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Fall TV Line-Up 2004


What do students do when they don’t feel like studying or surfing the Net? Flip on the TV, of course!

There are so many channels in TV Land now that you don’t know what new shows are out and even if you did know, you wouldn’t be able to remember what channel they were on. So to keep you from needlessly flipping through the channels, we thought we would bring you the latest in new shows and old favorites.

NBC has advertised many new shows that are promising to be a big hit. Joey, a spin-off of the Friends series, stars Emmy nominee Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani who travels to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. He reunites with his sister, Gina, and moves in with his genius nephew, Michael. Joey’s move to Los Angeles promises to have many challenges and funny moments.

The animators who brought you Shrek deliver a new animated series Father of the Pride. Starring the voices of John Goodman and Orlando Jones, viewers follow the lives of a family of white lions that perform in the famous Siegfried and Roy magical show. While in Las Vegas, the lions explore some of the world-famous sights.

Heather Locklear and Blair Underwood star in a new series called LAX. Each week will feature terrorist threats, illegal drugs, and many more security breaches to promise a compelling drama. Locklear and Underwood are intense rivals who try to keep Los Angeles International Airport running smoothly.

ABC is keeping the old favorites in its lineup this fall. According to Jim, which stars Jim Belushi, is about Jim, a typical family man. Jim is very likeable and proud of his values. He is married to a wonderful woman named Cheryl (Courtney Thorne-Smith) and keeps his passion alive by playing the blues in a garage band. According to Jim is a funny show about an all-American family.

Attention, ladies!! The Bachelor is back for another season of rose ceremony gossip. One thing has changed though. The first night, the ladies will get to hold their own rose ceremony when they choose from two bachelors! Another twist this season is that the bachelor will move into the “Ladies Villa” to make a more immediate and intimate impression on his prospective love interests. But the real question is if the couple that comes from the show will actually last.

However, ABC has brought one new show into the lineup. Life As We Know It premieres in October, starring Kelly Osbourne. The series follows the life of three teenage boys in high school as they deal with the pressures of growing up and how their experiences will shape them into men. Life As We Know It is based on Melvin Burgess’ breakthrough novel called Doing It.

CBS brings a new season of its long-running reality show Survivor. In its ninth season, Survivor takes place in Vanuatu, a group of islands northwest of Fiji in the Southwest Pacific. This season stars a Tennessean, Travis Sampson, who is 33 years old and from Blountville. Sampson thinks he’ll be able to win because of his ability to schmooze anyone and become their best friend. It will be nice to see if he makes it, or if his fellow competitors schmooze him right off the island.

CSI returns for another season of crime solving and forensics investigating. Watch all the investigators solve crimes using their state-of-the-art lab and knowledge of forensics. There will be more mysterious dead bodies that turn up in weird places than you’ll be able to handle.

Joan of Arcadia returns for another season of heart to hearts with God. Joan is an average teenager until she starts acting weird. People pop up around her and introduce themselves as God. Each week, God gives Joan a set of instructions for her to carry out. Keeping her visions a secret, Joan starts following God’s directions while trying to keep her normal teenage life.

FOX has the potential of shooting its ratings through the roof, with many of the favorites coming back, and a few new series in the weekly lineup.

The Simpsons is the longest-running primetime animated series in the history of television. The Simpsons returns for its 14th season with more guest voices and even funnier stories. With all those years of writing behind them, everyone is curious to see what the writers will come up with next. Did you know that The Simpsons holds a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most guest voices in the show?

Welcome back to the basement! That 70’s Show returns in its seventh season with more adventures in the Vista Cruiser. Will Donna and Eric get married? Will Kelso finally become a cop? At least they have the basement to crash in when life gets too rough for the gang at Point Place.

A new show debuting on FOX is North Shore, which takes place in the tropical climate of Hawaii. The story is set at a lush hotel called the Waimea. Waimea is an escape for only the beautiful, powerful and rich. Drama surrounds all the staff. From long-lost fathers to con artists, the plot should thicken with each show. North Shore’s Web site says, “Intrigue and excitement await every guest at the Grand Waimea. Just ask the staff.” We’ll just see if it lasts past the first season.

Comedy Central is the station to watch to tickle your funny bone. With not a serious show in the lineup, Comedy Central will be sure to keep you laughing for hours.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is back again for another season. When the news seems too depressing to watch, Stewart can make the most serious situation a barrel of laughs. With Indecision 2004 under way, the crew at The Daily Show brings you the latest news in the presidential race. As The Daily Show’s Web site says, “Can’t decide which slick, promise-breaking fat cat to vote for? That’s what we’re here for. Welcome home, patriotic citizen — we feel your pain.”

Reno 911! returns for another season of twisted criminal takedowns. Featuring hilarious stunts in and out of the police station, Reno 911! takes police brutality to a whole new level. Besides, who can pass up a moment to see Lt. Dangle in his spandex shorts?

Be very afraid when you pick up the phone. Crank Yankers are back! A whole new season continues with more puppets, new characters and over-the-top crank calls. Watch and see if Special Ed, Elmer Higgins, Hadassah Guberman and the rest of the gang make people on the other end of the line wonder why they ever picked up the phone in the first place.

If the shows here don’t make you want to flip on the television, then pick from the other thousand television stations out there. Surely there will be something out there that’s entertaining enough to waste an afternoon.