As September arrives, the fall breeze starts blowing and the kiddies head back to school, there’s one yearly ritual that helps keep me from falling into a deep depression: planting my ass on the couch and absorbing the onslaught of mind-numbingly bad new TV shows in the hopes of finding a couple diamonds in the rough. With the invention of the PVR, I’ve been watching more TV in the past few years than I ever have before, and in general I’m a big believer that the quality of television programming is on the rise. But let’s be honest: the vast majority of new shows still don’t even make it through their first season. With that in mind, I have selected ten new shows that seem interesting enough that they just might have a shot at surviving until next September.

1. Kid Nation (CBS)
After the initial reality TV boom of 2000 and 2001, the craze has slowly subsided, leaving us with a reasonable balance in network programming. Reality TV is here to stay, but it is by no means dominating the airwaves; that said, there is always room for a new reality show if someone has an interesting concept. Kid Nation’s premise is so interesting that it has been getting all kinds of flack from parents and caregivers before it even airs — which, in itself, is kind of encouraging. Maybe there is something morally wrong with taking 40 kids out of school and forcing them to live on their own in a deserted city, setting up laws, cooking meals, and running businesses. But it’s also pretty intriguing. I really dig how a lot of producers have been starting to look at reality shows as a “social experiment” and I do think that, despite its contrivances, this is what Kid Nation is. At any rate, all the buzz is working… I’m dying to see an episode of this series, now! (Premieres Wed. Sept. 19 @ 8 pm)

2. The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox)
I watched the pilot episode for this Terminator spin-off, and I have to admit that despite my initial misgivings about such a show, I was pretty impressed with the acting and the special effects. To me this show stands out above just about every other new show I’ve seen so far, but the problem is that it’s got a lot to live up to. Why would anyone want to watch a second-rate Terminator TV show without Arnold when they could just watch the amazing movies instead? Maybe they should have just turned it into an original concept sans Terminator. The inclusion of former Firefly star Summer Glau as a female Terminator does give a bit of extra geek incentive, but I think it’s all going to depend on the quality of the writing. Are there new stories to tell here? Possibly. On the other hand, it could end up like Blade: The Series. (Premieres early 2008)

3. Reaper (The CW)
Reaper has been getting a lot of attention because Kevin Smith directed the pilot, but with or without the Kevin Smith factor I still think it looks like fun. Sam works at a local hardware store, and on his 21st birthday he discovers that his parents sold his soul before he was born… which means that now he is obligated to take on another part-time job helping Satan track down escapees from hell! The mix of supernatural and comedy seems reminiscent of Buffy, Angel and Dead Like Me, but the comedy is definitely a lot more pronounced in Reaper. If they can consistently deliver laughs, and not try to be too serious, I could definitely see myself getting into this show. (Premieres Tues. Sept. 25 @ 9 pm)

4. Tell Me You Love Me (HBO)
Maybe it’s unfair to include an HBO show on a list like this, and I’ll be the first to admit that the network behind it is really the main reason I’m interested. Tell Me You Love Me has a pretty non-descript title and an even more nebulous premise: “a provocative and honest exploration of intimacy”. The show revolves around three couples and their relationship issues, all tied together by therapist May Foster (whose own marriage is also explored). There’s not much of a hook there, but leave it to HBO to weave deep and powerful stories out of otherwise ordinary circumstances. (Premieres Sun. Sept. 9th @ 9 pm)

5. K-Ville (Fox)
I’m not big on cop shows, but the way I see it, K-Ville has two major things going for it: 1. Anthony Anderson (The Shield, The Departed), and 2. New Orleans. The series takes place in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, with police officers responding to calls to save people, stop looting, etc. As exploitative as that might seem, I think it could provide a pretty interesting backdrop for a TV series. Since the show is shot on location, they’re hoping to give the city an economic boost, and various cast members have signed on with Habitat for Humanity to help rebuild on their days off. Whether or not they can make a difference remains to be seen, but it will be interesting to see what kind of balance they strike in terms of realism, politics and entertainment. (Premieres Mon. Sept. 17 @ 9 pm)

6. Bionic Woman (NBC)
I was seriously hooked on Battlestar Galactica through the first two seasons, and although I’m not sure this show will have much in common with it other than its executive producer, I could see it working in an Alias/Dark Angel kind of way. On the other hand, I never really got into either of those shows so I could just as easily lose interest after an episode or two. I just hope Katee Sackhoff doesn’t make it past the pilot, because her overacting could be enough to keep me away from this show entirely. (Premieres Wed. Sept. 26 @ 9 pm)

7. The I.T. Crowd (NBC)
After the success of The Office, a lot of U.S. networks are looking to England for more creative output. The I.T. Crowd would seem to be the next logical candidate for adaptation since it vaguely resembles The Office. The problem is that while a lot of people can identify with working in a cubicle every day, not everyone can identify with having to troubleshoot computer problems and repair web servers. It lacks the subtle handheld documentary format of The Office, and the humour is targetted to a niche audience. That said, I am a part of that niche audience, and I think it has potential to be a sleeper hit. Richard Ayoade, who starred in the original Channel 4 series, will reprise his role as Moss on the NBC version as well. Joel McHale (The Soup) also stars. The I.T. Crowd will be a midseason replacement for NBC. (Premieres in 2008)

8. Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Here’s another new series that slightly resembles Dead Like Me, but this one comes by it honestly since it shares a creator in Bryan Fuller. The wacky set-up involves a guy with the power to bring someone back to life by touching them, complicated by the fact that they will be killed permanently if he touches them again a second time. While it may sound a little bit out there, the visual style of the show is gorgeous and offers a fantastical fairytale feel. Everyone seems to be raving about Pushing Daisies, and while I have my doubts, I’ll probably still give it a fair shake. (Premieres Wed. Oct. 3 @ 8 pm)

9. Dirty Sexy Money (ABC)
Any show with a connection to Six Feet Under demands some measure of attention from me, and not only does Dirty Sexy Money star Peter Krause, but it was also created by Craig Wright, who was a producer and writer on the show. The involvement of Donald Sutherland doesn’t hurt either, and well, William Baldwin… he’s William Baldwin. The premise involves an idealistic lawyer (Krause) who is hired to oversee the business of a wealthy New York family, The Darlings. It appears that the family is supposed to be an allusion to The Hiltons in some way; a viral marketing campaign ran fake ads showing The Darlings’ support for Paris during her short time in prison. (Premieres Wed. Sept. 26 @ 10 pm)

10. Carpoolers (ABC)
Created by Bruce McCulloch of Kids In The Hall fame, this seems to be, on some level, a Desperate Housewives for men, although it’s definitely more of a straight forward comedy. It stars Jerry O’Connell, who is pretty likeable guy and very well-suited to comedy in my opinion. He seems to have a decent supporting cast surrounding him, and I like the idea that a lot of the show takes place in the car on the way to work — it’s a neat gimmick. On the other hand, it’s paired with Cavemen, which could totally drag this show down even if it shows promise. Carpoolers could probably go either way. (Premieres Tues. Oct. 2 @ 8:30 pm)