Fall TV Preview

It's that time of the year again. No more reruns! No more "Wipeout"! All your favorite friends are back. And some new characters are there to join them.

While medical dramas are so five years ago, cop dramas are so in today. "Blue Bloods," "Chase," and "Detroit 1-8-7" are just some of the many. If only my beloved "Southland" (TBS) didn't have to wait for a return in January...

Also hot on the menu: remakes. Both "Hawaii Five-O" and "Nikita" are getting rave reviews for amping up shows that weren't particularly good in their original.

With many, many new shows to come, it was a tough job to sort through them all, but here are six shows that I think will be worth your while to check out:

$#*! My Dad Says

(9/23, Thursday, CBS, 8:30 p.m.)

Based on the very successful Twitter feed of Justin Halpern, CBS brings us the live-action version starring the one-and-only William Shatner. The premise revolves around his character, Ed, and his two sons, Henry and Vince, played by Jonathan Sadowki and Will Sasso. When Henry moved back in with his parents, he learns some new life lessons from dear-old-dad. What's great is Ed speaks the truth and doesn't care. It's wonderful. With Shatner on board, and two MAD TV alums (Sasso and Nicole Sullivan, who plays Vince's wife, Bonnie), this should be one comedy that will be sure to give you quotes galore to revive the next day at work.

My Generation

(9/23, Thursday, ABC, 8 p.m.)

Shot in faux-documentary style, "My Generation" follows the Class of 2000, 10 years later. With a cast of nine players, it could be tough to tie in story lines, but it's an interesting concept that I'm willing to see through. And a little nostalgia never hurt. Cast members that stand out include Keir O'Donnell, best known for being the creepy brother from "Wedding Crashers," and Mehcad Brooks, Eggs from Season 2 of "True Blood."

Raising Hope

(9/21, Tuesday, FOX, 9 p.m.)

"Raising Hope" is the one show that looks like it could keep the laughing going throughout an entire season. When 20-something-year-old Jimmy, who still lives with his parents, finds out he's the proud father of his former girlfriend's son - she was a wanted felon then, she's in jail now - he takes on the role of single dad. Newcomer Lucas Neff looks like he can hold his own in the show, but it'll be the crazy family that surrounds him, including his grandmother (played by Cloris Leachman) that will help the laughter along.

No Ordinary Family

(9/28, Tuesday, ABC, 8 p.m.)

I'm not entirely sold on this show yet, but it has Michael Chicklis from FX's "The Shield," and Julie Benz from "Dexter," so I feel like I have to give it a shot. It reminds me of a real-life version of "The Incredibles."

After the family takes a trip to South America, their plan crashes into the Amazon River. When they return home, thankful for being safe-and-sound, they realize each has a super power. Dad, Jim, has superhuman strength; mom, Stephanie, has super speed; daughter, Daphne, can read minds; and son, JJ, is a pure genius. Fans of "Heroes" will enjoy this show I'm sure, and it seems to be a real family comedy. This could pan out well.

Better With You

(9/22, Wednesday, ABC, 8:30 p.m.)

"Better With You" follows the lives of three couples: Maddie and Ben have been dating for nine years; Maddie's younger sister, Mia, has been dating Casey for seven weeks; and parents Vicky and Joel, have been married for 35 years. It's all about how each relationship deals with problems that arise for one couple. It'll be easily relatable for any age group. Plus, it airs in between the successful ABC Wednesday comedy lineup, among high hitters "The Middle," "Modern Family," and "Cougar Town," so I'm pretty sure people will stumble upon it whether they plan to or not. Also, Vicky is played by Debra Jo Rupp, best known as Kitty on "That 70's Show," and Kurt Fuller plays Joel. Both should add to the show a perfect kooky mix.

Boardwalk Empire

(9/19, Sunday, HBO, 9 p.m.)

"There has always been a love-hate relationship with gangsters. It's the dark side of the American Dream," said Marty Scorsese on HBO's Web site about "Boardwalk Empire," in which he directs the first episode. Set in the 1920s in Atlantic City during the prohibition-era, it follows the undisputed city leader Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), a politician by day and a gangster by night. Audiences have always been intrigued by gangsters and their lives, whether fictional or real, and I'm sure this show will be no different. It also comes from one the writer-producers of "The Sopranos," so there's another plus.