What’s on

On the lookout

Father of the Pride (NBC)
Wednesdays, 9 p.m.

The fact that each episode of Father of the Pride costs $1.6 million to make is proof that money isn’t everything. From the dry CGI animation to the jokes and their over-acted delivery, the show radiates with too much effort, which all adds up to a moderately amusing experience. Most of the gags, if not all, will never be laugh-out-loud funny, but at least they come from a funny place. Also, the show is so similar to A Shark’s Tale that DreamWorks may want to reconsider advertising the movie during the TV show; it’s a bit of a mediocrity overload.

— Harold Valentine

The Apprentice 2 (NBC)
Thursdays, 9 p.m.

Time for another season of the top fascistic yuppie cut-throats Donald Trump can afford. Trump seems to have perfected his cobra “Yer fired” hand technique, all the more fascinating to realize that people besides Trump actually find that cute. In spite of Trump’s bizarre yet socially accepted self-glorification, viewers get to watch 18 fresh souls bargain with The Donald, and that’s what it’s all about: watching people who are more successful than most squirm for a life with Donald Trump.

— H.V.

Joey (NBC)
Thursdays, 8 p.m.

Matt LeBlanc moves out to Los Angeles and embarks on a movie career with former Sopranos’ star Drea de Matteo. Whether Joey will be as funny or endearing as Friends remains to be seen, but early word has been very positive. And it’s not as though real estate is a problem; Joey has inherited the ripe 8 p.m. Thursday slot that was vacated by Friends.

— Pablo Saldana

CSI: NY (CBS)
Wednesdays, 10 p.m.

The CSI franchise is branching out from the warm breeze of Miami to the cold streets of New York in hopes of scoring another primetime hit. How many washed up bodies and cadavers can viewers stomach? Well, CSI: NY will test audience patience and help CBS remain the number one network.

— P.S.

Survivor: Vanuatu (CBS)
Thursdays, 8 p.m.

A new group of civilians are taken into the wild and forced to survive long enough to win the $1 million prize. Survivor is the grand daddy of reality programming spawning many imitations. The one satisfying part of Survivor is watching these seemingly normal individuals turn into a pack of back-stabbing crybabies. If misery is your shtick, then Survivor is clearly the best bet.

— P.S.

Wife Swap (ABC)
Wednesdays, 10 p.m.

Tired of your spouse? You can now switch her out for someone else’s. The geniuses at ABC have picked up this British import and adapted it for American consumption. As the reality market nears its breaking point, reality shows cover nearly every topic from find your father his next wife to the gathering of washed-up celebrities in one house. Wife Swap will most certainly become one of the first casualties of the new season. — P.S.

The Mountain (WB)
Wednesdays, 9 p.m.

A successful business man passes away and leaves his ski resorts to a rebellious teen. The Mountain sounds like the worst show to premiere on the WB since Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane. The WB won’t be counting on its new line-up but rather old favorites such as 7th Heaven and Smallville to boost its ratings.

— P.S.

Quintuplets (FOX)
Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m.

Quintuplets supposedly stretched the boundaries of family inner working. A couple has to deal with five15-year-olds and the surrounding drama of dealing with teens. The idea is pathetic, unfunny and a tasteless. Again, one can only hope that Quintuplets gets the beating it deserves in the rating’s war for being blatantly unoriginal.

— P.S.


Dependable Oldies

The Simpsons (FOX)
Sundays, 8 p.m.

Struggling into season 16, The Simpsons was once a unique comical view of a dysfunctional family. But in the past few seasons, the show has felt rather dull. The Simpsons is no longer the place for biting commentary and cool catchphrases — audiences now have the lite-political humor of Comedy Central’s South Park. Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart and Maggie, who once seemed untouchable, have fallen hard due to predictable material and a standard routine — everything The Simpsons once stood against.

— P.S.

Will & Grace (NBC)
Thursdays, 8:30 p.m.

Before Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Will & Grace introduced mainstream audiences to homosexuality in primetime. Sean Hayes (Jack) and Megan Mullally (Karen) are two of situational comedy’s best supporting actors. The highlight of the show isn’t watching the rather stiff Debra Messing; instead it’s seeing Karen boss around her Spanish maid, Rosario, and her liberal use of language. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better sitcom on network television than Will & Grace.

— P.S.

Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS)
Mondays, 9 p.m.

Thankfully this bland sitcom is starting what is reportedly its last season. The absence of Ray Romano from television will come as a much-needed relief for opposers of this series. Everybody Loves Raymond has mainly relied on laughter from its supporting cast and drew far too little from the show’s star. Painting pointless situations and relying on juvenile humor, Everybody Loves Raymond will not be missed.

— P.S.

ER (NBC)
Thursdays, 10 p.m.

How many possible emergencies can come through ER before it becomes redundant? In the show’s soon-to-be 11-year run, the viewers have seen nearly every medical condition and swell of emotions possible, but ER offers nothing more than bleak situations that amazingly work themselves out in the course of an hour. During the ’90s, ER was one of the many medical dramas that flooded the market, but unlike Chicago Hope, it survived and launched the career of George Clooney along the way. For viewers who can’t get enough of emergency room drama and don’t mind the repetitive nature of these shows, ER is a safe bet.

— P.S.


Returning favs

Scrubs (NBC)
Tuesdays, 9:30 p.m.

After striking out on his own, Zach Braff created one of the summer’s best films (Garden State), but now settles back into the role of J.D. Scrubs is the intentionally funny ER, which successfully mixes humor into rather touchy situations. A key element that has set Scrubs apart from the countless comedies that have come and gone during the show’s first three seasons is its witty dialogue. Each of the characters is fully developed and has both strong traits and human faults. If there’s one sitcom to keep a close eye on, it’s Scrubs.

— P.S.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS)
Thursdays, 9 p.m.

Apparently audiences haven’t had their fill of autopsies and murder, because CSI moves into its fifth season as television’s highest-rated drama. CSI is a vastly improved version of Law and Order where the cushy police precincts are replaced instead with creepy morgues. The show has been so successful it spawned two spin-offs, CSI: Miami, which was one of last year’s top ten shows, and the forthcoming CSI: NY. CSI has consistently delivered solid ratings for CBS, but the show’s overwhelming popularity could result in a harsh backlash from the public.

— P.S.

The O.C. (FOX)
Thursdays, 8 p.m.

The O.C. was instantly crowned “the new Beverly Hills 90210” upon its debut last August. The series sideswiped audiences with gripping teen drama that forced older audiences to reminisce of the days when Melrose Place was tops. The O.C. makes a bold move to Thursdays this fall, with Fox hoping the positive buzz doesn’t fizzle out on the most-watched night on television. The show’s charismatic actors became instant pin-ups and fashion icons, but the jury’s still out on whether The O.C. will still be a happening place in its very uncertain sophomore year.

— P.S.

Cold Case (CBS)
Sundays, 8 p.m.

Another crime drama that attracted a sizeable number of viewers was CBS’ Cold Case. A cold case is a crime that remains unsolved and inactive for a long period of time. The series follows one detective’s determination to help these silent victims finally get the justice they deserve. Entering its second season, Cold Case has new competition from rival networks, but solid writing and its excellent ensemble cast will keep this show ticking well past mid-season.

— P.S.

Arrested Development (FOX)
Sundays, 8:30 p.m.

Arrested Development proves that Fox still has some originality left. For a network which once prided itself on having original and daring programming, the last few years have been mundane. The back-story is as follows: A son takes over a family when his father is arrested for some rather shifty business. Despite critical praise, Arrested Development spent most of last season struggling to find an audience. Now, with more than half-a-dozen Emmy nominations and renewed interest, this refreshing, offbeat comedy will find its audience.

— P.S.

Joan of Arcadia (CBS)
Fridays, 8 p.m.

Religious television has never been as engaging as Joan of Arcadia has proven it can be. With a handful of Emmy nominations and a rabid following, the young girl who talks with God has become a bona fide hit. Joan of Arcadia has given many viewers a reason to stay home Friday nights, boasting a strong cast, clever writing and plenty of warmth. The show’s success comes from its ability to appeal beyond devout Christians by keeping the “Oh, Gods” and “Amens” to a bare minimum. With a build-up of positive word of mouth and continuing curiosity, expect Joan of Arcadia to perform miracles this season.

— P.S.

8 Simple Rules (ABC)
Fridays, 8 p.m.

8 Simple Rules didn’t attract attention until its leading man, John Ritter, suddenly passed away last year. Before his untimely passing, 8 Simple Rules was flat lining with viewers, and its once-promising ratings were slowly deteriorating. Slightly smarter than the typical family drama, 8 Simple Rules may not survive the fall onslaught of programming, and being on troubled ABC is not going to help matters. The network has continually altered its entire schedule, holding on to its few hits while failing to develop anything remotely noteworthy. All signs point to an abrupt ending to 8 Simple Rules.

— P.S.