TV: FALL 2007 Season Surprises

A few shows this season didn’t quite make the cut in my favorite’s category. I found "Cane" to be completely unwatchable--it bored me to tears. And "Women’s Murder Club" was horribly written and improperly cast--Angie Harmon isn’t even a little funny.

Then there were the shows that were surpringly bad despite the buzz surrounding their premiere. "Bionic Woman" may have had stunts that were jaw-dropping, but the dialogue was so erratically horrible that you should just watch it on mute. "Private Practice" failed to sustain the same interest viewers had in the cast of "Grey’s Anatomy." "Journeyman" tried to base its entire series on the shoulders of one middle-aged character and a flimsy plot. And "Prison Break" has passed the border of impossibility. How long can I pretend that I care about them getting out of jail?

A few were great for passing the time: Bones’ couple dynamic is a joy to watch. The shenanigans that occur in "Big Shots" are mildly entertaining. A few characters in "Dirty Sexy Money" can hold your attention. And so can the quirky plot lines of "Pushing Daisies."

However, the best surprise were the ones that snuck up on you even though you bet heavily against them. The CW’s “Life is Wild” seemed a tad lame because of the previews, but viewers can actually benefit from cultural lessons about Africa and animals. CBS’s “Moonlight” practically murdered the vampire genre, but managed to rekindle viewers’ fascination with the human-vampire romance that flourished in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” NBC’s “Life” was repetitive and a little too bizarre at first, but Charlie managed to grow on you and so did his feisty partner Dani. FOX’s “K-Ville” promised action and intrigue, but what it delivered best was the inside knowledge on Katrina’s mounting tragedies. If only its characters were just as interesting. Lastly, ABC’s “Cavemen” tried to capitalize off of a few funny commercials that seemed impossible to turn into a series. But it turns out that the concept is a lot more amusing than it's given credit for. Maybe you'll be inspired to try them out in the new year.