Judging a TV series solely on its pilot episode is like summing up a baseball season after the first game.

Of course, we've been scouting television long enough to have a pretty good sense of which shows deserve your long-term attention ... but you never know. Some promising series tank midseason, while others take a while to find their legs. Keep that in mind as you peruse our preview of more than two dozen rookies — and may the best teams win.

Monday

• "Accidentally on Purpose"

Those eagerly anticipating the renaissance of Jenna Elfman are advised to keep waiting. The "Dharma & Greg" star is as bubbly as ever, playing a film critic who gets impregnated by a young slacker, but the jokes are completely sterile.

Rating: 1.5 stars

Premiere: Sept. 21, CBS

• "Trauma"

This drama takes a page from "Lost" by opening with a spectacular aircraft explosion, but the only mystery that ensues is: What makes this stand out from all the other new medical shows? If only the stock characters had as much bang as the special effects. Prognosis: dicey.

Rating: 2.5 stars

Premiere: Sept. 28, NBC

• "Durham County"

This Canadian export certainly didn't come from the country's tourism department. Its setting — barren suburbia — is almost as dark, dank and depressing as the serial killings that plague these Toronto neighborhoods. It's "Twin Peaks" without the blueberry pie.

Rating: 2 stars

Premiere: Monday, ION

• "The Jay Leno Show"

Same act, different time slot. Don't expect the late-night king to change his colors just because he's in prime time. The weeknight program, perhaps the biggest gamble of the new season, will most likely rely on safe, saturated comedy and tried-but-true bits like "Jaywalking."

Premiere: Monday, NBC

Tuesday

• "Melrose Place"

The ghosts of residents past hang over the legendary condo, assuring that this new generation gets its fair share of infidelity, double-crossing, prostitution and murder. Cries for a Heather Locklear appearance are unnecessary, since Katie Cassidy (David's kid) adequately fills her high heels as a conniving publicist.

Rating: 2.5 stars

Airing: Tuesdays, CW

n "NCIS: LA"

This crack investigative team, led by LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell, could look into nothing more scintillating than fender benders and they'd still be a hit, since this is a spinoff of one of TV's most popular shows. While we haven't seen the first episode, we're willing to bet an autographed single of "Mama Said Knock You Out" that the production will live up to expectations.

Premiere: Sept. 22, CBS

• "The Good Wife"

You'd think that Julianna Margulies would stay clear of courtroom dramas after the universal indictment of her last TV effort, "Canterbury's Law." Fortunately, the "ER" star gives it another shot in this higher-quality vehicle about a wife forced to return to practice after her politico husband (Chris Noth) winds up in jail.

Rating: 3 stars

Premiere: Sept. 22, CBS

• "The Forgotten"

The last-minute addition of Christian Slater to this cast of amateur detectives searching for missing souls kept a preview episode out of critics' hands, so we can't be sure whether this show deserves a long-term slot in an already crime-heavy schedule.

Premiere: Sept. 22, ABC

Wednesday

• "Mercy"

It may initially come across as yet another medical drama, but this engaging offering is less about procedure and more about gal-bonding among nurses with thick Boston accents and even thicker skin. Think "Sex and the City," but instead of Cosmopolitans, it's shots and beer chasers.

Rating: 3 stars

Premiere: Sept. 23, NBC

• "Hank"

How the mighty have fallen. We're talking about Hank Pryor, a once successful businessman who moves back to Hometown, Va., after being fired and must deal with the family he's long avoided. We're also talking about Kelsey Grammer. The "Frasier" star digs deep into his bag of tricks to dazzle us despite a less-than-spectacular setup, but no number of Emmys can salvage the amateur act.

Rating: 2 stars

Premiere: Sept. 30, ABC

n "The Middle"

Patricia Heaton confirms her status as the master of exasperation as a small-town Indiana mom struggling with a removed husband, a weirdo kid (scene stealer Atticus Shaffer) and an embarrassing driver's license photo. Standard sitcom stuff, but, hey, so was "Roseanne."

Rating: 3 stars

Premiere: Sept. 30, ABC

• "Modern Family"

Ed O'Neill finally atones for his "Married ... With Children" sins with this very grown-up, very clever effort about three couples struggling to maintain their relationships — and their sanity. A direct bull's-eye.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Premiere: Sept. 23, ABC

• "The Beautiful Life"

The CW's chief diva, Tyra Banks, may have to share the catwalk if this fashion-themed drama gets the attention it deserves. Yes, it's based loosely on the modeling career of Ashton Kutcher, but don't let that deter you. Just try keeping your eyes off the young talent, including Ben Hollingsworth and Sara Paxton. Both more than live up to the show's title.

Rating: 3 stars

Premiere: Wednesday, CW

• "Glee"

If "Cop Rock" and "Viva Laughlin" taught us anything, it's that TV characters should refrain from singing and dancing. Ryan Murphy's dramedy erases that chalkboard lesson, thanks to inspired musical numbers, embraceable nerds and a deliciously wicked performance from Jane Lynch as the cheerleading coach from Hades. Glee? More like giddy.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Airing: Wednesdays, Fox

• "Cougar Town"

Courteney Cox attempts to revive her sex-symbol status with desperate jokes. Even talented actresses are allowed a midlife crisis, but having it played out on the air is more icky than inspired.

Rating: 2 stars

Premiere: Sept. 23, ABC

• "Eastwick"

The women of this New England town have a lot in common with the residents of Wisteria Lane, except they have magic to alleviate their desperation. John Updike's story, adapted for the big screen two decades ago with Jack Nicholson, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer and Cher, still holds up thanks to a solid lineup of actresses, including Rebecca Romijn, and a devilish performance by Paul Gross.

Rating: 3 stars

Premiere: Sept. 23, ABC

Thursday:

n "The Vampire Diaries"

Poor Elena. She's simultaneously grieving the death of her parents, trying to raise her grades, scribbling furiously in her journal and deciding between two bloodsucking brothers. Die-hard lovers of the vampire genre will sympathize, at least until the release of "New Moon."

Rating: 2 stars

Airing: Thursdays, CW

• "Flash Forward"

"Lost" fans will be drawn to this sci-fi entry in which the entire world passes out for more than two minutes, recovering with visions of the future. The packed cast includes John Cho, Joseph Fiennes and Sonya Walger.

Rating: 3 stars

Premiere: Sept. 24, ABC

• "Community"

Joel McHale ("The Soup") leads a ragtag team of community-college misfits, including a relaxed and rejuvenated Chevy Chase, in one of the season's most promising new sitcoms. Those who treasure Bill Murray's old comedies are highly encouraged to sign up.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Premiere: Thursday, NBC

Friday

• "Brothers"

Those who can't get enough jokes about bad teeth and the handicapped will be ecstatic over the teaming of wheelchair-bound Daryl Mitchell and the dentally challenged Michael Strahan. The rest are left to wonder what they're doing home on a weekend.

Rating: 1.5 stars

Premiere: Sept. 25, Fox

• "White Collar"

Con man meets cop — again — yet stars Tim DeKay and Matthew Bomer don't seem to care that the concept is as old as the shell game. They're such a delightful odd couple you might not notice the stunning Tiffani Thiessen and Diahann Carroll wasting away in the background.

Rating: 3 stars

Premiere: Oct. 23, USA

Sunday:

• "The Cleveland Show"

Even ardent fans of "Family Guy" will reluctantly agree that this spinoff, featuring Peter Griffin's most huggable pal, doesn't have the bite — or bile — of the original. Talking bears and sassy teenagers may be amusing, but they can't compare to a moronic blabbermouth and a homicidal baby.

Rating: 1.5 stars

Premiere: Sept. 27, Fox

• "Three Rivers"

This Pittsburgh-set medical drama about transplant doctors could use a new heart. I'm sure there's something exciting about folks criss-crossing the country for new livers, but stereotypical characters and stock dialogue get in the way. Not DOA, but definitely on life support.

Rating: 2 stars

Premiere: Oct. 4, CBS

• "Bored to Death"

Novelist Jonathan Ames' personal life yawns its way onto the small screen in this cute but challenging take on a would-be writer who decides to try his hand at solving crime. Jason Schwartzman and Zach Galifianakis lend the comedy some indie cred, but the cases are about as heart-pounding as a round of "Where's Waldo?"

Rating: 1.5

Premiere: Sept. 20, HBO