Fall TV Preview: Bionic Woman Coming to NBC

Unless you're living in solitary confinement, you've probably noticed that there are a heap of new shows premiering this summer. TNT, USA, ABC Family, FX, SpikeTV, Showtime, AMC, TBS, Sci-Fi, HBO, and Comedy Central are collectively debuting a slew of new shows over the course of the next couple of months, hoping to create some new hits during the off-season and before the "real" TV season starts in September. While there are a number of potentially good, new cable programs that are worth checking out this summer, this article is dedicated solely to the continuing preview of the new shows coming this fall courtesy of the five major networks, as part of the official 2007-2008 TV Season, and not the short-lived summer viewing schedule.

Because starting this fall season, there's a lot more to be tuning in to than just Heroes. Get your TV schedules ready for a major makeover.

Last season, the majority of the new shows that were introduced by the networks ended up failing. Why? Probably because they lacked a good premise and had little if any potential for success. This year, there's nothing but potential in the slew of new shows coming your way starting this fall season.

If you think the "safe bet" shows such as CSI, Grey's Anatomy, House, The Office, Prison Break, and Lost, among others, are still going to be the "what to watch" programs this upcoming season, think again. You're all about to witness a serious changing of the guard.

I present my fall preview of the Top 11 new shows from all five major networks that I will most definitely be tuning in for. The TV season may have just ended, but it's never too early to start planning for the next one. Especially with the upcoming 2007-2008 year.

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My 2007-2008 TV Season Pick #5: "Bionic Woman" (NBC)
Few of the new shows set to debut this season seem to have more potential than this one. A remake of the original sci-fi series from the 1970s, this re-imagining of a show centered around a near-indestructible woman was no doubt inspired by the success of NBC's returning hit sci-fi drama, "Heroes."

"Bionic Woman," set to air on Wednesday nights in the 9:00 timeslot, is a completely new take on the original show, with a brand new cast, a new crew, and of course, a much edgier look and feel. Michelle Ryan returns to television as the new bionic woman, a bartender named Jaime Sommers who, after suffering a near-fatal car accident, becomes involved in something far larger than she could ever have imagined.

Through cutting-edge technology, her body parts are replaced with bionic weapons and nanomachines that give her enhanced strength, speed, and a variety of superhuman abilities. Now with a debt to pay, Sommers uses her new abilities to do the work of the people she owes her life to, and embraces her new role ... as the bionic woman.

Airing at 9/8c on Wednesdays, "Bionic Woman" is the lead-in for another fresh NBC drama, "Life," and will go up against both new and returning competition, including CBS's ratings-winner, "Criminal Minds," FOX's "Bones," as well as the new shows of "Gossip Girl," coming to The CW (and no doubt a replacement for both "Veronica Mars" and "Gilmore Girls"), and the highly-anticipated Grey's spin-off, "Private Practice" on ABC. Unfortunately for these shows, none of them have superhuman powers like the bionic woman does. We'll see if NBC can manage to strike gold twice. Three times if you count "Journeyman."

My Predicted Survival Rating for "Bionic Woman" on NBC:
70% chance of being renewed