Premise
Writer Chris Henchy’s real life marriage to Brooke Shields is supposedly the basis of this romantic comedy about a movie star dating a school teacher

Familiar Faces
Teri Polo (Meet the Parents)

Our Take
This highly likeable pilot (which is far superior to NBC’s Happy Family) should fit in nicely between 8 Simple Rules and According to Jim. The producers just need to see if they can turn what is basically a one-note story into an ongoing series

Expect to Hear

"You’ve got to learn this. You’ve got very small bones. You’re not cut out for manual labor."

- Patrick Owen (explaining the importance
of learning to a student)

Premise
This JAG spin-off (which is inheriting its progenitor’s time slot) shifts the focus to the Navy Criminal Investigative Service, the government agency that investigates all crimes involving Navy personnel

Familiar Faces
Mark Harmon (Chicago Hope/St. Elsewhere), David McCallum (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.), Michael Weatherly (Dark Angel)

Our Take
With JAG vacating the time slot, its viewers will be seeking a new way to spend the 8pm-9pm hour. As a spin-off of JAG, NCIS may just be what they are seeking. One consideration, however, is whether NCIS will have the same likeable character interaction bits as JAG

Expect to Hear

"I am an NCIS special agent and I don’t have to salute you or ‘sir you’ or give you any military courtesy."

- NCIS agent J.P. Gibbs

Premise
Whoopi Goldberg stars in this comedy as Mavis Rae, a proud woman who runs her own small New York hotel

Familiar Faces
Movie Actress Whoopi Goldberg (Hollywood Squares)

Our Take
In today’s environment, it is unlikely that America is really looking forward to a show featuring such an excessive amount of terrorism-related jokes. Add in the proven success of competitor 8 Simple Rules and Whoopi may soon be heading back to that center square

Expect to Hear

"I was trained by the Iranian militia to build a missile system…which we do not have."

- Nasim

Premise
Peter and Annie are soon-to-be empty nesters who couldn’t be happier about it. However, their plans soon change when they discover the troubled lives that their three twentysomething children are actually living

Familiar Faces
John Larroquette (Night Court),
Christine Baranski (Cybill)

Our Take
The show has a strong advantage with known sitcom veterans Larroquette and Baranski. On the other hand, Happy Family has an unproven lead-in and faces the far superior (at least based on the pilot) I’m With Her

Expect to Hear

"It’s my fault. I was so focussed on keeping them off drugs…maybe drugs would’ve helped."

- Peter Brennan (blaming himself for the
problems in his children’s lives)

Premise
Reportedly inspired by the true-life domestic story of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, this series focuses on extended family dynamic of divorced parents trying to raise their children together

Familiar Faces
Elise Neal (The Hughleys)

Our Take
While UPN has had great success with their Monday night urban line-up, it will not necessarily translate to success on Tuesday (remember Abbey). There is also the fact that Tuesday from 8pm-9pm is already filled with sitcoms

Expect to Hear

"I’ve been married and divorced three times. You don’t know what scary is until you lose half of half of half of everything."

- Dirk

Premise
Disc Jockey Jimmy and his wife face the conflict between trying to maintain their old hip lifestyle and raising their new baby

Familiar Faces
Dan Cortese (Veronica’s Closet),
Bianca Kajlich (Boston Public)

Our Take
Rock Me Baby is a likeable show that needs a better time slot. Between 24, aging (but still viable) Frasier, The Guardian, and According to Jim, Rock Me Baby will be facing quite a few challenges

Expect to Hear

"There’s no room for kids in morning radio. They make you lose your edge."

- Boyle

Premise
The Mullets are blue-collar, wrestling-loving, optimistic brothers who don the hairstyle of their surname. They live life to the fullest while unrealistically dreaming of bigger and better futures

Familiar Faces
Loni Anderson (WKRP in Cincinnati),
John O’Hurley (Seinfeld)

Our Take
“Dreadful,” “Horrid,” “Awful” – these are only a few of the comments being raised by those who have seen this insipid pilot. Advertisers were laughing "at" and not "with" this show when previewed at the Upfront

Expect to Hear

"You look just fine. You’ve got shoes. You’ve got a shirt…If it’s good enough for Taco Bell, it’s good enough for me."

- Roger Heidecker

Premise
Lucas and Nathan share little else other than the love of basketball and the fact that they have the same father. The two brothers always led separate lives – that is, until the day that fate put Lucas on Nathan’s basketball team

Familiar Faces
Chad Murray (Dawson’s Creek), Barry Corbin (Northern Exposure), Moira Kelly (The West Wing)

Our Take
Originally announced as a mid-season series, One Tree Hill was bumped up to the fall when Fearless was postponed. It features all of the typical WB angst and appears to be of Dawson’s Creek-like quality. The only question is the time slot and the competition

Expect to Hear

"He should know that he is good…he can use that in his life."

- Keith Scott