ShareThisBy TERRY MORROW
Describing the 2006 TV fall season, which officially begins Monday, as "not half bad" is not a backhanded compliment. It's downright praise.
In the typical fall TV season, we have only two or three shows worth checking out. The other couple of dozens should never have been made in the first place.
This is an exceptional fall, though. Overall quality is up. It's not soaring, by any means. But few are true time-wasters.
We have two new networks _ the CW, a merger of the WB and UPN, and MyNetworkTV. The CW officially launches on Sept. 20 while MyNetworkTV is now on the air.
Across the board, we have the usual genre suspects _ courtroom dramas (Fox's "Justice," CBS's "Shark"), serialized adventures (CBS's "Jericho," NBC's "Heroes") and silly sitcoms (ABC's "Help Me Help You"). However, the networks also are striving for something with a little more zing this fall, too.
They are offering a standout like ABC's "Ugly Betty," a surprisingly witty and occasionally introspective hour about an ugly duckling who gets her wings working at a catty fashion magazine. "Ugly Betty" would be better served as a half-hour comedy, but, hey, millions worldwide love this tele-novela.
CBS has a refreshing spin on "Friends" with "The Class," a clever reunion of former schoolmates.
Tina Fey's new sitcom, NBC's "30 Rock," has bite as it delves into the backstage antics of a late-night sketch show. Because Fey is running the show, it has her unique comedic "voice," though using Tracy Morgan as her foil drags the show down a bit.
Dramas are well served with ABC's "The Nine," about the aftermath of a bank robbery told from the hostages' point of view. Upstart network the CW has "Runway," blending "The Fugitive" with "7th Heaven," in a manner. It's about a family on the lam after the father is accused of murder.
Maybe it's because no one is expecting much from the first year of the CW, but "Runaway" is actually a much better drama than you might expect. Don't write it off too quickly.
In keeping with the pace and continuing story of "Prison Break," Fox introduces a worthy counterpart _ "Vanished," about a kidnapping of a Georgia senator's wife. It's a superior kidnapping tale to the ABC's effort, which, plainly enough, is called "Kidnapped."
Well, you can't have everything be so subtle this new TV season. Take what you can because the pickings are not always this ripe.
