Same difference

90210
(Sept 2, 7pm, The CW)
It begins again. The teen staple is reborn with a lot of familiar faces as a new class enters West Beverly High.
Originality: 2
Potential for greatness: 7

Fringe
(Sept 9, 8pm, Fox)
The newest offering from J.J. Abrams finds investigators, a mysterious genius and the mysterious genius’s mysterious-genius father trying to unravel a massive corporate conspiracy.
Originality: 7
Potential for greatness: 8

Worst Week
(Sept 22, 8:30pm, CBS)
Sam just got engaged to his pregnant girlfriend—whose parents hate him. Loosely based on a British show with a similar premise, Week is Meet the Parents, only without the subtlety.
Originality: 5
Potential for greatness: 0

The Mentalist
(Sept 23, 8pm, CBS)
Think Monk or Psych, minus the charm and wit. Patrick Jane is a highly observant detective—and kind of a douche!
Originality: 2
Potential for greatness: 4

Kath and Kim
(Oct 9, 7:30, NBC)
Molly Shannon and Selma Blair star as mother-and-daughter duo Kath and Kim in this adaptation of Australia’s popular comedy.
Originality: 5
Potential for greatness: 8

Life on Mars
(Oct 9, 9pm, ABC)
David E. Kelley adapts the absorbing British cop-drama-cum-time-travel-drama, now starring Jason O’Mara, left, Michael Imperioli and Harvey Keitel.
Originality: 7
Potential for greatness: 10

Testees
(Oct 9, 9:30pm, FX)
Layabout roommates work as test subjects (hence test-ees, not testes, you 12-year-old) for medications and products that almost always result in kooky side effects. From one of the creators of the ribald Kenny vs. Spenny.
Originality: 10
Potential for greatness: 8

My Own Worst Enemy
(Oct 13, 9pm, NBC)
Christian Slater—hey, we remember you!—stars as Henry/Edward, a suburban dad with a split-personality, Jekyll-and-Hyde thing going on that makes more sense on the show than we have room to explain.
Originality: 9
Potential for greatness: 6

Crash
(Oct 17, 9pm, Starz)
Haven’t you always wanted to watch Dennis Hopper talk to his penis while you’re taught obnoxious platitudes about racism?
Originality: 4
Potential for greatness: 3

NEXT>>

Check out the other sections in our 2008 Fall Preview:

ART | BOOKS | CLUBS | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | GAY & LESBIAN | KIDS | MUSEUMS & CULTURE | MUSIC | OPERA & CLASSICAL | RESTAURANTS & BARS | SHOPPING | SPORTS & REC | THEATER | TV & DVD