29 new shows are headed for your TV

Dan Vasser (Kevin McKidd of "Rome") is a happily married reporter who lives in San Francisco. As he's going about his business, he's pulled back in time — but he has no idea how or by whom. (Neither do we.) Eventually, we learn that he's being sent back (never forward) to change people's lives, prevent disasters, etc.

Of course, it's hard for Dan to explain to his wife (Gretchen Egolf) or his cop brother (Reed Diamond) where the heck he keeps disappearing to.

And — gasp! — Dan runs into the long-lost fiancee (Moon Bloodgood) he thought had died in a plane crash ... but, gee, maybe she didn't.

The producers describe this as a procedural. There's a mystery in every episode and, when he's sent back through time, he doesn't know who he's supposed to help or how.

What's to like? Um, well, the cast is good-looking.

What's not to like? Um, well, that it's boring. To be fair, this is by no means a terrible show. It's just dull and confusing.

Will it work? Looks like a quick cancellation is in "Journeyman's" future.

Debuts: Monday, Sept. 24

Tuesdays

CAVEMEN (Tuesdays, 7 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4) is the certainly the most ill-conceived show premiering this fall — a weekly sitcom based on the Geico commercials. And, as if that's not bizarre enough, the Neanderthals are basically a euphemism for ethnic minorities — specifically, African Americans.

Not that there's anything wrong with satire, unless it's done badly. And it's done pretty badly in "Cavemen."

The sitcom revolves around three "Cavemen" who live in San Diego. Joel (Bill English) is smart and sophisticated; his younger brother Andy (Sam Huntington) is pretty much an idiot; and Nick (Nick Kroll) is touchy and prone to turn everything into a racial ... er, uh, Cro-Magnon issue.

A dumb idea can be a funny show. But in this case, it's not.

What's to like? Well, about the best thing that can be said is that it's not as bad as you might think. (Assuming, of course, you go in expecting it to be just dreadful.) And Julie White is great, even tied to a thankless role as the Joel's future mother-in-law.

What's not to like? Well, just about everything. Sometimes terrible ideas turn into terrible shows.

Will it work? Do you really need to ask? Of course not.

Debuts: Tuesday, Oct. 1

CARPOOLERS (Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4) is an alleged comedy about (you guessed it!) four guys who car pool together. And it's an "alleged" comedy because it's supposed to be funny, but it's not.