it's no longer a must-flee show.

'EVERWOOD'

The WB's "Everwood" (9 tonight, WCWB) returns in a new time slot -- one of the most challenging on television -- that's likely to kill this little gem. Too bad. "Everwood" remains as vibrant as ever as the love triangle among Andy (Treat Williams), Nina (Stephanie Niznik) and Jake (Scott Wolf) heats up, culminating in a wedding at the end of the hour. Even more touching is the continuing romance between brainy beauty Hannah (Sarah Drew) and lunkhead beast Bright (Chris Pratt).

As to who gets married, "Everwood" teases that at the start and then jumps back a week in time to show what the characters have been up to over the summer. There's some humor, some drama and some heartbreak, all hallmarks of this enjoyably humane character drama.

Better still, "Just Legal" is bombing on The WB at 9 p.m. Monday, so "Everwood" may move back to its former -- and infinitely superior -- time slot sooner rather than later.

'FLIGHT 29 DOWN'

This new Saturday morning NBC series is "Lost" for kids without the mysterious, monster-filled island or intrigue.

"Flight 29 Down" (noon Saturday, WPXI) follows a small airplane full of teens who crash on a South Pacific island en route to an eco-adventure. The plane is stocked with all the types, even a blond whiner not too different from Shannon on "Lost."

In the premiere, the students pull together for one big task and the reality that they may be stranded for a long time just begins to dawn on some of them.

Created by Stan Rogow ("Darcy's Wild Life," "Lizzie McGuire") and D.J. MacHale ("Are You Afraid of the Dark?"), who wrote and directed Saturday's premiere, "Flight 29 Down" might be enjoyable to kids who are too spooked by "Lost," but for older teens, it can't help but feel like a rerun.