In this article: The TV lists: Critics agree to agree Our photo shoot: Shooting the stars Tell us!: Lost didn't make our list ... Also: E! TV and bloggers with the shows fans are talking about most Hit TV shows, the predictions from unusual prognosticators

FALL TV Special

Fall TV shows, the best and the biggest buzz

Our exclusive panel of TV critics helps you find the gems of the fall TV season.

By Kristin Dos Santos

Worst Week's Kyle Bornheimer, Grey's Anatomy's Eric Dane and 30 Rock's Tracy Morgan. It was Morgan's midriff that busted free during the shoot, and Bornheimer hoped some of that "30 Rock" success would rub off. More on the photo shoot.

Four TV critics. One unified voice.

It may seem the impossible dream, but that's what we set out to achieve with our third annual blue-ribbon panel of TV critics from newspapers across the nation.

Our group of TV experts -- Joanne Ostrow of "The Denver Post," Molly Willow of "The Columbus Dispatch," Mekeisha Madden Toby of "The Detroit News" and Roger Catlin of "The Hartford Courant" -- gathered in Los Angeles to give their inside take on the new fall season and reach consensus to create the lists on these pages.

This year, the proceedings were surprisingly smooth. That's because, aside from our panelists being consummate professionals, the number of new fall shows is only about half of what it usually is, thanks to the effects of the writers strike. And when our panelists met in July, they had the chance to see only about half of the new shows.

So how do you reach consensus on the new fall season when you haven't seen all the shows? Easy. You focus on different aspects of the new TV season -- like TV events and the most anticipated reality shows.

When launching into talk of new shows with the biggest buzz, Willow immediately threw her vote to CW's new West Beverly Hills High gang. "I will take nothing less than No. 1 for '90210,'" she says. "People who don't even watch TV are asking about what's happening with '90210.'" Catlin winces a little and says, "Unfortunately, it is No. 1. They have doled out their casting info like candy, and we have taken the bait."

Sliding in at a close second on our critics' buzzometer is Fox's "Fringe," a new sci-fi drama from "Lost" mastermind J.J. Abrams, starring Joshua Jackson and newcomer Anna Torv. "'Fringe' has to be up there because it's got the J.J. factor," Ostrow insists. "People will have to check it out because of him [J.J. Abrams]. He's a god for these guys."

The latest offering from another A-list producer, Alan Ball ("Six Feet Under"), also has considerable buzz, according to our critics: HBO's vampy new drama "True Blood." "People have waited for a new Alan Ball series for a long time," Catlin says. Adds Toby: "This show is such an unusual take, it could be the next 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.'"

Meanwhile, CBS scored a double whammy for two of its new series, "Worst Week" and "The Ex List." The leads of both shows landed on our panel's list of breakout stars, and both series made the list of new shows with the biggest buzz. "Worst Week," a comedy about a guy who just can't catch a break with his future in-laws, has a serious find in star Kyle Bornheimer, says Toby, who calls him "the new Bob Newhart." "He carries that show," Catlin agrees. "It wouldn't work if you didn't feel for him, but you do, and his comedic timing is great."

Elizabeth Reaser topped the breakout stars list because not only is she "just perfect," according to Toby, as the 30-something looking for love in "The Ex List," but she also has a lot of heat coming off her high-profile turn as Ava/Rebecca on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy." "It was smart for CBS to snatch her up," Toby says. "Reaser was the best part of 'Grey's' last season."

For "returning favorites," NBC's "30 Rock" was an easy choice for the top slot among our critics, who unanimously agreed it had a stellar season. "If someone was asking me for one show to recommend, I would say '30 Rock,'" Catlin says. "You can jump in at any point and it's always strong."

The most anticipated sophomore series category was a hot topic for our critics because all four agreed the writers strike and lack of new fall program options has an upshot: a reprieve for some deserving series. "Some of the shows that started out last season probably wouldn't be around if the networks had a lot of choices this year," Catlin explains.

"That's the best news of the season," Willow says. "It's not the new shows, it's the sophomore series that finally have a chance."

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Shooting the stars

Was our exclusive photo shoot as much fun as it looks? In a word: Yes.

Three TV stars walk into a photo shoot and ... one starts rubbing another's naked Buddha-shaped belly.

We soon learned that this -- and, really, anything -- can happen when you put two very funny TV favorites, "30 Rock's" Tracy Morgan and "Grey's Anatomy's" Eric Dane, together with one very funny rising star, "Worst Week's" Kyle Bornheimer, and tell them to "have fun," as we did for this week's cover photo.

It was Morgan's midriff that busted free during the shoot, and Bornheimer hoped some of that "30 Rock" success would rub off. "I instantly felt full of really good luck and blessings as soon as I rubbed Tracy's belly," Bornheimer confesses. "I've been watching Tracy for years, and what he does on '30 Rock,' it's really inspiring."

Bornheimer should feel blessed because Dane, who brings his much-loved character, Mark "McSteamy" Sloan, back to ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" on Sept. 25, also sends his best wishes. "Just enjoy every minute," he tells Bornheimer. "It's a lot of fun, and you can adopt any perspective you want, but it's a heck of a ride."

Meanwhile, Morgan can't hide his excitement that Dane is in the house. "I love 'Grey's!'" he exclaims. "I like to cuddle up with my lady and watch. She breaks everything down for me." He's also touched that our critics voted "30 Rock" the best returning fall show. "Yes, yes, thank you!" he beams. "We just want to give you more of the same good stuff."
-- K.D.S.

Kristin Dos Santos is the resident TV expert for "E! Online" and "E! Entertainment Television." Catch her every Wednesday at 7 p.m. on E! News, or go to eonline.com to read her "Watch With Kristin" column.

Cover and cover story photographs by Robert Sebree for USA WEEKEND
Styling by Jennifer Azoulay; Grooming by Joanne McCarthy
Cover clothing: Bornheimer's shirt by John Varvatos, jeans by Joe's Jeans, boots by Gordon Rush; Dane's shirt by Public Domaine, jeans by Orthodox.; Morgan's shirt by Eubiq NY, jeans by Rock & Republic, hat by Goori

In this article:
The TV lists: Critics agree to agree
Our photo shoot: Shooting the stars
Also:
E! TV and bloggers with the shows fans are talking about most
Hit TV shows, the predictions from unusual prognosticators