Premise

Jim Belushi and Courtney Thorne-Smith play happily married parents Jim and Cheryl in the latest entry into the family sitcom category. As with most family sitcoms, According to Jim also features a wise-cracking relative (played this time by Kimberly Williams).

Familiar Faces

Jim Belushi, Courtney Thorne-Smith (Ally McBeal), Kimberly Williams (Father of the Bride)

Our Take

While this show features a cast of likeable actors, they really do not seem to have any chemistry between them. Given the competition in this time slot, According to Jim will be facing some real challenges.

Expect to Hear

“Men are better at separating than women. I mean, look at how many of us walk out on our crying wives…You know how much strength that takes?” - Jim

Premise

Another Survivor inspired reality program - this time from action producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Armageddon, The Rock). The Amazing Race features 11 two-person teams (including a recently married couple, a mother and daughter, and a recently separated couple) facing challenges while racing around the globe.

Familiar Faces

Only time will tell if these players become familiar faces (as in Survivor) or disappear as quickly as the original cast of Big Brother

Our Take

As the networks learned last year, not all reality shows will succeed. The interaction of the “cast” and whether the public will take an interest in them is something difficult to determine in advance.

Expect to Hear

<Expect to hear people complaining about each other>

Premise

Unknown to the population at large, Wolf Lake is home to a race able to change form between wolf and man. A war among the wolves is brewing which attracts the attention of Sheriff Jack Kohanek (Tim Matheson) after a number of wolf attacks and murders. Also investigating is Noah (Lou Diamond Phillips), a U.S. government agent.

Familiar Faces

Lou Diamond Phillips, Tim Matheson (The West Wing)

Our Take

Wolf Lake is a strange program on a network more associated with the mainstream. Additionally, both Law & Order and NYPD Blue already have successful track records.

Expect to Hear

“I like this town. It’s the last real place.” - Duke Joseph

Premise

Bernie and Wanda Mac never really wanted to raise children. All of this changes, however, when Bernie’s sister checks into rehab and leaves her three children (ages 5 to 13) with her brother.

Note: This show is being retooled.

Familiar Faces

Our Take

FOX has been doing a great job recently in developing cutting edge sitcoms. The pilot they initially released was not up to their current standards. Titus is a strong lead-in, but this will only help if the retooled Bernie Mac improves.

Expect to Hear

“Sometimes the right thing may not be the right thing, but I’m going to do the right thing.” - Bernie Mac

Premise

Scott Bakula stars as Captain Jonathan Archer in the fifth series in the Star Trek franchise. Enterprise is set early in the 22nd century (a century before the original series and two centuries before the last three series), when humanity first begins to explore space.

Familiar Faces

Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap)

Our Take

Star Trek has a built-in fan base. Additionally, Scott Bakula has his own fan base from his time on Quantum Leap. Thanks to both of these facts, UPN viewers will probably be beaming up this show for a number of years.

Expect to Hear

“Space is very big, Captain.” - Science Officer T’Pol

Premise

In the original premise of this series (which will be sharing Felicity’s time slot), author Mike Dolan returns home to write a second novel only to be greeted by a hostile town. (They were not happy to see their personal lives exploited in his first novel.) However, Entertainment Weekly indicates producer Kevin Williamson (Dawson’s Creek) is now incorporating some aspects of his Scream movies into the series.

Familiar Faces

Our Take

The short clip (extremely) seemed to present a program that would fit in nicely on the WB schedule. We reserve judgment, however, until we see what impact the “Scream” changes have on the program.

Expect to Hear

“You’re my son and I love you…but you’re a jackass.” - Mrs. Dolan