Premise

Johnny and Rita are two high-class thieves with different styles. Unfortunately, they find themselves forced to work together in a deal where they will perform jobs for the government in order to stay out of jail.

Familiar Faces

John Stamos (Full House), Melissa George (Sugar and Spice)

Our Take

With the possible exceptions of The X-Files and C.S.I., 9pm hour dramas have always faced challenges on Friday night. On the other hand, outside of Dateline, all of the other 9pm shows are also on questionable ground.

Expect to Hear

“The poets say love is blind, but I say the poets are wrong cause the first time I fell in love, I didn’t go blind - I went dumb.” - Johnny

Premise

Ellen Richmond is a small-town girl turned L.A. businesswoman working for a start-up Internet company. When her Internet company goes out of business (and having recently broken up with her girlfriend), she decides to move back home.

Familiar Faces

Ellen DeGeneres (Ellen), Chloris Leachman (The Mary Tyler Moore Show), Martin Mull (Roseanne), Jim Gaffigan (Welcome to New York)

Our Take

While the pilot is amusing, the lead-out (American Wreck) is going to hurt Ellen. Additionally, CBS has never had any real sitcom luck here (after all, even Everybody Loves Raymond faced challenges on Friday night).

Expect to Hear

Catherine Richmond (after Ellen criticizes her boyfriend): “The glass is always half empty with you, Ellen.”

Ellen Richmond: “No, Catherine - there’s no glass. You’re drinking from the hose here.”

Premise

Daniel Stern returns to television as Danny, a recently separated father trying to raise two daughters while also running the local community center.

Familiar Faces

Daniel Stern (The Wonder Years, Home Alone, City Slickers)

Our Take

While CBS may have changed the name from American Wreck, the former title is still appropriate in describing this disaster in the making.

Expect to Hear

“That’s the speed limit. That’s the limit. That’s the most you can go. You don’t have to go the most. You can go a little slower than that.” - Danny (to his son)

Premise

In the spirit of Dallas or Dynasty comes Pasadena, another series focusing on the soap opera type lives of the rich and powerful. This time the action revolves around 15-year-old Lily Greeley McCallister and her investigations after her family (the affluent Greeley clan) covers up a suicide.

Familiar Faces

Dana Delany (China Beach), Barbara Babcock (Hill Street Blues)

Our Take

Pasadena is an odd pairing with Dark Angel. Furthermore, WB’s slate of sitcoms probably has a better chance of bringing in the teen audience while older viewers will certainly turn to one of the traditional three networks.

Expect to Hear

“Your family is like the WASP Corleones.” - Henry Bellow (to Lilly McCallister)

Premise

Fifteen-year-old Molly Stages is finally emerging from her baby fat and braces and ready to take her new place in the world. Holding her back is her eccentric family including a father addicted to girls’ football and a penny-pincher mother.

Familiar Faces

Fred Willard (Fernwood 2Nite), Julia Sweeney (Saturday Night Live)

Our Take

Maybe It’s Me should fit in nicely with WB’s younger-skewing sitcoms strategy.

Expect to Hear

“Like all red-blooded family-fearing teenagers, I spend most of my time in my bedroom.” - Molly Stages

Premise

Reba McEntire plays Reba Hart, a woman dealing with many changes in her life. Almost immediately after separating from her cheating husband, Reba is shocked to discover that her 17 year-old daughter Cheyenne is pregnant. As Reba is in the process of dissolving her own marriage, she begins helping her daughter start a new one with Van, the high school football star.

Familiar Faces

Reba McEntire, Christopher Rich (Murphy Brown)

Our Take

The pilot to Reba not only seems to fit in with the younger-skewing WB sitcom slate, but also seems to have potential in even reaching a portion of the A25-54 audience.

Expect to Hear

“Why is it we’re the only house in Texas without a gun?!” - Reba Hart

Premise

Bob Saget returns to Friday night facing off in a time slot against former Full House co-star John Stamos. In his new role, he plays a widower who is also a teacher at his 15-year-old daughter Sarah’s school (to her continued annoyance).

Familiar Faces

Bob Saget (Full House), Jerry Adler (The Sopranos, Mad About You)

Our Take

Raising Dad does not seem to have as much energy as Maybe It’s Me or as much of a broader audience appeal as Reba.

Expect to Hear

Sam: “We pull our hamstrings all the time. Matter of fact, that’s how my wife died...”

Woman: “Your wife?! I never heard of a hamstring being fatal.”

Sam: “She couldn’t get out of the way of the bus in time.”

Woman: “I’m sorry.”

Sam: “You’re sorry. I lost my wife and my license.”