You've probably noticed that the new fall television season is upon us once more, but this year the programming folks seem to be introducing it without nearly as much of the hoo-hah and big ballyhoo we've come to expect.  Do you think that may be because the new programs aren't all that great?  Last year's big hit, 'The Sopranos," is on premium channel HBO, and this year's favorite, "Monk," is on USA, both available only on cable or dish, so the networks are out in the cold -- again.  Among the "new" programs, there are a few which seem to be little more than rehashes of old ones. They're "new" because they mix the settings, like adding soap opera elements to the medical, legal and other series, but if you're looking for "non-soapy" programs, you'll have to look pretty hard to find them  .I've watched two or three of the recent crop that caught my interest, but with the exception of "Monk," which is a refreshing change, and doesn't even use a laugh track, they all seemed more or less the same, and just didn't measure up somehow -- but then, since the days of the smash hit comedy series, like "MASH," "Cheers," "Frasier" and the like, there really hasn't been all that much to shout about, has there?

By the way, if you haven't already seen it, don't tune in to "Monk" expecting big belly laughs. It's a light mixture of a detective show with a sprinkling of nuttiness. It's not comedy -- it's humor -- and it's just fun.  "Monk" himself is played by Tony Shalhoub -- remember Antonio, the out-of-luck cabdriver in "Wings"? -- but there's only a little of Antonio here.  "Monk" is a brilliant detective who suffered a nervous breakdown, and as a result now has more kinks than a Brillo pad. He's called in on a consulting basis while awaiting reinstatement to the police force, and when summoned, drives the police and just about everyone else bananas while solving the case in his own quirky way. The program won't have you rolling on the floor helpless with laughter, but it provides plenty of chuckles, and the plots have always been interesting.  More importantly, the entire program is believable, and it doesn't tell us when to laugh.

Definitely worth a look.  Otherwise, we're stuck in the same old vast wasteland: all those programs, and little to watch.  This unimaginative programming rut may be one of the reasons that network TV lost so many of its viewers. After all, when you can find interesting stuff on cable and dish channels like A&E, TLC, The Discovery and Learning Channels, who wants to watch mindless soapy network retreads?  Now, if your thing is sports, you're slightly, but not much better off, because once again the networks are feeding us the same old stuff. It's just a new season, that's all.

We have the same "commentators" who feel obligated to fill every last moment of silence with their own expert , 75 percent baloney opinions, and we have pretty much the same lineup of sporting events, which, depending upon your personal preferences, are either interesting (all too few) or provide a pretty good excuse for taking a nap.  And, of course, included is this year's favorite sports announcer  .I have no idea who this guy is, but he has currently turned up on all the golf and football programs on CBS, and even though he's the "booth announcer" who never appears on camera, there's no doubt that it's him.  None at all. He has a characteristic way of over enthusiastically articulating his script which you can't miss. It goes like this: "Today's coverage of The Ryder Cup is being sponsor-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-ed by ... " No matter what the event, he always drags out the word "sponsor-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-ed," unnecessarily.  It's obvious that he's enjoying it, but he just stretches it out that little bit too far. What a ham!

Another perfectly good nap rudely interrupted!

Of course, if you simply avoid the networks and watch only cable or dish programs, you're going to find a few old favorites there too. For instance, TVLand Channel will give you just about any old series that's ever been on, proving that sometimes, the "oldies" are better.  And you'll probably be glad to know (or be warned) that wherever you turn through the entire range of all those 50, or 100, or 150 channels, you can't get away from those "Bowflex" commercials.  Have you seen the latest version? Have you heard that guy screaming in the background?

Poor baby!

Frankly, if exercising with that thing caused ME such agony, I'd ask for my money back.

Ah, yes. Good old reliable television.  It gives us all something to gripe about.