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Last fall as the season’s pilots were airing, I was excited about the prospect of sci-fi coming to primetime. Three series debuted with a theme of alien invasion. This was big news for a science fiction lover. Surface, Invasion and Threshold all had various takes on alien life taking hold on earth. Those shows have all been cancelled. So much for sci-fi being the new sitcom.

So this makes me wonder which of my new shows will survive the cut this season. Currently, I’m watching the falling first timers: Heroes, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Jericho, and The Nine. Aaron Sorkin and Tommy Schlamme replace the empty place in my lineup where West Wing used to sit with Studio 60. It’s funny in a smart way. Jericho supposes a world where nuclear bombs explode in multiple American cities follows the fate of a small town as they try to find out what has happened. The Nine has potential to be good but I’m not overwhelmed. After a failed bank robbery resulting in a 52 hour stand-off, the captives form new relationships and struggle to deal with lives changed forever. The series promises to unravel the 52 hours slowly over its duration (if it lasts). I’m most excited about Heroes. Even Megan likes this one. It’s reminiscent of the X-men. In an evolutionary shift, people begin to develop extrahuman powers and work together to save the world from impending doom.

These are joined by returning shows Lost, The Office and Battlestar Galactica. Several other shows are still on hiatus or have weird schedules keeping them from starting until January (like 24 and The 4400). Another new show begins in December on the SciFi channel called The Lost Room. I’m looking forward to that one. The SciFi channel has really been trying to build a substantial lineup of original programming.

 I’m sure my current lineup of new shows will be decimated but I hope a couple of them can endure.