Fall TV Roundup, Round One

Let's see if I can write about something other than the aftermath of the hurricane, like the new fall shows I've seen so far.

Bones: The FBI calls upon a forensic specialist and her team to help solve crimes; in other words, another CSI ripoff. David Boreanaz's performance as an FBI agent earns this show another episode or two, but I don't have high long-term exprectations.

Supernatural: Two estranged monster-hunting brothers (one of whom almost escaped into the straight world) reunite to try and track down their father (who disappeared on a hunt), and whatever entity killed their mother many years ago. I like the premise, and there were a few decent shocks in the pilot, but I didn't come away all that impressed with the performances or plotting. Again, I'll give this a couple more weeks before deciding whether to follow it long-term.

Threshold: A crisis-management specialist and a team of scientists investigate a UFO sighting, and the strange biological changes inflicted upon the survivors. This looked to me like the most promising of this fall's three alien invasion dramas, and the two-hour premiere lived up to my expectations. Nice to see Brent Spiner babbling pseudoscience again, and I think I'll stick with this series until the Friday night Time Slot of Death finishes it off.

Fathom: Previously unknown sea creatures begin to appear across the globe, affecting thelives of scientists and civilians alike. Presumed alien invasion number two presents a compelling mystery, but the fragmented plot, following multiple disparate characters, doesn't seem to serve that mystery particularly well. I'll probably stick with this one a while to see where it goes.

I missed the Kitchen Confidential premiere last night, but I'll try to give the next episode a look-see.