Premise

Dangerous Minds is based on the real life exploits of an ex-marine who turned around a difficult inner city high school classroom.  Recently chronicled in a movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer

Familiar Faces

Annie Potts (Designing Women) as Louanne Johnson

Our Take

FOX owns the younger demographics with Melrose Place while CBS should be able to own the older demographics with Cosby and Ink.  Accordingly, there may be no audience left over for this program

Expect to Hear

“Characterization is the way we learn about people.  Now, I'm a student of character which is why I know more about you than you know about me”

- Louanne Johnson (addressing her class)

Premise

Stand-up comedienne Lisa Ann Walter stars as Lisa Hunter, a married, middle-class mother re-entering the work force after finally earning her law degree.  Lisa will find herself learning to deal with being away from her family while also trying to prove that she can handle the cases she will be working on as Baltimore's newest Assistant State's Attorney

Familiar Faces

Michael O'Keefe (Roseanne) as Kevin Hunter

Our Take

Holding the enviable time slot between Roseanne and Home Improvement, Life's Work should have no trouble holding its own against the other rookie contenders

Expect to Hear

“E-mail...Great...Do I get a little book of E-stamps?”

- Lisa

Premise

Michael J. Fox returns to series television as Michael Flaherty, the deputy mayor of New York City.  In addition to dealing with the difficulties of New York and "guiding" the mayor, Michael also needs to contend with his girlfriend, an outspoken journalist

Familiar Faces

Michael J. Fox (Family Ties/Back to the Future) as Michael Flaherty, Richard Kind (Mad About You) as Paul

Our Take

Spin City has it all: a proven television star, a winning production team (Gary David Goldberg of Family Ties fame), and a winning time slot (between Home Improvement and NYPD Blue)

Expect to Hear

“I think we need people like you to keep people like me in check...and I think we need people like me to keep people like you from over thinking things...and I think that people...who need people...are the luckiest people in the world”

- Michael (trying unsuccessfully to reconcile with his girlfriend Ashley after a fight)

Premise

Welcome to small-town new England, the home of free-spirited twentysomethings, Carrie and Shannon.  While Shannon sees life as an adventure, Carrie finds herself assuming the mantle of responsibility not only for her friends, but also for her parents and recently married sister

Familiar Faces

Molly Ringwald (The Breakfast Club) as Carrie

Our Take

Although Pearl and Larroquette are clearly higher quality programs, Townies does benefit from an enviable time slot between Ellen and Grace Under Fire

Expect to Hear

“I'm not a slut...I'm just a quick judge of character”

- Shannon (on defending the fact that her friends caught a strange man showering in her apartment)

Premise

Melissa Joan Hart - the former star of Nickelodeon's Clarissa Explains It All - plays a teenager dealing with all the normal teenage problems.  Of course, Sabrina has one major advantage: She's a witch.  Based on the Archie Comics heroine

Familiar Faces

Melissa Joan Hart (Clarissa Explains It All) as Sabrina

Our Take

This sitcom will benefit from ABC's established TGIF viewership as well as Hart's fame in the teenage community

Expect to Hear

<<Pilot Not Available for Preview>>

Premise

Based on the Alicia Silverstone film, Clueless will follow the adventures of Beverly Hills teenager Cher as she deals with the important issues in life: designer clothes, cellular phones and boys

Familiar Faces

None

Our Take

As If - While the attitude of this show does not seem to have the same family feeling as the other ABC TGIF offerings, as long as it maintains the film's teen appeal, it should have no problem capitalizing on the built-in audience

Expect to Hear

<<Pilot Not Available for Preview>>

Premise

Despite their Manhattan Law Firm's strict policies, attorneys John Alvarez and Nancy Sloan decide to secretly live together.  Adding to the stress of carrying on a secret relationship is John's attempts to stay true to his blue-collar heritage among his more conservative colleagues

Familiar Faces

None

Our Take

Airing against three rookie shows, Common Law has a chance.  The only negative strike against this program is the dominance CBS has recently enjoyed on Saturday nights

Expect to Hear

“I saw an episode once (of the Rikki Lake Show) where a girl had like four kids from four different fathers and she didn't know which father went with which kid...that is when I decided to be detail oriented”

- Maria (referring to an episode of Ricki Lake)

Premise

Isabel is all set to marry Everett, her stable fiance, and move into her dream house.  Before agreeing to tie the knot, however, Isabel decides to take a trip to Rome to review her options.  Once there, Isabel finds her life complicated even further when she falls in love with Leo, a wannabe architect trying to hold together a difficult, dysfunctional family

Familiar Faces

Kimberly Williams (Father of the Bride) as Isabel

Our Take

While Walker clearly owns the male portion of the audience, Relativity should be able to acquire the female viewers of the recently cancelled Sisters

Expect to Hear

“I realized last night...if I didn't talk to you...if I didn't find out for sure...I'd regret it the rest of my life”

- Leo (trying to pursue a relationship with Isabel despite her engagement)