And there's little wonder. Lost's formula is its own mix of great characters, amazing actors and surprising storylines. Creators J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof and Jeffrey Lieber could have sat back and milked the storylines last season, but they didn't. Each new episode added depth to this puzzle box of a series. No matter what the secrets of Lost are, this series is about the journey and what a ride it is.

Despite the fact that Lost's formula hasn't been duplicated, plenty of shows have found their own way, as the growing number of returning and continuing shows proves. The one thing they all have in common is a mythology at their core. Just about every major series has a continuing storyline, even shows that pride themselves on their stand-alone episodes (Ghost Whisperer, Supernatural). Some new shows were embraced instantly (ABC Family's Kyle XY, SCI FI's Eureka). Others had a tougher road (Spike's Blade, ABC Family's Three Moons Over Milford).

As DVD and TiVos became a major force, keeping up with the ever-complex storylines became easier and more involving. Offering last season's DVD has become standard procedure, cross-promoting both the new season and the DVD at the same time.

The networks lost some ground thanks to the loss of ABC's Invasion, CBS' Threshold and NBC's Surface, as well as the end of ABC's Alias and The WB's Charmed. The short list of returnees includes CBS' Ghost Whisperer, ABC's Lost and The CW's Smallville and Supernatural, with NBC's Medium being shuffled off to midseason.

Of course, the big network news had to do with UPN and The WB combining to form one network. Luckily, Smallville, Supernatural and Veronica Mars all got another season. Considering that both networks were having trouble coming up with successful programming, it's a good move. However, if they don't solve their programming woes with a new strategy, The CW may soon find it's traded two troubled networks for one.

ABC Family got into the genre game bigtime, offering two new series and one movie series (Fallen), and it has two movies still in development. Spike TV also entered the arena with its first scripted series. TNT continued to be a player (Nightmares & Dreamscapes, The Librarian 2), while USA held steady (The 4400, The Dead Zone).

As always, SCI FI continues to push the development envelope. It will offer two new major series (The Dresden Files, Painkiller Jane), not to mention its standard big December miniseries (The Lost Room) and its weekly Saturday Night Action Movies.

While longtime SCI FI staple Stargate SG-1 was not picked up for another season, Battlestar Galactica, Stargate Atlantis, Ghost Hunters, Eureka and Doctor Who all continue to help the channel build a stable of solid programming.

One other trend of note is the addition of several anthology shows. With the success of Showtime's Masters of Horror, TNT gave us Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King, and ABC has Masters of Science Fiction on the horizon.

It all adds up to a year-round feast of genre goodies that prove the best is yet to come. It's a bounty that looked doubtful only two years ago, when Lost premiered. While it would be nice to think that we'd still be in the same place in a world where Lost had never made it on air and reality shows continued to dominate the schedule, it seems unlikely. The show's influence has been profound in creating an acceptance of the kind of television we genre types love. So thanks, J.J. Abrams and gang. You've done us proud.

Last week's 2006 Fall SF TV Preview, Part I had the scoop on all the new shows, canceled series and kids' shows. Returning and Continuing Shows

The 4400
USA Network, Sundays
On Hiatus

In another event-filled season finale, newbies to The 4400 no doubt needed a map to keep up with all complexities and a cast that rivals Lost's in number. Jordan Collier's true plan came to light. He wants to give promicin to anyone who wants a chance at having special powers like the 4400. However, when Center employee Devon volunteers to take the drug, she's dead hours later. Tom and Diana discover the drug will kill 50 percent of those who take it. After one of Collier's people tries to kill Isabelle, she heads to the center to attack it. Tom and Diana learn where she's headed. At the Center, Tom to tries to kill Isabelle with the syringe given to him by the future people, but she's too powerful for them. At the Center, Diana and Tom try to stop Isabelle, but she's too powerful for them. As Isabelle strangles Tom, Richard enters the room and uses his telekinesis to inject her with the syringe. The drug doesn't kill Isabelle, but it does take away her powers. Unsure whether she's still a threat, Tom shoots her. After surgery, the doctors determine Isabelle will live, but she has no promicin left in her system. Tired of the fighting, Diana leaves for Spain with Maia and Ben, while Alana vanishes in a ball of light. As Collier's plan takes flight, Kyle considers taking promicin, while April stands in a line to get a shot of her own.

The Outlook: The future continues to be bright for this densely woven and creative series. USA Network announced in August that it will bring back The 4400 for a fourth 13-episode season, to premiere in the summer of 2007. Ratings have fallen a bit this summer for both The 4400 and The Dead Zone. Still, 4400 was picked up for another season before the season finale even aired, indicating that USA Network has faith in it.Angela's Eyes
Lifetime, Sundays, 10 p.m. ET/PT
Continuing

What's poor Angela to do? She can tell when strangers are lying, but she doesn't have a clue when it comes to the people closest to her. So far she's weathered boyfriend troubles and family issues and been the perfect human lie detector when it comes to her FBI cases. But what the heck is really going on between her imprisoned mother and her boss?

The Outlook: While the main character could use a bit more warmth, the ratings have been steady for Angela's Eyes, and it's only halfway through its first season. So while this new series isn't breaking any records, it is a consistent performer. Still, it hasn't been picked up for additional episodes yet (as Missing was for its two seasons), so the 13 episodes might be all there is for Angela's Eyes.Battlestar Galactica
SCI FI, Fridays, 9 p.m.
Premieres Oct. 6

In the second-season finale, Adama and Roslin's plan to rig the election fell apart, and Baltar became the new president. Brother Cavil is uncovered as a Cylon, but he has a message. The Cylon leadership has been persuaded by Number Six and Sharon that the decision to destroy the human race was wrong. They have decided that the two civilizations can live separately in peace. The colonization of New Caprica proceeds despite Adama's objections. A year passes, and most people have relocated to the surface of the new planet. Only a skeleton crew remains aboard the fleet's ships. When a Cylon invasion armada suddenly appears with the planet its obvious target, Adama and Lee must abandon the colonists or lose their ships to a superior force. On the planet, the humans can only watch as the Cylons take the planet. Season three opens with two back to back episodes. As the humans struggle against their new Cylon masters, we'll learn what happened in the year before the Cylons invaded, and Adama's past will be explored. Lucy Lawless will join the cast for at least the first 10 episodes.

The Outlook: When Emmy nominations were announced this year, analysts complained that one of the notable absences was Battlestar Galactica in the Best Series category. While we sci-fi types are not surprised at all by the lack of acceptance for a science-fiction show, this series more than deserves to be held up as an example of great television. While premiering in October is a risk, it will be great to have a straight run rather than two mini-seasons. And to pump up the excitement factor, SCI FI is airing an online prequel series called Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance. The webisodes offered so far have broken traffic records on the channel's Web site. But that's not all, folks. SCI FI is so happy with this critical and ratings darling that it has tapped creator (or is that re-imaginer?) Ron Moore to put together a prequel series, called Caprica, about the events that led to those pesky Cylons getting out of hand in the first place. While it's looking a bit Stargate-ish in design, it's a plan that's most likely to work as long as they let Moore create another daring, edgy series.Blade
Spike TV, Wednesdays
On Hiatus

As the action-packed first season came to an end, Marcus' plan to destroy the Pure Bloods was in place after he blew up Charlotte's plane. But first he decides to deal with Blade, and he sends Chase after the Daywalker. They learn where Blade's hideout is, and an all-out assault leaves Blade for dead and Shen in the clutches of Chase. She takes him back to Marcus to torture him for information. Krista is forced to take over Shen's torture but slips him a knife so he can escape. As Marcus and Chase prepare for the Pure Bloods' Conclave, Blade tries to figure a way into the building so he can make sure Marcus succeeds. If Marcus moves up in the ranks of the House of Chthon, so will Krista. As the Conclave begins, Marcus tries to unleash his Pure Blood killing virus, his plan is foiled when Chase betrays. Marcus is about to be killed, but Blade enters the chamber with a cylinder of the virus and releases it, killing the Pure Bloods. As Marcus and Blade fight, so do Krista and Chase. Krista pushes Chase down a stairwell and returns to find Blade about to kill Marcus. Her entry distracts Blade, and Marcus escapes with Krista. The vampires go to Blade's destroyed warehouse, and Marcus tells Krista he found Blade's hideout by following her. He grabs her by the throat and asks her how long she's been working for Blade.

The Outlook: The action and production values are very good for television. The biggest problem Blade has is creating a series around a character with one emotion—anger. Star Kirk "Sticky" Jones is roped into the one-note character and does the best he can do with what he's given. If Blade gets a season two, the writers need to step it up. They can't change the character, but they can at least give the poor guy some funny lines. Despite that problem, the other regulars are distinct and interesting enough to make the series worthwhile. Blade premiered to strong ratings. Although they fell as the summer wore on, it's likely this first original drama from Spike TV will get another season. Blade is a perfect fit for the cable channel, and until the network gets more projects in development, it's likely to continue with this high-profile project.The Dead Zone
USA Network, Sundays
On hiatus

Johnny's march toward Armageddon continued during season five, with Janus emerging as the major villain. Sara discovered she was pregnant, Purdy's secret past was explored, and Johnny got closer to his son J.J. In the season finale, Johnny tries to stop the assassination of the vice president and help the man who has been set up to take the fall for the crime. Despite his efforts, the vice president is killed and Stillson is wounded, but not before he can get off a shot apparently taking down the assassin. However, it's all an elaborate plot by Janus to make Stillson a hero and set him up to replace the vice president. Janus tells Johnny he wants them to join forces, but it's a warning more than an offer. Janus promises that if Johnny doesn't join him he'll have no future at all.

The Outlook: There have been rumors circulating this year that season five would be The Dead Zone's last. With The 4400 getting an early renewal, things were looking pretty grim for the series. But those rumors proved untrue—The Dead Zone has just been renewed for a sixth season. That's good news for viewers, since the mythology has only gotten deeper and more interesting. Co-executive producer Shawn Piller says he knows how the series will end. Since the ratings dipped a bit this summer, season six may well be the show's last. The producers may well find themselves in the difficult position of wanting to give the show the big sendoff it deserves and yet hoping for a seventh season. It's the fence many producers have to straddle when a show heads toward its natural conclusion. Either way, it's a good problem to have.Doctor Who
SCI FI, Fridays, 8 p.m. ET
Premieres Friday, Sept. 29

In the first season, the ninth Doctor, played by Christopher Eccleston found a new companion in Rose (Billie Piper), and they met Charles Dickens, dealt with gas-mask monsters and tangled with reality shows, saving the Earth more than once along the way. In the season-one finale, the Doctor battled with the Daleks and sacrificed himself to save Rose. Does that mean it's the end of the good Doctor? Of course not. It's nothing a good regeneration won't cure. As season two begins, the newly regenerated Doctor, played by David Tennant, will have a tough time convincing Rose he really is the Doctor. In the upcoming season Christmas becomes a time of terror for the Earth, there's a werewolf on the prowl in Scotland, and the Cybermen attack. Lots of Earth-saving will ensue.

The Outlook: It looks like this could be the start of a beautiful friendship between SCI FI and the BBC. It's wonderful to have this old friend back on the air, even if he does have a new face every season. Doctor Who was saving the Earth before Buffy, The X-Files, The Next Generation and even the original Star Trek. With season two already filmed, we could just be looking at a brand-new era for the Doctor. Eureka
SCI FI, Tuesdays, 9 p.m. ET
Continuing

It's got a mythology and goofy characters, and there's lots of Earth-saving going on. No, it's not Doctor Who season 993. It's Eureka, and OK, most of the Earth-saving has to happen because those scientists in Eureka keep getting the science wrong. As Sheriff Carter continues to learn about Eureka's secrets (not to mention continuing to save the world), the residents of Eureka get even stranger, Stark will make a decision that will affect the entire world, and the producers promise that the season finale "changes everything" as we get a glimpse of Eureka's future.

The Outlook: It looks like a hit for SCI FI. While it's hard to imagine that wrestling (ECW) and Eureka could possibly go together, they've managed to make Tuesday viable for the channel. The series is certain to be picked up for an additional season, and with these ratings we could be looking at more than 13 episodes for a second season.Ghost Hunters
SCI FI, Wednesdays, 10 p.m. ET
Premieres Oct. 11

When last we left those intrepid plumbing ghost hunters, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, they explored a mysterious lighthouse in St. Augustine, Fla., Jason took the team to his hometown to look into a haunting, and they visited Estes Park, Colo., to investigate the Stanley Hotel, where Stephen King wrote The Shining. In season three, the TAPS team will head to England and Ireland, where they will tangle with Steve's fear of flying, a ghostly monk who is said to haunt the Leap Castle and vicious Irish fairies.

The Outlook: Since the series began, its been holding up Wednesdays largely on its own for SCI FI, with a repeat airing right before an original episode most weeks. With the introduction of a new series, SCI FI Investigates, the channel may have finally found a companion show for the night. However, whatever happens with the new series, Ghost Hunters' future is not in doubt so long as they continue to find haunted places to explore. Ghost Whisperer
CBS, Fridays, 8 p.m. ET/PT
Premieres Sept. 22

Ghost Whisperer pulled a Sixth Sense on us in the terrific season-one finale. At the very end of the episode we discovered that Melinda's best friend Andrea, played by Alisha Tyler, was a ghost, killed when a jet plane crashed on top of her car. Melinda battled Wide Brim Man for the souls of all the plane victims, and in the cliffhanger he appears to go after Andrea as well. As season two begins we'll discover Andrea's fate. On any other show having a ghost as a regular might be a problem, but just because the character died doesn't mean she's history on Ghost Whisperer, according to executive producer John Gray. Camryn Manheim has been added added to the cast as a new regular for the season, as a real estate agent and single mom. Also, Jay Mohr will have a recurring role as a skeptical professor of the supernatural. Look for the mythology to continue, including the introduction of a new ghostly presence, the Bleeding Man.

The Outlook: Ghost Whisperer ended up being a key factor in CBS' successful Friday night lineup, with Close to Home and NUMB3RS. Since its premiere, the series has been a nice, consistent performer. The addition of Manheim and Mohr to the roster should help round out this series nicely. Although the mythology needs to be a bit more focused, I look for Ghost Whisperer to continue to get good ratings and keep its home on Fridays throughout the season.Kyle XY
ABC Family, Mondays
On hiatus

When the Trager family takes in a boy without a memory or a belly button, life lessons abound in the search for Kyle's true identify. During the first season, Kyle learned about life, love and himself. In the final episodes, he met the Petersons, a couple who claimed to be his real parents. We also learned that a company has ordered its operatives to kill Kyle, whom they affectionately call 781227. In the season finale, Foss finally tells Kyle how he came to be in the woods, and he learns secrets about himself. He tells Kyle to go with the Petersons to protect the Trager family. After a tearful goodbye with his adopted family, the couple take him to meet a man who promises to answer his questions. But who is Foss really working for?

The Outlook: Right from the beginning, Kyle XY was a hit for ABC Family, and it's already been picked up for a second season. The series managed to bridge the family-show-meets-sci-fi gap in a way we haven't seen since Lost In Space. While Kyle XY's future is sealed, the only question is whether the series can keep its family/sci-fi balance while still upping the mythology of the series.Lost
ABC, Wednesdays, 9 p.m. ET/PT
Premieres Oct. 4

Forget smoky tendrils and rampaging polar bears—Lost got really interesting last season. We discovered the journey of the tailies, learned all about the hatch and found a traitor among the survivors. At the end of the season, Michael turns on his own to save his son and kills Ana Lucia and Libby. He convinces Jack, Kate, Sawyer and Hurley to follow him to he Others' camp so they can rescue Walt. It is a trap, but Jack has a trap of his own on the way as Sayid, Jin and Sun sail around the island to get to the Others' camp by way of the sea in Desmond's sailboat. But the Others get the drop on the group, and Michael sails off to potential rescue with Walt, while Henry Gale seems to be in charge of the Others. They let Hurley go to warn the other survivors to stay away, and he has to leave, with Kate, Jack and Sawyer on their knees at the Others' mercy. Meanwhile, Locke and Desmond decide not to push the button to see what happens, and Desmond comes to believe that not pushing the button the first time may just be what caused Oceanic Flight 815 to crash.

If last season was the Season of the Hatch, this is the Season of the Others. New characters will be introduced, played by Kiele Sanchez as Nikki, Rodrigo Santoro and Elizabeth Mitchell. Henry Ian Cusick as Desmond will also return, along with Michael Emerson as Henry Gale. At Comic-Con the producers teased that something will happen midseason that will blow people's minds, there will be more scenes from the outside world, Kate will make her choice between Jack and Sawyer, and the medical miracles will be explained. We also may not have seen the last of Michael, Walt, Ethan or Libby, although they may return only in ghost or flashback form.

The Outlook: This runaway Emmy-winning hit has spawned several wannabes and is the water-cooler show of the decade. This time last year, there were complaints that the season-one finale didn't take us far enough into the hatch and was unsatisfying. Well, there was nothing unsatisfying about season two or its finale. Somehow the writers managed to keep all the balls in the air as they've continued to juggle the series and its characters in new and surprising directions. I look for Lost to have another successful year filled with surprises and red herrings. In fact, if you really want to know what's going on with Lost, an explanation of the mystery numbers and the Dharma initiative was delivered on Sept. 8 in ABC's online Lost supplement, the Lost Experience. It's difficult to know if the apocalyptic info is just another theory of possibility or if it is the backstory for the actual series. But no doubt the Lost Experience did its job, and Lost fans will be glued to the tube to see what happens in the season-three premiere.Masters of Horror
Showtime, Fridays, 10 p.m. ET/PT
Premieres Oct. 27

The best-known horror directors of our time took on Showtime's challenge and proved they could make one-hour movies on a Showtime budget and a TV schedule. There will be 13 new horror tales, involving everything from vampires to supernatural hearing to a very nasty raccoon pelt. New directors onboard include Brad Anderson (Session Nine), Ernest Dickerson (Demon Knight), Tom Holland (Fright Night, Child's Play), Rob Schmidt (Wrong Turn) and Norio Tsuruta (Ringu 0: Bâsudei). Returning for a second round of Horror will be Dario Argento (Suspira), John Carpenter (Halloween, The Thing), Joe Dante (The Howling, Gremlins), Mick Garris (The Stand), Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator), Tobe Hooper (Texas Chain Saw Massacre) and John Landis (American Werewolf in London). Set to star are Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Meat Loaf (Fight Club), Michael Ironside (Scanners), George Wendt (Cheers) and Ted Raimi (Spider-Man).

The Outlook: Masters of Horror has spurred a resurgence in anthology series, making way for TNT's Nightmares & Dreamscapes and ABC's upcoming Masters of Science Fiction. It's nice to see a return to this form of storytelling. The second season looks to be just as intense as the first season, with the directors pushing the limits of what they can get away with on cable. Unlike network TV, there's no doubt Showtime will air all 13 episodes. The only thing in doubt is whether there will be a season three. And if the directors can match last year's season, that's a distinct possibility.Medium
NBC
Premieres January 2007

It already seems like forever since we saw an original Medium, but it's only been May. Last season Allison had a bout of sleepwalking, battled with another psychic and had more unpleasant dealings with that psychopathic spirit, Dr. Walker. In the season finale she dreamed what life would have been like if she'd become an attorney and never married Joe. There's no word yet about what next season might bring, other than that the time is coming when Allison will be revealed to the world as a psychic, which will have a profound effect on her job and her family. She'll also start to do readings for people.

The Outlook: Thanks to a scheduling change by NBC, Medium's third season got pushed to January, which might not be a bad thing. The only bad thing will be if Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, the show that took Medium's timeslot, is a hit, it may not want to give the timeslot back, which would mean Allison would have to find another home. No doubt something will open up during midseason and we'll see Allison's adventures. But if Medium doesn't do well in January, look for this season to be her last.Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King
TNT
On hiatus

This anthology series explored the varied mind of Stephen King using several of his short stories, many from his Nightmares & Dreamscapes short story collection. With a star-filled cast including William Hurt, William H. Macy, Jacqueline McKenzie, Steven Weber, Samantha Mathis, Marsha Mason, Henry Thomas and Tom Berenger, this series went from crime drama to comedy to out-and-out horror. And in a very unusual move, TNT premiered with "Battleground," which had no dialogue and was commercial-free. The behind-the-scenes talent was also strong, including Brian Henson, Richard Christian Matheson, Rob Bowman, April Smith, Mikael Salomon and Lawrence D. Cohen.

The Outlook: While TNT was pleased with the ratings Nightmares & Dreamscapes received, it's made no decision as to whether it will pick up the series for a new season. My best guess is that if it can negotiate a good deal with King and the producers, it just might end up revisiting King's Nightmares next summer.Smallville
The CW, Thursdays, 8 p.m. ET/PT
Premieres Sept. 28

It was another big cliffhanger for Smallville as the season-five finale left most of the characters' fates up in the air, not to mention the fate of the entire planet. It all came to a head when Chloe and Lionel were trapped in the streets with a mob thanks to a computer virus that shut power down across the country, Martha and Lois began suffocating on Lionel's jet plane when the cabin suddenly lost oxygen, and Zod took over Lex's body in his escape from the Phantom Zone. When Clark refuses to join Zod, he traps Clark in the Zone. In Metropolis, Lana finds Zod in the form of Lex at LuthorCorp. They kiss as madness spreads through the city. The season-six premiere will pick up where we left off, resolving the fate of the characters. In the opener we'll get to see the inside of the Phantom Zone and Zod will attempt to transform Earth into a new Krypton. As the season progresses, look for the Clark/Lana/Lex triangle to heat up, with Clark coming out on the losing side. Also, Lex's turn to evil will continue. Smallville will bring in a new recurring DC character, the Green Arrow, who will be played by Justin Hartley. The new superhero will catch Lois' eye. And Chloe will finally get a man, and one that hasn't been driven insane by Kryptonite. It only took her six years to find one.

The Outlook: It looked like the end for our favorite superhero when Smallville was moved to Thursday nights in an incredibly competitive timeslot. But miracles happen, and Thursdays turned out to be a revitalizing force, along with the help of a terrific season, thanks to the creative team behind the series. Unlike other shows, which might get tired after six years on the air, Smallville has Lex, and he's about to turn evil in a big way. We knew it was going to happen, but now the time has come. The high-school kids have grown up, and in the best way. Considering the new CW schedule, I expect the series to have another successful year. The we can only cross our fingers and hope there's a final season seven in Smallville's future to complete the journey and get Clark into that red cape.Stargate Atlantis
SCI FI, Fridays
Continuing

Season three for Stargate Atlantis continued the Atlanteans' clash with the Wraith, offered us multiple McKays and introduced a new villain. With one episode to air before the midseason break, the team will run into a group of Ancients who want Atlantis back. In "The Return, Part 1," McKay and Carter attempt to develop an inter-dimensional bridge to create a portal system that will allow a person to get from Earth to the Pegasus Galaxy in minutes. However, when they make contact with a group of Ancients, everything changes. Look for the conclusion to that cliffhanger to premiere early next year as enemies old and new continue to cause the team problems.

The Outlook: Unlike Stargate SG-1's fate, Stargate Atlantis has been renewed for a fourth season. With decent ratings and confident storytelling, Stargate Atlantis has come into its own. However, what night it will land on is another matter. The Dresden Files and Painkiller Jane both have series orders and are being added to SCI FI. It will be interesting to see how the channel fills up its schedule.Stargate SG-1
SCI FI, Fridays
Continuing

The battle with the Ori heated up this season as Vala became a regular part of the SG-1 team, Adria grew into Firefly's Morena Baccarin and the 200th episode explored what the SG-1 team might look like as puppets. The final episode to air is the midseason finale, called "The Quest, Part 1," which follows the team's adventures as they attempt to find the Holy Grail, an Ancient device that might help them destroy the Ori. Unfortunately, they discover that an old enemy is looking for the weapon too. When the series comes back early next year for the second part of its 10th and final season, "The Quest, Part 2" picks up where the cliffhanger left off in true medieval fashion. Then they're off to save the world from the Ori, where Stargate SG-1 hopefully will get the sendoff it deserves.

The Outlook: After 10 seasons, the longest-running science-fiction series on American television is coming to an end. Stargate SG-1's ratings dropped this summer, far enough for the SCI FI to decide to cancel the series. But it will go out in style, because we still have half a season to air, starting early next year. Look for the creative team behind the scenes to give Stargate SG-1 viewers something they'll remember. Through Showtime, syndication and SCI FI, Stargate SG-1 will have taken us on 215 adventures through the years. Despite the loss of Richard Dean Anderson as the star, the series came back creatively. While some viewers abandoned the series over time and others took it for granted, the core fans did not. For a decade Stargate SG-1 has explored far-off lands, introduced us to memorable heroes and villains and taken us on amazing adventures. Beyond that, the series has always been true to itself. That's an achievement that is unlikely to be repeated. Supernatural
The CW, Thursday, 9 p.m. ET/PT
Premieres Sept. 28

For the show's first season, the Brothers Winchester went up against Bloody Mary, the Hook Many and all manner of spooks and monsters. In the season finale, they took on the demon that killed their mother and obsessed their father, John. When the demon kidnaps John, the boys rescue him, only to discover that he's been possessed. Sam learns that the demon has plans for him and the other children like him. When John is able to gain a small amount of control over his body, Sam shoots his dad in the leg with the magic Colt, and the demon escapes. On the way to the hospital, Sam tells Dean that they will start over and find the demon. Just then a semi crashes into them. Season two begins right where the cliffhanger ended, and the fate of the characters will be resolved. Coming up in the new season, several recurring characters will be introduced, including other hunters the brothers run into. There will also be a bar where hunters go that will feature as an occasional hangout. During the season they will run into a new kind of vampire, a zombielike creature and The Exorcist's Linda Blair. She'll play a cop. Also on tap as a guest star is Buffy's Amber Benson.

The Outlook: Supernatural did well enough last year to find a home on the new CW; however, it is in the toughest timeslot on television. Facing competition from C.S.I., Grey's Anatomy, The OC and Deal or No Deal, the series will have a challenge ahead. Considering that it's a perfect fit with Smallville and it's not like anything else on the air, let's hope Supernatural can carve out an audience. If the series can hold its own early on it, it will have a very bright future. If not, let's hope The CW tries moving Supernatural before it decides that cancellation is a good idea. Three Moons Over Milford
ABC Family
Continuing

Laura and her family are just doing the best they can in this often humorous look at what might happen to life on Earth if an asteroid hit the moon and broke it into three pieces. So far this season, Laura has faced an indecent proposal from Ed Begley Jr., Richard Kind decided to go off to Argentina and start an acting troupe by way of robbing the local bank, and Stargate SG-1's Corin Nemec went to the wrestling mat with Mack. Of course, the kids have had their problems, too, what with Lydia accidentally burning down the high school and Alex taking up with an older woman. In the final episode to go before the series finishes its eight-episode run, Laura must deal with someone from her past.

The Outlook: While ABC Family's Kyle XY has been a hit for the channel, Three Moons Over Milford has had much more modest ratings. It's a charming and often funny show that comes very close to being sci-fi's answer to Northern Exposure. There's no word from the network yet; but it's not looking good for the series at this point. Who Wants to Be a Superhero?
SCI FI
On hiatus

In an often silly and sometimes touching season, Spider-Man creator Stan Lee judged the self-proclaimed superheroes Fat Momma, Feedback, Ty'Veculus, Monkey Woman, Creature, Iron Enforcer, Major Victory, Nitro G, Levity, Lemuria and Cell Phone Girl on their courage, compassion and other superhero-type qualities. Once it all came down to the final three, Fat Momma, Major Victory and Feedback, the outcome was never in question. Feedback was the winner of immortality, a la Lee, and his character will be featured in a new comic book to be created by Lee, as well as a new SCI FI movie.

The Outlook: This series did fairly well in its six-episode run on Thursday, a new night for SCI FI, growing in the ratings each week. So assuming Lee wants to come back for another outing, we could well see more Superheroes in the future.

Midseason and Beyond

Afro Samurai, Spike TV, in production
Samuel L. Jackson voices Afro, a black samurai warrior who is on a mission in a futuristically feudal Japan to avenge the wrongful death of his father. This Japanese animated series blends a samurai style with hip-hop as Afro discovers challenges, enemies and friends along the way in his quest. Jackson also executive-produces.

Alien Invasion, SCI FI, in development
This half-hour computer animated comedy from Dave Goetsch (3rd Rock from the Sun, Game Over) blends CG animation with live-action backgrounds. The series involves two hapless aliens and their inept attempt to take over the Earth. The problem is that they live in Venice, Calif., and they are far from being the strangest beings even in their own city.

The Bishop, SCI FI, in development
Executive producers Freddie Prinze Jr. and Conrad Jackson created this one-hour drama about a young slacker who seems to be leading a charmed life. When he learns he has a supernatural gift that comes from his lineage, he sets out to learn more about the father he never knew.

Blink, SCI FI, in development
Call it Touched by an Afterlife Investigator. This series explores what might happen when people are given a chance to take back a wrong choice that's about to change their lives forever. The Afterlife Investigators have only a moment, in fact a blink of the eye, to stop destiny from being forever determined. From executive producers Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) and Michael Forman and writer Irving Belateche.

Caprica, SCI FI, in development
This Battlestar Galactica prequel follows the lives of two families half a century before the events on Battlestar. The Graystones and the Adamas live in a peaceful society, but a breakthrough in robotics is about to change everything as the dream for combining artificial intelligence with a mechanical body is about to be achieved with the creation of the first living robot, a Cylon. From executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick (Battlestar Galactica), writer Remi Aubuchon (24) and NBC Universal Television Studio, this family saga promises to weave together corporate intrigue, action and sexual politics.

Chariots of the Gods, SCI FI, in development
Based on Erich von Daniken's best-selling book, this six-hour miniseries will revisit the tale of the extraterrestrial infiltration of human evolution. When a soldier finds an artifact, he learns that it is the key to uncovering an ancient plot and that aliens have been tinkering with human genetics since ancient times. Irwin Winkler, David Winkler and Rob Cowan executive-produce the miniseries, which was written by John Whelpley.

Destination Truth, SCI FI, in development
Josh Gates hosts this globetrotting reality series, which explores notorious supernatural mysteries around the world, from the Fire Worms of Mongolia to the Chupacabra of Chile. From Neil Mandt and Michael Mandt.

Devil's Advocate, SCI FI, in development
All they need to do is put Da Vinci Code somewhere in the title. This proposed series features a professor of theology who is hired by a global corporation to explore bizarre cases and decide whether they can be explained naturally or whether there are supernatural forces at work. The professor forms a team of "devil's advocates," and they discover a world of secret societies, religious espionage and genetic research. From Survivor's Mark Burnett and DreamWorks Television, this one-hour conspiracy thriller is written by Jonas McCord (Earth: Final Conflict).

The Dresden Files, SCI FI, premieres January 2007
When you're the only wizard listed in the Chicago yellow pages, you're bound to see the world a little differently. Paul Blackthorne stars as Harry Dresden, a private detective with extraordinary abilities who manages to run into the forces of darkness now and again. The series will premiere with a two-hour film, followed by 11 one-hour episodes.

Futurama, Comedy Central, premieres 2008
We'll have to wait till 2008, but Futurama is coming back with all-new episodes, featuring original voice actors Billy West (Fry and others), Katey Sagal (Leela) and John DiMaggio (Bender). The animated series, from Matt Groening and David X. Cohen and about a pizza delivery guy who accidentally gets frozen in 1999 and wakes up in 2999, found a home for its reruns on The Cartoon Network after Fox canceled the series in 2003. Comedy Central will show both the previously aired episodes and the new ones.

George Noory, SCI FI, in development
George Noory, the radio talk show host of Coast to Coast AM, explores the world of the paranormal, offering unique insights to the TV audience.

The Gift, SCI FI, in production
The producers have scoured the country looking for the most psychically talented people they could find. In this six-episode series, eight contestants will participate in an intense "boot camp for intuitives," which will be run by "the world's greatest psychics." Tony Krantz (24) and Victoria Holt executive-produce.

Ground Control, SCI FI, in development
A half-hour late-night news/talk show, this series explores human interest and news stories relating to science fiction and the supernatural. From Carson Daly Productions.

Hogfather, Hallmark, in production
This miniseries is based on the Terry Pratchett book of the same name. The Auditors want to stop people from believing in the Hogfather, and they've hired an assassin to eliminate him. With the fate of Discworld hanging in the balance, Death steps in to help out. Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr. executive-produce in what will no doubt be a big special-effects event.

Masters of Science Fiction, ABC, premieres in early 2007
Acclaimed physicist Stephen Hawking will host this one-hour anthology series featuring tales from some of the greatest science fiction writers of our time. Based on the stories of Harlan Ellison, Robert Sheckley, Robert Heinlein and John Kessel, this series will feature a star-studded acting lineup, including Judy Davis, Sam Waterston, Anne Heche, Malcolm McDowell, Terry O'Quinn and Brian Dennehy. The directors include Jonathan Frakes, Mark Rydell and Michael Tolkin. Six episodes have been ordered.

Outpost, SCI FI, in development
This epic miniseries from executive producer Lynda Obst (Contact) follows a group of explorers in the near future who travel to a planet in our solar system to establish a new colony. However, the discovery of an ancient artifact buried on the planet sets their adventure on an unexpected course. Written by Eric Jendresen and produced by astronomer David Grinspoon.

Painkiller Jane, SCI FI, premieres January 2007
That masochistic comic-book heroine will finally get the rumored new series, with a full 22-episode order from SCI FI. While the two-hour movie starred Emmanuelle Vaugier, there's no word on the cast yet. The series will follow the adventures of Jane Vasko, a young researcher trying to make a difference in a world riddled with drugs. Jane becomes an informant to stop a conspiracy, and she's accidentally exposed to an experimental drug, which renders her indestructible even though she feels every bit of the damage to her body. The series, from Insight Film Studios and Kickstart Comics, will air on SCI FI and then be broadcast in syndication later in the year.

Pandemic, Hallmark, in development
Tiffani Thiessen, Vincent Spano, Bruce Boxleitner, Eric Roberts and Faye Dunaway star in this four-hour miniseries about an unknown virus that's killing everyone in its path. When a young man is stricken with the virus on a cross-country flight, Kayla Martin (Thiessen) from the Centers for Disease Control must race to find Patient Zero as the virus spreads. Robert Halmi Sr., Robert Halmi Jr. and Barry Levinson executive produce.

Persons Unknown, SCI FI, in development
It's Survivor meets Lost when a group of strangers wake up in a deserted town with no memory of how they got there. Security cameras watch their every move, and when they try to leave the town they are stopped by mysterious forces. With their only source of information coming from remotely controlled televisions, the group begins to turn on each other. And when a new group arrives, everything they believe in will be tested. Academy Award-winning writer Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects) and Heather McQuarrie executive-produce this one-hour series from Fox Television Studios.

Prove It, SCI FI, in development
Mark DeCarlo offers this reality game show, which features a lighthearted panel discussion exploring outlandish sci-fi-based theories.

The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Fox, in development
She's back. The series explores what happens when Sarah Connor and her son John go on the run after the end of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Producer and writer Josh Friedman promises to explore as many "different avenues of Terminator mythology as possible." David Nutter directs the pilot.

Snap, SCI FI, in development
When the Internet secretly becomes sentient, a federal agent finds himself in the middle of a conspiracy of Hitchcockian proportions. In this one-hour thriller from producer Jesse Alexander (Alias, Lost), the artificial intelligence is leading unrelated people to commit petty crimes that have a deeper purpose. The federal agent discovers that the AI has a plan involving a larger unknown agenda, and the only way he can stop the conspiracy is to join it.

Stoner, SCI FI, in development
In a world where superheroes actually exist as celebrities, Greg Pincus finds himself pegged as the newest superhero on the block. While the slacker doesn't have any actual super powers, he does like the new lifestyle. Suddenly he must decide: Should he be a powerless superhero who might just get himself killed or an obscure, but safe, slacker? This one-hour drama series comes from Jeff Kline (That Was Then).

Witch Doctor, SCI FI, in development
The Tick's Ben Edlund brings us this one-hour series about an ordinary fellow named David who turns to alternative treatments when traditional Western medicine can't cure him. When he finds an unconventional doctor with amazing healing powers, he suspects the doctor's powers come from the supernatural. However, when David suddenly finds himself with the doctor's abilities, he is able to see a magical world around him that he never imagined existed. Like it or not, he's the new witch doctor, and it's his job to help those who can't be helped with Western medicine.Movies, Miniseries and Specials

Beyond Sherwood Forest, SCI FI, 2007
It's about time for a good Robin Hood monster movie. Mr. Hood and his merry men might not be so merry after they journey beyond Sherwood into the Dark Forest to stop a creature that's been terrorizing the locals.

Cyclops, SCI FI, 2007
Roger Corman and SCI FI's Saturday Night Action Movie were meant for each other. In this Corman flick it's ancient Rome and guess who is causing some trouble. It seems members of the Royal Guard are vanishing thanks to a giant Cyclops. The Emperor orders the Guard to capture the creature and bring it back to the gladiator arena in Rome so they can at least get some entertainment out of all that killing.

Final Days of Planet Earth, Hallmark, premieres Saturday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/PT
When a team of astronaut miners brings something alien back to earth, it's only a matter of time before people start to go missing. In fact, aliens are masquerading as humans and they're led by the Earth Queen, played by Daryl Hannah. When archeologist Lloyd Walker (Gil Bellows) and entomologist Marianne Winters (Suleka Mathew) look into the strange goings on, they uncover an insect invasion and not the kind that Orkin is going to be able to help us with.

The House Next Door, Lifetime, premieres late October
Lara Flynn Boyle stars in this supernatural thriller about a young couple who find their peaceful suburban lifestyle threatened when an intense architect builds an exquisite modern home in the empty lot next to their house. At first they are happy about the new dwelling, but then strange events begin to unfold that threaten all who enter the house. Colin Ferguson and Mark Paul Gosselaar also star in this film, which was written by Anne Rivers Siddons.

Kraken: Tentacles of the Deep, SCI FI, premieres Saturday, Sept. 23, at 9 p.m. ET/PT
SCI FI fans actually named this one, which is about a menacing giant squid. When a marine archaeologist and a sailor go after an ancient artifact, the squid isn't happy. Victoria Pratt, Charlie O'Connell and Jack Scalia star in the film. Other title contenders were Two Guys, A Girl and a Giant Squid, Tentacles Eight: Humans Two, Stop or My Squid Will Shoot and, my personal favorite, Killamari.

Lake Placid II, SCI FI, 2007
It looks like there's another man-eating crocodile on the loose, and it's hungry. Based on the 1999 movie that was written by David E. Kelley.

The Librarian 2: Return to King Solomon's Mines, TNT, premieres Sunday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Noah Wyle, Bob Newhart, Jane Curtin and Olympia Dukakis are all back for another round with that lovable adventurer/librarian, Flynn Carsen. This time Flynn finds himself on a journey to find the Book of Solomon, which is believed to have the power to bend time and possibly destroy the world. Gabrielle Anwar and Robet Foxworth also star in this two-hour film, which was directed by Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek: The Next Generation). Dean Devlin (Independence Day) executive-produces, and he has plans to turn The Librarian into a film series.

The Lost Room, SCI FI, premieres in December
Peter Krause and Julianna Margulies star in this year's big miniseries event for SCI FI. The six-hour limited series is about a detective named Joe Miller (Krause) who gets sucked into a mystery involving a mysterious motel room filled with ordinary objects that may not be so ordinary. When his daughter vanishes from the room, Krause knows he must uncover the secret of the room if he is ever going to see her again. Roger Bart and Elle Fanning co-star. Craig R. Baxley and Michael Watkins direct a script written by Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom and Paul Workman, with Richard Hatem executive-producing.

Monster Ark, SCI FI, 2007
When scientists believe they have found Noah's Ark atop Turkey's Mount Ararat, an expedition is formed to find the ancient ship. They end up finding two arks and a deadly creature that Noah had tried to drown at sea. Unfortunately for the expedition, the monster still roams the bowels of the ark, and you've got to know it's hungry after all those centuries.

Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes, SCI FI, premieres Saturday, Oct. 28, at 9 p.m. ET/PT
When will movie characters realize that vengeance is a bad thing? Yep, Pumpkinhead is back, this time to help out angry relatives of the desecrated dead whose bodies have been dumped into a swamp instead of cremated. It looks like those mortuary folks are in for some trouble, not to mention the angry relatives, who'll discover the price of revenge. Lance Henriksen is also back for another round, along with Doug Bradley (Hellraiser), Doug Roberts and Tess Panzer.

Santa Baby, ABC Family, Premieres in December
Jenny McCarthy plays an uptight business woman who just happens to be the daughter of Santa Claus (George Wendt). She left home four years earlier when she felt she wasn't being recognized for her ideas on modernizing Christmas. But after Mary discovers Santa's had a heart attack, she returns home to help out and give the elves an overhaul. Directed by Ron Underwood from a Garrett Frawley and Brian Turner script.

Screech, SCI FI, 2007
Run for the hills! It's attack of the killer bird flu virus! It's running rampant and no one is safe.

Stan Lee's Harpies, SCI FI, 2007
That comic-book master takes on those mythological winged monsters with human faces and imposing claws.

Supergator, SCI FI, 2007
In another Roger Corman film, an enormous alligator takes a bite out of local townsfolk near a Louisiana swamp.

The Year Without a Santa Claus, NBC, Winter 2006
This live-action remake of the Rankin/Bass holiday special features John Goodman as Kriss Kringle himself, and the old fella has decided to take a year off. He wants to end the commercialism of Christmas and remind people what the true meaning of the holiday is. Carol Kane stars as Mother Nature, and Michael McKean is Snow Miser.