CSI: NY
CBS, Wednesdays 9 p.m.

Gary Sinise leads the second spin-off from the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation franchise, and offer absolutely nothing new. It’s the same sinister crimes and autopsies, but with a New York backdrop that differentiates it from the slightly sunnier CSI: Miami. While the plot and premise of the show has undergone very subtle changes, the acting in this spin-off puts that of CSI: Miami to shame. CSI: NY is a strong nominee to be crowned Best New Television Series, but don’t be fooled; it’s not for the show’s originality. Instead, the show’s audience will consist of CSI junkies who can’t get enough of the series. Grade: D

The Apprentice 2
NBC, Thursdays 9 p.m.

Donald, Caroline and George are back and ready to shatter the dreams of a whole new group of successful businessmen and -women in The Apprentice 2. The tasks have been improved from selling lemonade on season one to hosting a live QVC infomercial. The boardroom has definitely improved, with more twists and even more back-stabbing, but the missing element is the unexpected. In the first season, The Apprentice was something new, with more drama than the average reality show and an extraordinary helping of human humiliation that kept Americans glued to their television sets. The Apprentice 2 dives into predictability and the show feels a bit stale. Grade: C-

Joey
NBC, Thursdays 8 p.m.

How you doin’? Well, if you’re Joey then it’s not too good. With sinking ratings and rather uninteresting characters, Joey is flat lining. Matt LeBlanc and company have created a show that strangely feels similar to Friends, but the chemistry the characters had is completely gone. Stereotyping, bad scripts and poor performances from the show’s supporting cast have caused viewers to quickly abandon Joey. NBC has renewed Joey for the remainder of the season, and that’s mostly because the Peacock has nothing else to place alongside their illustrious “must-see TV” line up. If creativity and originality continue to escape Joey, this may be one of the most hyped shows not to see a second season. Grade: D

Desperate Housewives
ABC, Sundays 9 p.m.

Finally a show that will attract an audience that goes unnoticed past four o’clock on weekdays: the everyday housewife. The show plays on fantasies of the average stay-at-home woman, such as finding a warm embrace in the arms of the town’s resident stud while the husband’s at work. ABC has finally landed a hit by mixing what people love most: sex, lies and soap-style drama in a very appealing package. Desperate Housewives is exactly what the doctor ordered on a dull Sunday night. Grade: B