Fall TV: There are some potential hits among a variety of new series

The Fox network's new fall shows were previewed in the Deseret Morning News on Aug. 18.

I know, I know — it's easy, popular and fun to complain that there's nothing good on TV anymore. And some of us get paid to complain about what's on television.

But, as the networks roll out their fall schedules, there are a lot of shows that are, at the very least, worth checking out.

Oh, there are some stinkers, but there are also some genuine gems. Shows that demonstrate huge potential. A few that could well be with us for years to come.

And, with the exception of Saturday — which has no new shows — there's something that's at least worth checking out on every other night of the week.

SUNDAY

THE GAME (Sundays, 7:30 p.m., CW/Ch. 30) is a spinoff of "Girlfriends," and the writers have confused "loud" with "funny." It's definitely the former and only occasionally the latter.

Tia Mowry stars as the live-in girlfriend of a professional football player (Aldis Hodge) who's the new third-string wide receiver for the San Diego Sabers. She reluctantly joins the unofficial wives club, where the competition is more fierce than what's happening on the field.

If you like "Girlfriends," you might like this. Otherwise, steer clear.

Premieres: Oct. 1

BROTHERS & SISTERS (Sundays, 9 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4) is a family drama about a family with more than its share of problems.

Sara (Rachel Griffiths) gave up a corporate career to save her troubled marriage, Tommy (Balthazar Getty) is an ethically challenged womanizer, Kevin (Matthew Rhys) is a successful attorney who happens to be gay, Justin (Dave Annable) is a veteran who isn't dealing with the trauma of war very well, and Kitty (Calista Flockhart) is a right-wing radio host-turned-TV pundit who can't get along with their mother.

Oh, and the family patriarch (Tom Skerritt) dies at the end of Episode 1, leaving behind some big trouble at the family business, and a mistress (Patricia Wettig).

There's been a lot of trouble behind the scenes of this show — recasting, reshooting the pilot, replacing producers — but the first episode shows some promise. Whether it can match the ratings "Grey's Anatomy" had in this time slot last season is highly doubtful, however.

Premieres: Sept. 24