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Big News » Cledus T. Judd and Chad Brock are actually doing a morning radio show on WQYK here in Tampa. I can't believe it either.

Now, today's story...

Yes, I know, another TV-related post. But it's getting to be the time of year for that and hockey. And I already have a hockey blog. Though truth be told, I've contemplated a separate blog for this. And you never know, it may happen in the future. But until that future arrives, I'm writing it here.

The other day I picked three new shows to discuss my unbiased a priori opinion of. I plan to write a real review after having actually seen them all.

I thought today I'd choose a few more. And in no particular order, they are Invasion, My Name Is Earl, E-Ring, and Commander In Chief.

First is Invasion, which premieres Wednesday, September 21 right after Lost on ABC. The only thing that attracted me really was the setting and catalyst for conflict. A major hurricane blows through Homestead, Florida. The part that made me giggle/cringe is that this storm serves as a red herring for some aliens landing on earth. Yeah.

The only reason I'm considering it over Threshold (CBS' copycat attempt at alien contact), is that ABC has been on a good luck streak with new shows. I knew I'd enjoy Lost when it debuted last year, but I had no idea it would become the popular hit it did. If Lost, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy and even Alias are any indication, I think Invasion has a shot at being worth watching.

For a few years now, NBC has been at a loss for new comedy. Twelve years ago they struck gold with Frasier and then Friends a year later. Since then, only one comedy series has made a lasting impression on television viewers — Will & Grace. That's pitiful. Especially when Scrubs is (without a doubt) the funniest show I have ever seen.

That said, NBC is introducing one (that's right, one) new comedy this season. The thing is, from what I've heard and read, it sounds like a keeper. My Name Is Earl hits your screen Tuesday, September 20. It stars Jason Lee as a loser who comes to the realization (by way of a winning lottery ticket) that karma will bite you in the ass if you're not careful.

So he makes a list of all the people he's wronged in his life and decides to make restitution to them to quell the fire of the karmic gods. I could see how that could sustain a series, unlike Invasion. My guess is this show will have the type of comedy we're used to seeing on Scrubs (and by we, I mean all three of us who watch it).

That isn't to say the sitcom is dead, though NBC might have you believing otherwise. Their desperation lead to the creation of a series on Bravo wherein two novice writing teams write a comedy script and produce a pilot presentation for the network. Things have gotten so bad, they just ignore the writers' guild now.

The series is called Situation: Comedy and I've been following along. I think the irony of it is the drama created by one team's desperate desire to do things their way or no way. Point is, things aren't going so well for TV comedy. The only two comedies I even watch are Scrubs and Arrested Development. I also keep up with Joey if only because of its novelty spin-off nature.

Before I wrap it up here, I figured I'd at least make mention of NBC's E-Ring and ABC's Commander In Chief.

E-Ring debuts Wednesday, September 21 at the same time as Lost, so its viewership will be considerably less. It takes place inside the Pentagon. The few things it has going for it include are Jerry Bruckheimer, Dennis Hopper and Benjamin Bratt. It's going to take a little more than that. Not to mention, I've mostly been reading that more attention is paid to effects and camera angles than to the writing. I'll take a look at the premiere but I can't see sticking with it even if it doesn't get cancelled.

Commander In Chief premieres Tuesday, September 27 and follows the first female vice president and her ascension to the presidency when the big guy croaks. Without Aaron Sorkin's writing I think I might find it hard to watch another show that takes place inside the White House, but from everything I've heard the stories are about the people, not the politics. I've also heard that the writing is uneven.

I won't know anything for sure until the shows actually air. So until then.

And I promise, only one more TV post this week and then I'll get back to telling my weird stories. I swear it.

Speaking Of Telvision (Live!): In the interest of winning back ratings (did they ever have them?), NBC is going to be airing an episode of Will & Grace live. And they're considering doing the same for The West Wing. The Will & Grace live episode will be the season premiere and I guess it's more of a random stunt than John Wells' idea for The West Wing. Wells wants to do a live debate in November during sweeps between the two candidates running for the fictional presidency. Just don't screw it up. That's all I have to say.