Premise
John Ritter returns to Network Television as Paul Hennessy, a father coping with teenage daughters. This sitcom is based on 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, a best-selling book by author Bruce Cameron

Familiar Faces
John Ritter (Three’s Company, Hooperman), Katey Sagal (Married…with Children)

Our Take
Of all of ABC’s new programming, 8 Simple Rules is the only new show with any real positive buzz. Additionally, this sitcom (or at least the pilot) appears superior to In-Laws on NBC

Expect to Hear

Bridget Hennessy: “We’re the thong generation.”

Paul Hennessy: “Well, maybe that’s why your generation is so angry - you’re always walking around with a wedgie.”

Premise
Bonnie Molloy is the host of a local talk show juggling her responsibilities at work with raising a family at home

Familiar Faces
Bonnie Hunt (Jerry Maguire, Grand), Brian Kerwin (Beggars and Choosers/Lobo), David Alan Grier (In Living Color)

Our Take
The 9-10pm time slot is highly fragmented with many different options. From a sitcom perspective, Bonnie will be facing off against the established (though aging) Frasier. It is also important to note that Bonnie Hunt has not had sitcom success in the past

Expect to Hear

"That wine is so strong you’re both getting better looking."

- Bonnie Molloy (to the chefs during a cooking segment)

Premise
Claudia “Claude” Casey was a temporary secretary/assistant facing a different assignment each week. However, after quickly impressing a high-power network anchor, Claude finds herself permanently assigned as his executive assistant

Familiar Faces
Sara Rue (Popular), Andy Dick (NewsRadio), Andrea Parker (The Pretender), Movie Actor Eric Roberts

Our Take
Less Than Perfect’s fate may very well be tied in with what happens to Bonnie Hunt. One can also not forget that Spin City, an established sitcom, failed in this time slot last year

Expect to Hear

"A man’s expense report is a window into his soul."

- Ramona

Premise
Newlyweds Matt and Alex Landis find themselves facing some economic challenges when he decides to go to culinary school. Their problems seem solved when Alex’s parents allow them to move into their house. Unfortunately, Victor Pellet, Alex’s over-protective father, really has not accepted that his little girl is now a married woman

Familiar Faces
Dennis Farina (Crime Story), Jean Smart (Designing Women), Bonnie Sommerville (Grosse Pointe)

Our Take
Dennis Farina does not have the comedy background that John Ritter (on competing 8 Simple Rules) has. Also, there is a question in our minds as to whether or not this is a “one joke” concept that may not hold up over the long run

Expect to Hear

"When your father gets upset he takes long drives. We once had an argument over daylight savings time and he was gone for seven hours or, according to him, eight."

- Marlene Pellet

Premise
This new NBC sitcom follows the misadventures of various families/couples in the suburban community of Hidden Hills

Familiar Faces
Justin Louis (Battery Park), Paula Marshall (Cupid/ Snoops), Dondre T. Whitfield (Inside Schwartz)

Our Take
Lead-in Frasier may be aging, but is still one of the higher-rated sitcoms on Television. On the negative side, viewers have been known to tune-out at 9:30pm (as was the case with DAG in 2000/2001)

Expect to Hear

"Whatever happened to school buses? No one ever picked me up. I don’t even think my father knew where my school was."

- Ken Barber

Premise
Frank Taylor is an ex-cop turned private investigator whose life changes forever when he almost dies. As a result of his experience, Taylor finds that he can see dead people. Some of these lost souls are helpful in his cases, while others have more malevolent goals

Familiar Faces
Matthew Fox (Party of Five)

Our Take
Haunted will face some tough challenges in reaching the sci-fi/ genre audience between competition from Smallville’s loyal fan base as well as all the hype associated with 24

Expect to Hear

"Sometimes it’s not what you see. It’s what you don’t see."

- Gus