FALL '08 PREVIEW: WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

Wednesdays feature a good mixture of the old and the new. ABC's three-hour slate is perhaps the strongest of all the networks. Several new shows ("Gary Unmarried," "Knight Rider" and "Do Not Disturb") aren't nearly as strong and it would be of no surprise if they were all cancelled before December.

"Pushing Daisies" (8 p.m., ABC)
Season 2 premieres Oct. 1

Starring: Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, Kristin Chenoweth
Synopsis: Ned the Piemaker (Pace) can bring people and animals back from the dead, but only for a minute, otherwise someone or something else in its vicinity will take its place. That's pretty much the broad overview of the show. But things are made more complicated when Ned brings back his childhood sweetheart and neighbor, Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (Friel).
My Prediction: This has to be my favorite television series currently on, aside from "The Office." Death is treated with goodnatured humor even though death is, well, a pretty damn depressing thing to think about. The colors of the Coeur d'Coeur world are magnificent and rich, and totally made for Blu-ray. It was the breakout hit of last season and it will definitely create even more ridiculously enriching storylines this year.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"Private Practice" (9 p.m., ABC)
Season 2 premieres Oct. 1

Starring: Kate Walsh, Tim Daly, Audra McDonald, Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman
Synopsis: (From TV.com) "Private Practice" is a spin-off of the highly popular ABC series, "Grey's Anatomy" starring Kate Walsh as Dr. Addison Forbes Montgomery, a renowned neonatal surgeon. After realizing that her life isn't advancing at Seattle Grace, Addison packs her bags and heads off to Santa Monica to start a new life. She reunites with her newly divorced med school friends, Naomi (McDonald) and Sam (Diggs), and joins them in their chic private practice.
My Prediction: It'll do just fine. In many ways, I prefer this world over "Grey's Anatomy." I think I've outgrown the latter; I haven't watched it in two seasons.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Catch Later

"Dirty Sexy Money" (10 p.m., ABC)
Season 2 premieres Oct. 1

Starring: Peter Krause, Donald Sutherland, Blair Underwood, William Baldwin, Zoe McLellan
Synopsis: (From TV.com) In the season premiere, Juliet's (Samaire Armstrong) new boyfriend Kai tries to adjust to her lifestyle and is asked to appear in Natalie Kimpton's upcoming music video. Tripp (Sutherland) asks for assistance from the Governor to get around the subpoena issued by his son Patrick (Baldwin) for him to appear before the Fantini case. The Governor refuses to get in the way as he is a friend of Simon Elder (Underwood). Nick (Krause) and Brian (Glenn Fitzgerald) try to help Tripp avoid the subpoena instead. Meanwhile, Nick is instructed to hire a private investigator to locate Carmelita. Jeremy (Seth Gabel) and Lisa (McLellan) put up an art dealership, but Lisa initially faces difficulties with running the business.
My Prediction: I have to be honest and say that I haven't caught up on this show at all, however, my friend who regularly tuned in last year said it was fantastic so I'll have to take her word for it.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Catch Later

"Gary Unmarried" (8:30 p.m., CBS) NEW
Series premieres Sept. 24

Starring: Jay Mohr, Jaime King, Paula Marshall, Kathryn Newton
Synopsis: (From TV.com) A newly divorced father of two (Mohr) balances life with his new girlfriend and his ex-wife to whom he was married for fifteen years. In the pilot, Gary's ex-wife has got engaged and he finds himself trying to navigate fatherhood and his own new love interest.
My Prediction: Been there, done that.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Pass

"Lipstick Jungle" (10 p.m., NBC)
Season 2 premieres Sept. 24

Starring: Brooke Shields, Kim Raver, Lindsay Price
Synopsis: (From TV.com) In the premiere, Nico's (Raver) guilt over her affair leads her to decide to do anything to save her marriage. Wendy (Shields) decides to spend more time at home with her family, but things aren't easy when her mother decides to come for a visit. Victory (Price) is having trouble keeping her distance from Joe (Andrew McCarthy) who is trying to get her back. .
My Prediction: The perfect guilty pleasure show that's ten times better than watching "The Hills" or "90210."
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"Knight Rider" (8 p.m., NBC) NEW
Series premieres Sept. 24

I will be previewing this show when it premieres in two weeks, so until then, enjoy the photo above!

"Bones" (8 p.m., FOX)
Episode 3 of season 2 airs tonight

Starring: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin, T.J. Thyne, Tamara Taylor, John Francis Daley
Synopsis: (From TV.com) In tonight's episode, the body of the host of a popular reality TV show is found partially decomposed in an outhouse, and Booth (Boreanaz) and Brennan (Deschanel) must find out who the killer is. Meanwhile, Booth learns that Brennan is juggling two relationships.
My Prediction: Last week's two-hour premiere was fantastic. I expect nothing less than that all season long.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"Do Not Disturb" (9:30 p.m., FOX) NEW
Series premiere airs tonight

Starring: Jerry O'Connell, Niecy Nash, David Franco, Molly Stanton
Synopsis: (From TV.com) Tonight's premiere focuses on an article about the sexual exploits of the staff of The Inn while on the job, which is run at a local New York magazine, causing Rhonda (Nash) to take action and Neal (O'Connell) to try to act on his best behavior. Meanwhile, Molly (Jolene Purdy) helps Nicole (Stanton) with her modeling career, and Gus (Franco) helps Larry (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) with his love life. .
My Prediction: How did this get greenlit? Oh wait ... it's FOX.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Pass; don't even attempt to watch it, brain cells will evaporate.

"Sons of Anarchy" (10 p.m., FX) NEW
Episode 2 of season 1 airs tonight

Go here for a review of last week's premiere.