The fall TV season is coming. New shows. New faces. New rounds of fave shows. Is this exciting or what?

Yeah, me too. Going with "or what" for now.

That's because this fall may be the weirdest season ever. At least until next year. Thank you, writers strike, bad economy and general Hollywood game-playing and chaos.

Of the 23 new network and major cable series starting soon, 10 aren't available to preview. Some aren't even done yet, and there's turmoil on some sets, re-shoots on others and a vividly apathetic public awaiting it all.

Maybe those shows will rock. Maybe the troubles will vanish a few weeks after the season's official start, Sept. 22. Maybe TV will save us all. TV could, you know, if you let it.

On the plus side, lots of good stuff – "The Office," "House," "Heroes," "Ugly Betty," "30 Rock," "The Unit" and more – return in coming weeks. "CSI" brings back Sarah (Jorja Fox) to help Grissom (William Petersen) leave. Then, enter Laurence Fishburne. "ER" revives some founding stars (including Noah Wyle and Anthony Edwards in a flashback) to end its 15-season run.

And there are second chances for promising shows that had their rookie seasons cut short by the strike, including "Pushing Daisies," "Eli Stone," "Private Practice," "Life" and "Chuck."

In midseason, we'll get new seasons of "24," "Lost," "Friday Night Lights," "Law & Order" and "Scrubs" (now on ABC). Plus, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will be covering the elections. So maybe TV really will save us.

Here's a look at 23 new network and cable shows coming this fall. The Rickster Scale ratings – 1 to 4 stars – go only to shows with episodes available for preview. You'll notice way too many weren't available, and I really wanted to trash them. I still can later.

SUNDAY

• "In Harm's Way"

When: 7 p.m. on CW (Channel 31). Premieres Oct. 5.

What: Reality-style documentary following people with dangerous jobs.

What's what: Sounds like another version of all those "Dirty Jobs," "Deadliest Catches" and "Ice Road Truckers" out there. It'll depend on your appetite for this sort of thing.

Rickster Scale: Unavailable for review.

• "Valentine, Inc"

When: 8 p.m. on CW. Premieres Oct. 5.

What: Greek gods are on Earth in mortal form, and their job is to help real mortals connect to their true loves.

What's what: The show's a nice idea and it's got a good heart, but it's so stiffly and obviously done, it makes "Love American Style" look like "Hamlet."

Rickster Scale: 1.5

• "Easy Money"

When: 9 p.m. on CW. Premieres Oct. 5.

What: They call it a dramedy – part drama, part comedy – about a family running a high-interest loan business. They also call it a Dickensian tale.

What's what: Hard to find any Dickens-like tones. It's even harder to find the "edy" part. It's just a dull, slow-moving, clichéd story.

Rickster Scale: 1.5

• "True Blood"

When: 9 p.m. on HBO. Premiered Sunday.

What: Vampires are "out of the coffin" and living in society, thanks to readily available artificial blood. And in a backwoods Louisiana town, one waitress (Anna Paquin) – who's innocent, plucky and can read minds – befriends a vampire named Bill when he walks into her joint.

What's what: It's a well-done mix of wit, eccentricity, romance and Southern Gothic mystery. Plus pay-cable sex and violence. It's also loaded with genuine surprise and atmosphere. The vampire crowd will love it, but it's more than just a niche series.

Rickster Scale: 3.5

MONDAY

• "Worst Week"

When: 8:30 p.m. on CBS (Channel 13). Premieres Sept. 22.

What: Sam is a decent guy in love with Melanie. Her parents don't particularly like him, and he becomes a train wreck around them.

What's what: Sam and Melanie are both sweetly earnest, but either you like comedies where everything goes predictably, horribly wrong, or you don't. And if you don't, this is excruciating.

Rickster Scale: 2

• "My Own Worst Enemy"

When: 10 p.m. on NBC (Channel 3). Premieres Oct. 13

Call The Bee's Rick Kushman, (916) 321-1187. Listen to him Thursdays at 8:40 a.m. on NewsTalk 1530 (KFBK) and 8:50 a.m. on Armstrong & Getty, Talk 650 KSTE.