Prime-time 2005: more stars, more soul, more sensation

PRIME-TIME television is in living color this fall season, as the Big 4 networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX) have loaded their schedules with exciting scripted sitcoms and dramas--and the majority of these shows feature African-American actors in leading and recurring roles.

There are several surprises on the tube this fall as well, such as the debut of the Tom Joyner Show (ABC-owned stations) and the historic debut of Run's House (MTV), the first hip-hop reality show featuring Run of Run DMC and his wife and kids.

Following is a roundup of the prime-time shows that the networks promise will keep you spellbound.

ABC

ABC unveils 12 new shows this season, with several starring African-Americans in prominent or recurring roles:

THE NIGHT STALKER

GENRE: Cult Mystery Series

PLOT: A newspaper journalist investigates unexplained phenomena and strange deaths, Gabrielle Union is a senior crime reporter who has an uncanny ability to follow wherever the story leads--even if no one else dares to.

STAR APPEAL: Gabrielle Union

COMMANDER IN CHIEF

GENRE: Drama

PLOT: Harry Lennix is the chief of staff to the first female president of the United States, who must rise above controversy and prove herself to her country and staff.

STAR APPEAL: Harry J. Lennix

EMILY'S REASONS WHY NOT

GENRE: Comedy

PLOT: An independent woman's adventures and misadventures in life and love. Based on the best-selling novel.

STAR APPEAL: Khary Payton

INVASION

GENRE: Suspense

PLOT: Hurricane leads to strange occurences in a small town.

STAR APPEAL: Aisha Hinds

RETURNING SHOWS: Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Alias and Less Than Perfect.

CROSSOVER ALERT: Torn Joyner, America's top syndicated morning radio personality, is now on television! The Tom Joyner Show, a music/variety television show, will launch on several ABC-owned stations across the country in October, Check your local listings.

CBS

CBS introduces 6 new prime-time shows, with 4 starring African-Americans in prominent or recurring roles:

GHOST WHISPERER

GENRE: Suspense

PLOT: A medium is able to reach lost souls from the other side.

STAR APPEAL: Aisha Tyler

THRESHOLD

GENRE: Suspense

PLOT: When an extraterrestrial craft crash-lands in the mid Atlantic Ocean, the U.S. Navy calls on a team of experts to intervene.

STAR APPEAL: Charles S. Dutton

CLOSE TO HOME

GENRE: Mystery

PLOT: Sometimes the quietest neighborhoods can hide the ugliest of crimes.

STAR APPEAL: Kimberly Elise

CRIMINAL MINDS

GENRE: Suspense

PLOT: An elite squad of FBI profilers must analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds to predict their next moves.

STAR APPEAL: Shemar Moore

RETURNING SHOWS: CSI: NY; CSI: Miami; CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Cold Case: NCIS; NUMB3RS; The King of Queens.

THE WB

The WB has three returning shows that feature African-Americans in prominent or recurring roles--Blue Collar TV, Charmed and What I like About You.

NBC

NBC introduces 6 new series; with 3 starring African-Americans in prominent or recurring roles:

E-RING

GENRE: Drama

PLOT: Viewers get a birds-eye view inside the Pentagon to witness critical decisions from intelligence officers in the war room to covert actions being carried out on the battlefield.

STAR APPEAL: Aunjanue Ellis, Joe Morton

INCONCEIVABLE

GENRE: Ensemble Drama

PLOT: The dedicated doctors at the Family Options Fertility Clinic try to help desperate couples conceive, however, several staff members are not above occasional scandals involving sex, lies and missing embryos.

STAR APPEAL: Alfre Woodard

MY NAME IS EARL

GENRE: Sitcom

PLOT: A man tries to improve his bad karma by doing good deeds for everyone he's ever wronged, dating back to his childhood.

STAR APPEAL: Eddie Steeples

RETURNING SHOWS: Las Vegas, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order, ER, The West Wing and Crossing Jordan.

FOX

FOX rolls out 6 hot new shows this season, with 3 starring African-Americans in prominent or recurring roles:

HEAD CASES

GENRE: Comedic Drama

PLOT: Down-and-out, mental health outpatients use the buddy system to help each other remain "sane."

STAR APPEAL: Rockmond Dunbar

KILLER INSTINCT

GENRE: Drama

PLOT: Top detectives must solve San Francisco's most wicked crimes while rounding up the city's most deviant criminals.

STAR APPEAL: Chi McBride

BONES

GENRE: Suspense

PLOT: A suspenseful drama inspired by a real-life forensic anthropologist who has the ability to find clues left behind in a victim's bones.

STAR APPEAL: Jonathan Adams

RETURNING SHOWS: The Bernie Mac Show, House, MADtv, Malcolm In the Middle.

UPN

UPN has added 3 new shows that feature African-Americans in prominent starring or recurring roles:

EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS

GENRE: Sitcom

PLOT: Based on the life and times of Chris Rock, who grew up in Brooklyn in the early 1980s, and was bused into a predominantly White middle school two hours from home.

STAR APPEAL: Tichina Arnold, Tyler Williams, Chris Rock.

LOVE INC.

GENRE: Sitcom