Many of the young stars have already appeared on Broadway, but before you get the idea that this is some sort of High School Musical treacle-fest, know that Nip/Tuck originator Ryan Murphy is the creator here.
Modern Family. ABC. Wednesdays, 9 p.m. Premieres Sept. 23. Forget technological progress; the age-old TV rules still apply. The two best new shows are on at exactly the same time. Fortunately, we now have DVRs and VCRs and anytime online viewing.
The linchpin of ABC's bold, new, two-hour Wednesday sitcom block, this decidedly contemporary family laffer stars Ed O'Neill (Married . . . With Children), Julie Bowen (Boston Legal), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (The Class), and a solid ensemble cast, as it follows three very different families who have one important thing in common.
The Good Wife. CBS. Tuesdays, 10 p.m. Premieres Sept. 22. This satisfying drama stars two former NBC stalwarts, ER's Julianna Margulies and Law & Order's Chris Noth. She plays the wife left to fend for the family when he's implicated in a sex and bribery scandal.
The supporting cast isn't slouchy either, as Margulies' character, who left the law to raise her family, goes back into the courtroom defending clients to keep bread on the table.
Combining the best aspects of weekly cases and ongoing family travail, this is that rare quality drama that should also be a big hit. The competition is weak: Leno and a slightly better-than-ordinary new ABC crime drama, The Forgotten. The lead-ins are strong, top-rated NCIS and its new spin-off, NCIS: Los Angeles.
The Middle. ABC. Wednesdays, 8:30 p.m. Premieres Sept. 30. Between this and Modern Family, ABC has rounded up a passel of talented, funny children. Kids, no matter what grown-up big names are in the population, frequently hold the key in family sitcoms.
