Fall season chock full of new fixes for TV junkies

Studying? Who has time for that? Especially when this season brings 36 new television series to primetime. Of these 36, five are spin-offs and most of them are created or produced by television veterans with successful programs. Here's a study guide to each network's new fall offerings. The networks are in alphabetical order so there's no favoritism.

ABC - "Snoops" (Sundays at 9 p.m.) - This eye candy, produced by King of the Emmys David E. Kelley, stars "Showgirls" beauty Gina Gershon as one of three LA private eyes. Somehow I'm reminded of "V.I.P."

"Once and Again" (Tuesdays at 10) - Sela Ward and Billy Campbell star as divorced single parents who meet and fall in love. Aww.

Courtesy of the WB Wacky hijinks like these will abound on the new animated series "Mission Hill."

"Oh Grow Up" (Wednesdays at 9:30) - Three guys live in Brooklyn apartment. Oh yeah, one is a gay married guy, and another one has a daughter he's never met before. Sound confusing? I don't get it either.

"Wasteland" (Thursdays at 9) - Producer Kevin Williamson hopes to score big again with this romantic drama that follows the lives of six college graduates. Brad Rowe and Rebecca Gayheart head a cast of relatively unknown but attractive actors.

"Odd Man Out" (Fridays at 9:30) - A 15-year-old lives in a house with his mother, aunt and three sisters. Um, it's a comedy.

CBS - "Ladies Man" (Mondays at 8:30) - Alfred Molina stars as a furniture maker surrounded by women: his wife (played by "NYPD Blue" alum Sharon Lawrence), ex-wife, mother-in-law and two daughters. Sounds like an older version of ABC's comedy "Odd Man Out." Just what the doctor ordered, two comedies with the same plot.

"Family Law" (Mondays at 10) - Kathleen Quinlan as an attorney who forms a mostly female law office after her ex-husband steals her firm. Defendants beware in this estrogen-packed law saga.

"Judging Amy" (Tuesdays at 10) - Ex-corporate attorney and single mother, played by Amy Brenneman, moves back in with her loud opinionated mother to be a judge in a family courtroom.

"Work With Me" (Wednesdays at 8:30) - Married lawyers wind up working at the same firm. The romantic comedy stars Nancy Travis and Kevin Pollack. CBS is hoping that the lawyer theme will increase ratings.

"Love and Money" (Fridays at 8:30) - Age-old plot stuck in upscale hotel in New York. Handyman falls for rich heiress who lives in the penthouse. Parents disapprove. Yawn. Is anyone surprised?

"Now and Again" (Fridays at 9) - Do not confuse with "Once and Again." The brain of an insurance executive, played by John Goodman, is put in the scientifically engineered body of a hunky government agent, played by Eric Close.

FOX - "Time of Your Life" (Mondays at 8) - Jennifer Love Hewitt's Sarah leaves "Party of Five" to search for her biological father in New York. She likes it so much she decides to stay there. Producers hope you'll like this party of one as much as "Party of Five."

"Ally" (Tuesdays at 8) - 30-minute episodes of "Ally McBeal" material that was left out. Cha-ching.

"Get Real" (Wednesdays at 9) - Follows the lives and tribulations of the Green family. Characters talk directly to the camera and often insult competing Hollywood actors and shows.

"Action" (Thursdays at 9:30) - Originally intended for HBO, this risqué comedy portrays the life of ruthless producer Peter Dragon ,played by Jay Mohr. Illeana Douglas plays a smart prostitute who adds laughs. Buddy Hackett also stars.

"Manchester Prep" (Thursdays at 9, but not until December) - Just a longer version of the movie "Cruel Intentions" without Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe.

"The Badlands" (Fridays at 8) - Name may be changed to "Ryan Caulfield: Year One." Sean Maher stars as a 19-year-old cop in Philadelphia. At least they're not pretending it's realistic.

"Harsh Realm" (Fridays at 9) - "X-Files" creator Chris Carter puts Scott Bairstow in the role of a soldier assigned to a military virtual reality experiment. Based on the comic book series of the same name.

NBC - "Third Watch" (Sundays at 8) - "ER" producer John Wells brings television viewers the riveting drama of New York City's finest firefighters, police and paramedics. Stars a multi-cultural cast of nine.

"Law and Order: Special Victim's Unit" (Mondays at 9) - Cops bust sex criminals in this spin-off starring Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitary.

"The Mike O'Malley Show" (Tuesdays at 9:30) - Comedian O'Malley plays himself as a 30-year-old guy trying to grow up. At least he admits he's not a mature grown up.

"The West Wing" (Wednesdays at 9) - Martin Sheen reunites with writer and producer Aaron Sorkin ("The American President"), but this time the American president is Sheen. Revolves around the White House staffers and prez.

"Stark Raving Mad" (Thursdays at 9:30) - Neil Patrick Harris is a book editor assigned to eccentric horror novelist Ian Stark, played by Tony Shalhoub. Produced by "Just Shoot Me" producer Steve Levitan.

"Cold Feet" (Fridays at 10) - Shows the relationships of three Seattle couples at different points in their relationships. One couple is dating with commitment fears, another is expecting the first baby and the third is living with a toddler.

"Freaks and Geeks" (Saturdays at 8) - Pigs must be flying, because for the first time in television history, there is a show with ordinary looking actors playing ordinary high school students. Two siblings try to cope in high school, which is located somewhere in Michigan.

UPN - "The Parkers" (Mondays at 8:30) - Kim Parker (Countess Vaughn) of "Moesha" attends a community college. So does her mom. This spin-off should provide extra entertainment for "Moesha" fans.

"Grown Ups" (Mondays at 9) - Not to be mistaken for "Oh Grow Up," "Grown Ups" stars Jaleel White (a.k.a. Urkel) as, drum roll please, a grown-up.

"Shasta McNasty" (Tuesdays at 8) - Something to do with The Monkees. I guess the show is so bad no one wants to talk about its plot, or lack thereof.

"The Strip" (Tuesdays at 9) - Sean Patrick Flannery and Guy Torry play ex-cops who now work as a security team for a rich casino owner.

"WWF Smackdown" (Thursdays at 8) - Do I really need to explain this further?

WB - "Jack and Jill" (Sundays at 9) - A toy designer played by Ivan Sergei falls for Amanda Peet in New York City. The catch is, he's involved with someone else.

"Safe Harbor" (Mondays at 9) - Brenda Hampton, creator of "7th Heaven," bringsus "Safe Harbor," a drama about a Florida widower who lives with his three sons and their grandmother. WARNING: If watched directly after "7th Heaven," you may be forced to vomit from two hours of sickenly sweet melodramas.

"Angel" (Tuesdays at 9) - This spin-off of "Buffy" stars David Boreanaz as Angel in an older and darker drama set in LA.

"Roswell" (Wednesdays at 9) - The aliens landed, were orphaned, and now go to high school. Produced by Jason Katims ("My So-Called Life") and David Nutter ("The X-Files").

"Popular" (Thursdays at 8) - Two girls' parents become engaged, and it effects their climb to popularity. Think "Clueless" for the WB.

"Mission Hill" (Fridays at 8) - Adult-oriented toon written and produced by a veteran of "The Simpsons" about a gaggle of teens and twentysomethings. It's a producer from "The Simpsons," what more can I say?

Courtesy of FOX The "Party of Five" gang shrinks to a mere foursome but gallantly endures.

Courtesy of the WB Not to worry, kids, the WB will be a "Safe Harbor" on Monday nights from 9 to 10.

09-23-99