Military TV, Television - Military Times

New cable shows go toe-to-toe with networks

For decades, autumn has been the exclusive turf of the big TV networks.

They’ve filled it with new shows and new slogans. Now outsiders crash their party.

For the first time, cable channels have a serious fall attack.

“We are expanding, we are growing, we are adding more programming,” says Michael Wright, programmer for TNT and TBS. “And at a certain point, we have to start taking our shots.”

In the past, cable was content to debut shows in the summer or the quietest parts of January or March. Only HBO met the networks head-on.

Now come new factors:

First of all, the writers’ strike threw many shows off their usual schedules. Several started late and will have new episodes this fall; “The Shield,” usually a spring show, started its final season on Sept. 2.

Also, there are simply more shows out there. By 2010, Wright hopes to have new ones on TNT on Mondays through Wednesdays.

Here are examples of scripted cable shows that debut this fall, usually just a couple weeks ahead of the networks:

• “True Blood”

A little ways in the future, technology has created synthetic blood, allowing vampires to co-exist with us peacefully. A few of them don’t want to.

This world was created in Charlaine Harris novels centering on Sookie Stackhouse, a backwoods Louisiana waitress with an inquisitive mind. Now her world is given extraordinary depth by writer-producer Alan Ball (“Six Feet Under”) and actress Anna Paquin.

(9 p.m. Sundays, HBO, starting Sept. 7)

• “Sons of Anarchy”

This may be the most macho show in TV history, suitable for someone who thinks “The Shield” is too delicate. We see lots of motorcycle guys eager to hit and shoot, plus a mom (Katey Sagal) from Lady Macbeth turf.

It doesn’t take long, however, to become absorbed in the characters and their solid (if misguided) value system. Ron Perlman and Charlie Hunnam are superb in the leads.

(10 p.m. Wednesdays, FX, Sept. 3)

• “Raising the Bar”

Steven Bochco, the “L.A. Law” producer, gives us another law show, this time with more grit. Mark-Paul Gosselaar plays a young public defender, long on passion and idealism, short on restraint.

In the Bochco tradition, this show has great dialogue, characters, camerawork and idealism. The first few stories are surprisingly weak, however, sometimes depending on outside circumstance.

(10 p.m. Mondays, TNT, Sept. 1)

• “Little Britain USA”

The original “Little Britain” series was erratic, but had some wildly funny comedy sketches. Now comes a new version, with the same stars, but new characters in American settings.

(10:30 p.m. Sundays, HBO)

And several more, all bunching onto Fridays.

• “Sanctuary” arrives at 10 p.m. Oct. 3 on the Sci Fi Channel, with Amanda Tapping (“Stargate”) leading a team that investigates odd doings. “Starter Wife” begins at 10 p.m. Oct. 10 on USA, extending the miniseries characters. And the TV version of “Star Wars: Clone Wars” will be on the Cartoon Network, with details vague.