the future of tv

Now is about the time when networks trot out their current stars and showcase their new shows on the schedule next fall. It's a time full of hope and optimism, as I am not yet aware of which shows will TOTALLY BLOW in September. I haven't deleted unwatched shows from my playlist yet and my hopes haven't been dashed by shows like "Six Degrees". On the other hand, one of these shows could be the next "Brothers and Sisters" or "Grey's Anatomy" (1st and 2nd seasons ONLY). Here's what I'm looking forward to and what I will definitely set my Tivo for...

CBS continues it's tradition of bringing to the screen "Shows I Never Want to Watch". The one tiny exception (and I do mean tiny) may be "Viva Laughlin"...
The Americanized twist on BBC’s quirky musical mystery drama “Viva Blackpool” uses dark comedy and pop songs to tell the story of cockeyed Nevada casino mogul wanna-be Ripley Holden (Lloyd Owen) and his debonair moneybags nemesis Nicky Fontana, played with sarcastic flair by executive producer, Broadway baby and “X-Men” star Hugh Jackman.
Okay, so that sounds terrible but I heard that this show has some musical aspects and that Hugh Jackman may occasionally appear and do a little song and dance. That would be sweet.

NBC, to be honest, kind of sucks too. I am happy that they gave "The Office" even more episodes (some of which will be an hour!) But other than that I think I'll pass on "The Bionic Woman", "Life", and "Journeyman". Does not sound good. There is this mid-season replacement called "The IT Crowd" that deals with some tech people that may be funny in an Office-y way. I'll hold out hope for that. Oh, and I have to skip "Lipstick Jungle" with Brooke Shields. She freaks me out.

CW it seems is out to piss me off by canceling "Veronica Mars", one of my favorite shows. So they are dead to me. (Well, with the exception of "America's Next Top Model" which I can't abandon.)

Then there's ABC. Could this be my favorite basic cable station? Definitely. While I am boycotting the Grey's spinoff "Private Practice", some of their new shows look decent. You can see previews here. I have to say that I will probably watch the pilots of "Big Shots" (god, I have a soft spot for Dylan McDermott), "Dirty Sexy Money" (an equally soft though more shameful spot for Billy Baldwin), "Cashmere Mafia" (an small spot for women who might actually be smart and likeable), "Miss/Guided" (despite the forward slash in the show's title, Judy Greer will always have a spot in my heart from "13 Going On 30").
But, please, most importantly, watch the "Eli Stone" preview and tell me what you think. I am into it. I have been oddly fascinated with Jonny Lee Miller since my semester at Oxford and I can not believe he is staring in an American TV show. I mean, this is the man who inspired Angelina Jolie to tattoo his name on her arm. Regardless, the totally and utterly bizarre clip of the show cracked me up. George Michael! I'll be watching.