Fall TV 2010 - Any New Hits?

I have been totally underwhelmed by the lineup of new fall shows this season. And I thought maybe it was just me, until I read this story by one of my favourite TV critics, Ken Tucker, on my favourite website EW.com

Infact most of the new season shows I haven't even been compelled to watch. Here's my take on what I have seen...

My favourite new season show by far is the CW's Hellcats. It's set in college and is about cheerleading and it may be cheesy but it is also awesome. It's centered around pre-law student Marti, who used to be a gymnast and tries out for the 'Hellcats' when she loses her scholarship, she makes the team and gains a cheerleading scholarship. The Hellcats are in danger of losing their funding so must work together to stay on top. In typical CW fashion there's lots of hookups, melt downs and drama.

I loved and lost Lone Star, about a con man living a double life and trying to go straight. I thought it was filled with many things that make a great show - deception, mystery, drama and hot people. But it only lasted two episodes on Fox, despite being the critical favourite of the season. RIP Lone Star.

I enjoyed the pilot of Hawaii 5 O on CBS, although it's not appointment viewing for me. On my new HD TV Hawaii looks lush and beautiful and that definitely adds to the show. It seems like another cop show though and it's not nearly as good as Castle or the CSI's. I think I'd go back to CSI over getting invested in Hawaii 5 O, but I'll watch a few more episodes before I decide.

I really wanted to love Fox's Running Wilde. It stars the awesome Keri Russell and Will Arnett and the creator is Mitch Hurwitz, the genius behind one of my all-time favourites Arrested Development. And Keri Russell's daughter, Stefania Owen, is from New Zealand! But the pilot, about a spoiled rich man trying to win over a down to earth humanitarian woman, didn't win me over. I'm hoping it can get better as the season progresses... and that Fox will give it a chance.

I also excited about ABC's Better With You, starring JoAnna Garcia from the cancelled too soon and under-appreciated show Privilaged. Trust me, it was fantastic. Better With You however is not. It's a sitcom about three related couples in different stages of their relationship - a newly engaged couple, a practically married couple and a married for decades couple. It's a traditional sitcom, but I found myself squirming a bit too much and not laughing enough. I'm hoping it can find it's way though as their cast is great.

Three shows have been cancelled already, less than a month into the new season, and only one show has received a full season pick up. That show is Fox's Raising Hope, about a 25 year old man raising his infant son with his loopy family. There are a couple of mid season shows I'm looking forward to - ABC's Mr Sunshine starring Matthew Perry and Love Bites on NBC. And if they both fail I'll always have American Idol.