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With new networks launching and several programming trends occurring simultaneously, the Fall 2006 TV season beckons with promise.

Generally speaking, the quality of new series is better than usual with minimal stinkers and even fewer middle-of-the-road shows.

With The WB and UPN consigned to the dust heap of TV history, The CW rises in their place, airing in Pittsburgh on Channel 19 (WPCW, formerly WNPA) and carrying hits from both of the networks it's replacing ("Gilmore Girls," "Veronica Mars," etc.). My Network TV, a new rival, launched earlier this month on Channel 22 (WPMY, formerly WCWB).

As for the trends: Potentially too many serials, several shows with anti-hero leads akin to "House" (a few closer to Tony Soprano) and an abundance of series about large groups of characters brought together by circumstance (a la "Lost").

Read on to learn about the players in the new series onslaught.

"The Game" (8:30 p.m., The CW): The wives of football players for a San Diego pro team are the focus of this "Girlfriends" spin off that seems like it might not be as funny as campy British drama "Footballers Wives." (Premieres Oct. 1)

"Brothers & Sisters" (10 p.m., ABC): Adult siblings ? including two played by Calista Flockhart and Rachel Griffiths ? banter, bark and tease under the watchful eye of mom (Sally Field) as they try to keep Uncle Saul (Ron Rifkin) from running the family business into the ground. There's too much going on in the pilot, but the winning cast may be enough to keep viewers tuned in. (Sept. 24)

"The Class" (8 p.m. CBS): Despite a weak start (attempted suicide played as a joke; a ditz who sounds like she may be developmentally disabled), this comedy pilot gains strength and focus as it continues, revealing itself to be a funny, surprise-filled treat. An appealing young cast is led by Jason Ritter ("Joan of Arcadia") as Ethan, who reunites his third grade class for his fianc?e, whom he met in that elementary school setting. Lizzy Caplan ("Related") has breakout potential as sour and caustic Kat, whose chemistry with Ritter is undeniable. After Ethan gets dumped, Kat consoles him, but cautions that he and the former fianc?e weren't meant to be together simply because their birthdays are a day apart. "My birthday's the same day as that Son of Sam guy," she says. "It's really not enough to build a relationship on." (Monday)

"Desire" (8 p.m., MNT): Monday through Friday soap about two brothers in love with the same woman. (Already premiered)

"Fashion House" (9 p.m., MNT): My Network TV's second weeknight soap, this one stars Bo Derek and Morgan Fairchild as rivals in the fashion industry. (Already premiered)

"Heroes" ( 9 p.m., NBC): The best large ensemble drama pilot since "Lost," this series brings to mind "The 4400" (with a greater emphasis on character development) and has a hint of "The X-Men." Strangers in cities around the world (but mostly in America, of course) begin to develop super powers. Peter (Milo Ventimiglia, "Gilmore Girls") dreams of flying, Texas cheerleader Niki (Ari Larter) heals herself, Japanese geek Hiro (Masi Oka) teleports. They all seem on a crash course toward meeting. Despite some self-serious narration, the "Heroes" pilot sets up a series with potential to spare. (Sept. 25)

"Runaway" (9 p.m., The CW): Donnie Wahlberg plays a lawyer dad charged with a murder he didn't commit who goes on the run with his family. Call it: "The Fugitive Family." Leslie Hope ("24") plays his wife and Sarah Ramos (Patty on "American Dreams") is his teenage daughter. This edgy attempt at a family drama may draw some "7th Heaven" fans, but the fact that dad had an affair with the murder victim makes him less sympathetic than one might expect. (Sept. 25)

"Vanished" (9 p.m., Fox): The second pilot this calendar year to feature a child exploding (NBC's "Heist" was the first), this kidnapping drama pales next to NBC's superior "Kidnapped." Gale Harold, who played an arrogant, cocky man-whore on "Queer as Folk," plays an arrogant, cocky FBI agent on the trail of a missing senator's wife. (Already premiered)

"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (10 p.m., NBC): The levels of reality, the characters that are reminiscent of real-life figures in entertainment and the autobiographical nature of the story combine to make for a head-spinning pilot episode. But those elements are just an added bonus for those in the know. For others, particularly fans of "The West Wing," Aaron Sorkin's new Hollywood-set series offers a bevy of intelligent characters of depth that spout snappy dialogue. Even if you think you have no interest in peering behind the scenes at a fictional sketch comedy show, Sorkin creates a world that will suck you in. (Monday)

"Friday Night Lights" (8 p.m., NBC): Employing the same look and energy of the feature film he directed, executive producer Peter Berg revisits a small Texas town where football is king. Kyle Chandler steps into the role as head coach in this engrossing family drama that fills a void left after the cancellation of "American Dreams." (Oct. 3)

"Stand Off" (9 p.m., Fox): Ron Livingston ("Band of Brothers") plays a hostage negotiator who's dating his partner (Rosemarie DeWitt), which goes against the law enforcement agency's rules (Gina Torres of "Firefly" plays the tough boss). Pilot tries to have it both ways ? It's a rough and tumble drama! It's a romance! ? but neither element is successful. (Already premiered)

"Knights of Prosperity" (9 p.m., ABC): Another comedic fantasy from the creators of "Ed," this one concerns a group of New Yorkers who join together to play Robin Hood, robbing Mick Jagger to finance opening a bar that's been the dream of mastermind Eugene (Donal Logue). "Knights" is quirky and puts a smile on your face, much like "Ed," but the half-hour pilot felt about twice its length and the low-rent "Ocean's 11" concept doesn't seem like it can hold up for 22 episodes. (Oct. 17)

"Help Me Help You" (9:30 p.m., ABC): Ted Danson plays a shrink whose group therapy sessions mask his own relationship troubles. The setting is reminiscent of "Dear John" and also features one of that show's stars, Jere Burns, but this single-camera comedy is lacking in laughs. (Sept. 26)

"Smith" (10 p.m., CBS): "Heist" failed, so did the superior "Thief." "Smith" probably falls closer to the latter with its focus on character. "Smith" also benefits from a stylish look, but one wonders if that ambition will diminish after the pilot. Whether or not the exploits of professional thieves (played by Ray Liotta, Simon Baker and Amy Smart) will lose their appeal will depend on how much the writers make viewers care about these characters in future episodes. (Tuesday)

"Jericho" (8 p.m., CBS): Reminiscent of "Wolf Lake," the CBS werewolf show from 2001, "Jericho" also has an interesting and, for CBS, unusual concept that's poorly executed. Clumsily shot and acted, "Jericho" squanders a promising, high concept idea ? people in a Kansas town see a mushroom cloud on the horizon; are they the only Americans left alive? ? on a big-cast, "Lost" rehash with a possible boogie man and conspiracy tossed in for good measure. (Wednesday)

"30 Rock" (8 p.m., NBC): The second of the Peacock's two series to peer backstage at a "Saturday Night Live"-type show (see "Studio 60" for the other), this one is a single-camera comedy from "SNL" head writer Tina Fey who stars as Liz Lemon, executive producer of "The Girlie Show." She butts heads with a newly installed network suit (a hilariously pompous Alec Baldwin). Alternately obvious (fart jokes) and sly ("It's not HBO, it's TV," Liz quips), "30 Rock" has promise and benefits from a bravura performance by Tracy Morgan as a nutjob actor. (Oct. 11)

"Twenty Good Years" (8:30 p.m., NBC): A standard-issue "Odd Couple"-format sitcom, "Twenty Good Years" is elevated by the presence of stars Jeffrey Tambor ("Arrested Development") and John Lithgow ("3rd Rock From the Sun"). This throwback is one of the few new multi-camera comedies on the fall schedule. Lithgow, as the arrogant risk-taker, shouts most of his dialogue; Tambor plays the more tentative of the pair who end up living together. Fans of crappy '80s sitcoms may love it, but the rest of us? Not so much. (Oct. 11)

"Justice" (9 p.m., Fox): A slick procedural drama that's heavy-handed in its exposition, Victor Garber stars as the pit bull-like boss of a law firm that specializes in high-profile murder cases (think: O.J. Simpson's defense team). Each episode concludes with a scene that shows how the victim actually died. Procedurals may be on the wane, but with so many series that demand you tune in every week, "Justice" might be a welcome respite with its low demand on viewers. (Already premiered)

"Kidnapped" (10 p.m., NBC): A taut thriller about the son of a wealthy Manhattan couple who gets abducted and held for ransom and the about-to-retire FBI agent (Delroy Lindo) and private for-hire rescuer (Jeremy Sisto) who attempt to get the boy back. Slickly produced, quickly paced and seeded with clues to future plots, "Kidnapped" is NBC's answer to the success of "24" and "Prison Break." But will parents want to watch a show about a kidnapped child week after week? And will producers find ways to stretch the show to 22 episodes that don't make the story snap? (Wednesday)

"The Nine" (10 p.m., ABC): Nine strangers are linked when they become victims of a bank robbery in yet another large cast, serialized drama. Chi McBride ("Boston Public"), Scott Wolf ("Everwood"), Kim Raver ("24") and Tim Daly ("Wings") are among the hostages in a 52-hour standoff that ends in the death of at least one hostage and profound life changes for all involved. Intriguing and well-executed concept. (Oct. 4)

"Ugly Betty" (8 p.m., ABC): A cute if conventional comedy-drama based on the popular Spanish-language telenovela of the same name, the American edition stars America Ferrera ("Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants") as a plain but smart woman hired as the assistant to a lothario fashion magazine editor. Naturally, she overcomes her social awkwardness and her boss gradually grows to accept her. Ferrera brings dignity to the title character, giving Betty a spirit that's anything but ugly. (Sept. 28)

"'Til Death" (8 p.m., Fox): Everybody loves love. That could be the sarcastically-stated signature line for Brad Garrett's miserable, married middle-ager in this comedy. He's neighbor to a couple of newlyweds (Eddie Kaye Thomas and Kat Foster) by the name of Woodcock, and the pilot asks us to believe Jeff Woodcock, a newly installed high school vice principal, never heard a discouraging word about his surname in the past. Right. "Til Death" is occasionally funny, but mostly just loud and obvious ? a typical Fox comedy. (Already premiered)

"Happy Hour" (8:30 p.m., Fox): A crude sit from Fox. What's a "sit"? A sitcom that lacks comedy. Corn-fed good guy moves to big city with girlfriend, she dumps him, he moves in with another guy in the building who ritualistically swills martinis at 4 p.m. daily. If this is happy hour, you'll have more fun with the teetotalers. (Already premiered)

"Shark" (10 p.m., CBS): James Woods plays the Dr. House of lawyers, only this being a CBS show, he's a defanged version of House. Woods, who makes a strong impression initially, stars as Sebastian "Shark" Stark, a defense attorney who becomes a prosecutor. He tells his young charges, "Your job is to win. Justice is God's problem." But "Shark" doesn't have the courage of the character's supposed convictions. Before the show's first hour is up, Shark wimps out, his murder case turns into a "Perry Mason" retread and the relationship with his teenage daughter is paint-by-numbers uplifting. (Thursday)

"Six Degrees" (10 p.m., ABC): Strangers amble into and out of each other's lives in this New York-set soap. They're all suffering in one way or another (on the run, death of a husband, being cheated on, etc.), but the diffuse structure of the plots makes it difficult to get involved in these characters' lives. (Thursday)

"Men in Trees" (9 p.m., ABC): Cute but not complex, this attempt at a modern-day "Northern Exposure" stars Anne Heche as a relationship guru/author who discovers her fiance cheating, leading her to stay in an Alaska town where men outnumber women 10 to one. Heche makes for a compelling TV lead, but the Alaskan characters aren't nearly as well drawn as the "Exposure" crew. (Already premiered)

Want to know when you can see new episodes of your favorite shows? Here's a list of returning prime-time series and their premiere dates:
 
"According to Jim" -- Midseason.
"All of Us" -- Oct. 1.
"The Amazing Race" -- Tonight.
"American Dad" -- Already premiered.
"America's Funniest Home Videos" -- Oct. 1
"America's Most Wanted" -- Already premiered.
"America's Next Top Model" -- Wednesday.
"The Bachelor" -- Oct. 2.
"The Biggest Loser" -- Wednesday.
"Bones" -- Already premiered.
"Boston Legal" -- Tuesday.
"Cold Case" -- Sept. 24.
"Cops" -- Already premiered.
"Close to Home" -- Friday.
"Criminal Minds" -- Wednesday.
"Crossing Jordan" -- Oct. 20.
"CSI" -- Thursday.
"CSI: Miami" -- Monday.
"CSI: NY" -- Wednesday.
"Dancing With the Stars" -- Already premiered.
"Dateline" -- Already premiered.
"Deal or No Deal" -- Monday.
"Desperate Housewives" -- Sept. 24.
"ER" -- Thursday.
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" -- Sept. 24.
"Everybody Hates Chris" -- Oct. 1.
"48 Hours Mystery" -- Saturday.
"Family Guy" -- Already premiered.
"Friday Night Smackdown!" -- Friday.
"George Lopez" -- Midseason.
"Ghost Whisperer" -- Friday.
"Gilmore Girls" -- Sept. 26.
"Girlfriends" -- Oct. 1.
"Grey's Anatomy" -- Thursday.
"House" -- Already premiered.
"How I Met Your Mother" -- Monday.
"The King of Queens" -- Midseason
"King of the Hill" -- Midseason.
"Las Vegas" -- Oct. 20.
"Law & Order" -- Friday.
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" -- Tuesday.
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" -- Tuesday.
"Lost" -- Oct. 4.
"Medium" -- Midseason
"My Name Is Earl" -- Thursday.
"Nanny 911" -- Already premiered.
"NCIS" -- Tuesday.
"The New Adventures of Old Christine" -- Monday.
"NUMB3RS" -- Friday.
"The O.C." -- Nov. 2.
"The Office" -- Thursday.
"One Tree Hill" -- Sept. 27.
"Primetime Live" -- Midseason.
"Prison Break" -- Already premiered.
"Reba" -- Midseason.
"Scrubs" -- Midseason.
"7th Heaven" -- Sept. 25.
"The Simpsons" -- Already premiered.
"60 Minutes" -- Sept. 24.
"Smallville" -- Sept. 28.
"Supernatural" -- Sept. 28.
"Survivor" -- Already premiered.
"20/20" -- Already premiered.
"24" -- Midseason.
"Trading Spouses" -- Oct. 6.
"Two and a Half Men" -- Monday.
"The Unit" -- Tuesday.
"Veronica Mars" -- Oct. 3.
"The War at Home" -- Already premiered.
"What About Brian" -- Oct. 9.
"Without a Trace" -- Sept. 24.
"Wife Swap" -- Monday.

Best and Worst new shows
 
How good are the new TV shows this fall? So good we had a difficult time containing the "best" list and filling the "worst" list.
 
There are only a few new procedurals, but both Fox's "Justice" and CBS's "Shark" are much better than typical close-ended fare. And ABC's "The Nine" is a slickly-produced serial that in any other year probably would have made the "best" list.
 
But competition is tougher than ever and we had to draw the line somewhere when creating a list of the best (and worst) pilot episodes for the 2006-2007 TV season.
 
BEST
"The Class" (CBS)
"Friday Night Lights" (NBC)
"Heroes" (NBC)
"Kidnapped" (NBC)
"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (NBC)
"30 Rock" (NBC)
"Ugly Betty" (ABC)

WORST
"Happy Hour" (Fox)
"Help Me Help You" (ABC)

-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor