ShareThisBy TERRY MORROW
The network fall season begins Monday, but only seven of the new programs are coming out of the gate during the first week.
Fox trotted out its newbies early to give viewers time to warm to them before baseball playoffs take over in October. You can catch " 'Til Death," "Justice," "Vanished," "Happy Hour" and "Standoff" now _ if you're desperate.
NBC is bringing out most of its new material later in the month and in October (undoubtedly to take advantage of Fox's missing prime-time slate). This week, only two of NBC's newcomers _ "Kidnapped" and "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" _ will debut.
ABC has only one new entry to offer this week with the drama "Six Degrees." CBS, on the other hand, is doing it the old-fashioned way. (And, really, do you expect anything less from CBS?) The old Eye network will roll out everything it has that's new _ "The Class," "Smith," "Jericho" and "Shark."
The CW, the newest mini-network to come our way, will mishmash favorites of UPN and the WB starting Sept. 20.
Other highlights for the week of Sept. 17-23 (all times EDT; check local listings; subject to change):
SUNDAY, Sept. 17
_ "Genius" (10 p.m., CNN). A smart news report explains to us how bright people get to be that way. Let's just hope they use small words.
MONDAY, Sept. 18
_ "The Class" (8 p.m., CBS). A bunch of grown-up former third-graders get back together for a puzzling reunion in this new sitcom.
_ "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (10 p.m., NBC). Two successful writers with personal baggage take over a struggling network sketch show in this new comedy-drama from Aaron Sorkin ("The West Wing").
TUESDAY, Sept. 19
_ "Smith" (10 p.m., CBS). A mobster (Ray Liotta) leads a double life _ one is with a hot wife and the other is with hot valuables.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 20
_ "Jericho" (8 p.m., CBS). The world is probably coming to an end. Or not. If it isn't, what's that mushroom cloud in Colorado all about?
_ "Kidnapped" (10 p.m., NBC). A teenager is kidnapped, and the lead investigator finds blame all around, including the teen's secretive parents, in this new series.
THURSDAY, Sept. 21
_ "Shark" (10 p.m., CBS). James Woods is a fish out of water in this tale of a slimy lawyer who gets a job that redeems him.
_ "Six Degrees" (10 p.m., NBC). Six strangers have no idea how much impact they have on each other's lives in this quirky new soap.
SATURDAY, Sept. 23
_ "Fantastic Four" (8 p.m., Cartoon Network). Doctor Doom trades bodies with Reed Richards. Well, Reed can stretch any part of his body. Who wouldn't want that?
