Fall TV

I've sampled several new TV shows. This is what I think:

1. Pushing Daisies (ABC). I think they've invented the new genre of "cheery noir" and I love it. The pilot was bold, colorful, funny, yet also dark and sinister. The leads really make the show--Neurotic Ned and his perky undead girlfriend. Best so far. A

2. Cane (CBS). A sweeping prime time soap. Powerful families. Lovely people. It's all a cliche, but it's well done and so far manages to be interesting. B

3. Back to You (Fox). Just as NBC's Thursday night, the pantheon of sitcoms, has done away with any vestiges of canned laughter and 4-camera cinematography, here comes a good ol' fashioned sitcom with veteran actors (Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton) that actually is funny. B

4. Bionic Woman (NBC). The pilot was disappointing. Way too much attitude. I get tired of characters that are just mean to each other, like they're just looking for the next opportunity to unspool a pithy comeback. The second episode was much better though, so I'm still holding out hope this will be good. B-

5. Dirty Sexy Money (ABC). I love Peter Krause, and he's the best thing about this silly, soapy drama, and frankly the only actor worth watching among the ensemble, most of whom make up an obscenely wealthy family, none of whom are at all likable. Who wants to watch a show where are the characters are unlikeable unless it's reality TV? D