The return of b’s rants

PBS

"Downton Abbey" fans, we've got you covered. Jessica Raine stars as a new midwife working alongside nuns in East London in the 1950s, where medical problems persist in deprived neighborhoods (this was before the London Olympics made the East End a tad posher). If this sounds boring to you, it was a huge hit (like "Downton") in the U.K.

NBC

Network TV -- God bless them -- keeps trying unconventional sci-fi sagas. We're guessing execs have learned nothing from "Terra Nova." And "Alcatraz." And everything else since "Lost." And while half of the people we talked to who watched the pilot hated it, the other half loved it. The divisiveness may have to do with the confusing plot: In a post-apocalyptic future, a group of people deal with someone who turned off all technology. Cue lots of jungle life and battling militias. Promising: It's executive-produced by J.J. Abrams. But so was "Alcatraz."

ABC

Yes, it's blatantly attempting to capitalize on the success of "American Horror Story." But this drama, following two new co-managers (Rachael Taylor and Dave Annable) of a Manhattan apartment building that may be possessed (as Manhattan apartment buildings tend to be) is stylish and well-acted (if not very scary). The reason to watch: Vanessa Williams and the awesome Terry O'Quinn, playing a mysterious (of course) married couple who own the building.

ABC

If you miss "The Shield," you have two options this season. Michael Chiklis stars in CBS's "Vega$," which I don¿t recommend, mostly because it's really, really boring, and uses a $ for the "S" in its title, or this inventive drama, co-created by "Shield" mastermind Shawn Ryan. Andre Braugher and Scott Speedman star as members of the crew of a ballistic missile submarine that defies an order to attack Pakistan. The submarine is fired upon and survivors end up on an island, where they -- naturally -- declare themselves a nation (with nuclear capability). Yes, it's a bit far-fetched, and it's difficult to see how this can sustain itself as a series. But it's also tense, engrossing and intelligent.

ABC

The best reviewed of the new TV pack, and there are two words to explain that: Connie Britton. Honestly, we'd watch anything Mrs. Taylor is in. And the premise here is intriguing: An aging country singer (Britton plays Rayne James, which we're sure has nothing to do with a certain person named Reba) deals with falling popularity and is forced to open on tour with a no-talent, younger warbler (Hayden Panettiere). We can't wait to see these two go toe-to-toe -- or voice-to-voice. Hopefully grounding it away from melodrama is creator Callie Khouri, who won an Oscar for writing "Thelma & Louise."

NBC

The first episode's a bit uneven, and the whole not-exactly-novel premise (an OB/GYN deals with work and life issues) really depends on whether you like Mindy Kaling's brand of quirky/awkward/dorky humor. For the record, we do, and we're excited to see "The Office" star/scribe get her own starring gig. Pencil this comedy in as the one that will surely grow over the season.

NBC

When perusing the coming new fall television offerings, you're faced with a grim reality: Most of them look awful. Shocker, we know. But when you've got highlights that include NBC's dreadful "Animal Practice" (which should be called "Animal and Human Abuse") and a way-too-soon "Sex and the City" prequel ("The Carrie Diaries" on the CW), you're hoping for just a few that ... well, don't suck. Thankfully, we think we found some of the less-sucky of the bunch. --Jordan Bartel

NBC

NBC is clearly banking on this comedy from "Glee's" Ryan Murphy; the network has aired the pilot a few times, and its second episode aired on Sept. 11. And we like (most of) it. The interplay is fun between stars Justin Bartha and Andrew Rannells, playing a couple who decide to have a baby via surrogate Goldie Clemmons (charming Scottish actress Georgia King). And while the concept gets points for trying something new, Ellen Barkin (playing Goldie's homophobic grandma) is nothing more than a mix of stereotypes spouting more stereotypes. Joking about loving gay people because they cut hair well? In 2012?

CBS

This modern-day take on Sherlock Holmes could have easily been another CBS crime procedural (ask your grandparents about them), but is instead one of the most promising new dramas, thanks to the inclusion of the undervalued Jonny Lee Miller (we still miss his brilliant-weird Eli Stone) as the common-sense detective and -- twisty! -- a female Watson (Lucy Liu). Sherlock lives in New York City now, so there will be no evil English butlers to deal with.