Fall TV Preview: Miss/Guided Coming to ABC

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, Lifetime, 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.

My 2007-2008 TV Season Pick #10: "Miss/Guided" (ABC)
This new half-hour comedy is actually set to be a mid-season replacement for ABC, which means it'll take over for whichever new fall sitcom ends up getting pulled by the winter/spring season. As a result, no night/timeslot has been set for this show, but that doesn't make its premise any less appealing.

"Miss/Guided" is one of the many new comedies set to debut on ABC this season, but unlike most of them, this one stands out ... and in a good way. Created and developed by Ashton Kutcher and directed by Emmy Award-winner Todd Holland, this new sitcom stars Judy Greer as Becky Freeley, a guidance counselor who, ironically enough, was a social outcast and underachiever herself in high school.

Now that things in her life have changed for the better, Becky Freeley goes on a mission to help students who are just as confused and distressed as she was (and yes, that does become the main focus for each episodic storyline), tackling common teen issues such as unwanted pregnancies, adolescence, failing grades, eating disorders, academic pressures, and more. But don't get the wrong idea. This is not a drama or emotionally heavy in nature; the show's primary purpose is to make you laugh.

At the same time, Freeley deals with a former rival in high school turned fellow faculty member, as they battle each other for the affections of a certain foreign language teacher. "Miss/Guided" takes a look at not only both the student body and faculty sides of high school, but also revolves around the idea of both students and teachers getting "second chances."

The show will most likely debut in one of three half-hour timeslots, in place of either "Cavemen" or "Carpoolers" on Tuesday nights, or in place of "Sam I Am" on Monday nights, dependent on which of those shows get canned. In the rare case that every one of ABC's new fall shows get picked up ... well ... historically, that's completely unheard of, so I wouldn't worry about "Miss/Guided" never making it on the air.

My Predicted Survival Rating for "Miss/Guided" on ABC:
35% chance of being renewed