Last fall, there were questions as to whether the WB network would even survive. This fall, it is the network with the most

talked-about new show of the season.

"Felicity," a coming-of-age drama about a young woman's first year at college, is the kind of series you could build a network on. But WB has already done that with "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Dawson's Creek."

According to Nielsen, after only six months on the air, "Dawson's Creek," the teen drama from Kevin Williamson, ranks fourth in viewership among upscale households (income over $75,000), ahead of such series as NBC's "ER" and "Friends." And delivering well-heeled viewers to advertisers is what network television is all about.

If "Buffy" and "Dawson's Creek" seemed a little young for your tastes, and you're set in your old TV ways, get with it before you miss one of the best pilots in television history, when "Felicity" debuts Sept. 29.

It's been called "Ally McBeal Goes to College," but that doesn't do justice to "Felicity." It has the texture and emotional punch of the critically acclaimed coming-of-age drama "My So-Called Life," and Keri Russell's Felicity Porter is every bit as fascinating as Claire Danes' Angela Chase. "Felicity" is simply head and shoulders above any other network pilot this fall.

Not that "Felicity" has all that much competition. Prime time '98 shows all too clearly the ravages of putting too much emphasis on the art of the deal and little or no art on the screen.

The big trend in network television this year is toward lowering the costs of production and trying to raise the profit margin. Those have been goals of network television for a long time, of course, but the $13 million-per-episode "ER" deal that Warner Bros. extracted from NBC in January added a new urgency to the matter.

And, as is usually the case, the networks overdid it.

The emphasis on lowering production costs means we'll see endless prime-time newsmagazines and other forms of junky nonfiction programming, like CBS' "Candid Camera" and "The World's Wildest Police Videos" on Fox.

It also means that more than half of the new pilots are produced or co-produced by the networks themselves. Which is another way of saying the shows that made the fall schedule aren't necessarily the best that the television industry had to offer, but they were the best of the shows in which the network owned a share. The networks don't want to get into any more bidding wars on free-agent series as they did with "ER."

The most disappointing network is CBS. Les Moonves, the network's entertainment president, says the network needs to get "younger, male and more urban" in its audience. So, how is it trying to accomplish that? One way is by getting more violent. The new show "Martial Law" stars Hong Kong martial arts star Sammo Hung. "Martial Law" will be paired with "Walker, Texas Ranger" for a night of spin-kicks to the head of quality television.

The one CBS pilot to go out of your way to see is "Buddy Faro," starring Dennis Farina as a private eye who ruled Sunset Strip in the Rat-Pack era but dropped out of sight in 1978. He's rediscovered in this funny and stylish pilot from Mark Frost, of "Twin Peaks" fame. Good pilots don't always mean good series, though, and this one looks like a tough concept to sustain.

ABC is almost as bad as last year, with series like "Two of a Kind," starring the Olsen twins. But it does have a couple of interesting series with a weird, appealing, retro feel to them: "Cupid," starring Jeremy Piven as a modern-day Cupid, and a remake of "Fantasy Island," starring Malcolm McDowell as a sinister Mr. Roarke.

In terms of television as sociology, NBC has a must-see sitcom in "Will & Grace," which stars Erin McCormack and Debra Messing as roommates who seem made for each other, except he is gay. McCormack's character, Will Truman, is a new image for prime-time network TV ' a confident, successful, professional gay man who is not fey.

There's also some sociology worth thinking about in Fox's "Costello," starring Sue Costello as a young woman whose aspirations put her at odds with the denizens of the blue-collar tavern in which she works. There are a number of young working-class women this fall, including Christina Applegate in "Jesse" on NBC. They replace the power-suited,latte-loving women-who-work-in-the-media types who bombed last year on NBC.

As for the worst pilot, UPN's "The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfieffer" wins hands down. It stars Chi McBride as the butler and confidant of Abraham Lincoln during a time when the president is having sexual relationships with young women in the White House. You knew somebody in Hollywood was going to take Clinton-Lewinsky and run with it, but you didn't think it would be quite this dumb.

Finally, lest anyone leave feeling suicidal about the new season, let me tell you about "The Farmer's Wife," a six-hour film that starts Sept. 21 and runs for three nights on public television. It's a documentary on a young farm couple and their three kids in Nebraska. It starts out looking like the saga of a seemingly hopeless struggle to save a farm, but then it becomes an intimate and profound examination of a marriage.

Some have compared it to the 1973 PBS documentary "An American Family." I think it's in a league with Marcel Ophuls' great 1970 documentary "The Sorrow and the Pity." "The Farmer's Wife" saves the very soul of the new television season and serves as a reminder of how good television can be when it is not all about commercialism and profit.

Sunday

"Holding the Baby" (7:30 p.m., Fox) - A workaholic junior executive in the advertising business finds himself caring for his infant son after his wife and nanny quit him on the same day. There are quite a few single dads in prime time this fall, but none is quite as boring as this guy.

"That '70s Show" (8:30 p.m., Fox) - It's 1976, in a suburb of Milwaukee, and the nights of malts and fries at Arnold's have been replaced by smoking pot in their parents' basements for these teens. An early debut, along with the drug and '70s nostalgia hooks, have helped this sitcom cut through the clutter. The best thing about the series, though, is its time period between "The Simpsons" and "The X-Files," which should mean much better ratings than it deserves.

"The Army Show" (9:30 p.m., WB) - This is supposed to be a '90s version of "The Phil Silvers Show," which starred Silvers as Sgt. Ernie Bilko. In that '50s classic, the Army base was Fort Baxter; here it's Fort Bendix. What's missing are the brilliant comedic talent of Silvers and the genius of Nat Hiken, who created the series. What's left is not worth talking about.

Monday

"Guys Like Us" (8 p.m. UPN) - Two young guys on the make with every young woman they see are suddenly saddled with caring for the 6-year-old little brother of one of them. The kid is played by Maestro Harrell, who sings, dances, mugs and made me start grinding my teeth after five minutes. Been there with Gary Coleman, done that with Emmanuel Lewis. To make matters worse, this show will teach its preteen audience all about sexual innuendo at 8 o'clock.

"DiResta" (8:30 p.m., UPN) - A sitcom about the life of a New York City transit cop starring comedian John DiResta. One of several new blue-collar series - not one of the funnier ones. Big laugh-track yuks in the pilot whenever DiResta's 2-year-old boy, who favors tiaras over baseball caps, walks on camera dressed in girls' clothing. If you're smiling at the thought of that, maybe this sitcom is for you.

* "Conrad Bloom" (8:30 p.m., NBC) - Mark Feuerstein plays Conrad Bloom, a young ad exec with lots of women in his life. While he's approaching 30 and still searching for "the one," he's got an ex, a sister, a mom, a boss and a co-worker who all count on him in one way or another. Linda Lavin ("Alice") as mom and Steve Landesberg ("Barney Miller") as a burned-out co-worker add some nice moments.

* "King of Queens" (8:30 p.m., CBS) - This blue-collar sitcom starring comedian Kevin James is about a parcel delivery man in Queens. It has the same stereotypes and a similar story line to a failed ABC midseason series, "That's Life." In both, the workingman just wants a room of his own in which to watch big-screen TV and drink beer. But, when just such a room becomes available in the workingman's house, in moves an in-law. So what's to recommend? The in-law is played by Jerry Stiller, a k a Frank Costanza of "Seinfeld." Stiller may not be enough to save this pack of wrongheaded cliches, but it will be fun watching him try.

"The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer" (9 p.m., UPN) - Here it is: the worst new sitcom of the season. Chi McBride stars as the butler to President Abraham Lincoln - a Lincoln, in this telling, who is having sexual relationships with young women in the White House. Once you get past the Clinton-Lewinsky joke, what's left? Less than nothing.

"Hyperion Bay" (9 p.m., WB) - Not as flashy as "Dawson's Creek" or as emotionally engaging as "Felicity," this WB drama about several generations of a modern-day family in northern California still has a lot going for it with strong writing from producer Joseph Dougherty ("thirtysomething"). Tough time period, though, opposite football and "Ally McBeal."

"The Brian Benben Show" (9:30 p.m., CBS) - Actor Brian Benben plays a Los Angeles anchorman named Brian Benben who is bumped down the newsroom ladder to human-interest reporter when the station hires a younger and prettier face to sit at the anchor desk. To buy into the show, you would have to believe long-time anchorman Benben is somehow deeper, smarter and more moral than the Ken and Barbie clones with whom he works. I don't. But I do think making fun of local TV news types is way too easy; there hasn't been a new wrinkle in the formula in more than a decade. No new wrinkles here, that's for sure. If you were expecting great things of Benben based on his old HBO sitcom, all I can say is, "Dream On."

* "Will & Grace" (9:30 p.m., NBC) - Will Truman (Eric McCormack) and Grace Adler (Debra Messing) were made for each other - except he's gay. Truman is a new version of gay for prime-time TV: a self-assured, confident professional man in a leading role. The breakout character, though, will probably be Truman's gay friend, the flamboyant Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes). I like this show a lot, but then I'll pull for any NBC sitcom that doesn't feature a self-important woman working in the media, as last year's Monday night lineup did.

* "L.A. Doctors" (10 p.m., CBS) - Take this recommendation for what it's worth: I'd recommend almost any series with Ken Olin in it. Here he co-stars as one of four medical doctors - Michael Steadman if he had gone to med school - who are fed up with managed care and open their own practice. I'd also recommend almost any show that rips managed care and HMOs.

Tuesday

"The Hughleys" (8:30 p.m., ABC) - Comedian D.L. Hughley plays a young black businessman who moves his family to the suburbs and then finds himself having a hard time adjusting to the good life. One of two new sitcoms with that theme this fall. Chris Rock is the executive producer, and a lot has been made of that by some. But Rock's involvement is minimal. The credit comes mainly from bringing Hughley to the attention of ABC. The series shows no signs of Rock's brilliance.

"Encore! Encore!" (8:30 p.m., NBC) - Speaking of brilliant, Nathan Lane, who stars in this sitcom about an opera star forced to work in his family's winery due to vocal injuries, is often brilliant. Unfortunately, we don't know if he's brilliant here, since NBC does not have a pilot it is willing to show critics. Big names are no guarantee of a good series. Remember Ted Danson and "Ink"? How about Tom Selleck and "The Closer"?

"Costello" (8:30 p.m., Fox) - Comedian Sue Costello is one of several new blue-collar women in prime time this fall, and there's a lot to like in her depiction of a South Boston bartender who won't give up on her dreams. If they tone down the Irish-Catholic stereotypes and all the yelling around her, this could be a keeper.

"Brimstone" (9 p.m., Fox) - A weird drama about a bounty hunter from Hell tracking down 113 souls who escaped back to Earth. A ton of talent with Peter Horton ("thirtysomething") as bounty hunter Zeke Stone and Michael Chernuchin, formerly of "Law & Order," as executive producer. Added treat: Baltimore's gifted John Glover plays Satan in the pilot. Big problem: a weak and confusing script for the pilot might make the somewhat complicated premise a stretch for some viewers.

* "Felicity" (9 p.m., WB) - By far, the best pilot of the fall. Keri Russell is wonderful in this coming-of-age drama about a young woman's first year at college. Producers J.J. Abrams ("Regarding Henry") and Matt Reeves ("The Pallbearer") have given this series the look and feel of a fine feature film.

"Mercy Point" (9 p.m., UPN) - Here's a new twist on the doctor drama, a sci-fi version set at a hospital in deep space. The patients mostly look as if they just left the spaceport bar in "Star Wars." Joe Morton plays a specialist in diseases of the strangest-looking aliens. This is sad. Why can't Morton get better work?

"Sports Night" (9:30 p.m., ABC) - Baltimore's Josh Charles ("Dead Poets Society") co-stars in the sitcom about a nightly sportscast just like the one on ESPN. Is this synergy or what - with both ABC and ESPN owned by Disney? Clever and crisp dialogue, interesting characters, but I hate the values it's selling in its celebration of the workplace as the most important thing in life. The work done in your workplace, guys, is reading sports scores, not cancer research.

Wednesday

"Seven Days" (8 p.m., UPN) - The president and vice president are killed in a kamikaze bombing of the White House. But there's a chance to restore order through time travel. A former CIA operative, now imprisoned, is chosen to go back in time. Jonathan La Paglia plays the hero. Where does UPN come up with this stuff, and why do they inflict it on the rest of us?

"Maggie Winters" (8:30 p.m., CBS) - Faith Ford ("Murphy Brown") plays the small-town girl who returns to her roots after the bust-up of her big-city marriage. Ford is a nice supporting player, but this leading role looks to be too much for her. Ford's two or three Corky moves start wearing thin by the first commercial break.

"To Have and To Hold" (9 p.m., CBS) - She's a public defender. He's a police detective. No, it's not Joyce and Frank from "Hill Street Blues." This one calls itself a "romantic comedy drama." We'll have to wait and see if it qualifies as even one of the three, since it is not yet available for preview.

"Charmed" (9 p.m., WB) - Shannen Doherty and producer Aaron Spelling, together again. She plays one of three sisters who find out they are witches. Not nearly as bad as it sounds. In fact, the pilot is promising, though far too uneven to recommend.

"The Secret Lives of Men" (9:30 p.m., ABC) - A sitcom about three men in their 30s who play golf together once a week and serve as an emotional support system for each other full time. Could some men's secret lives really be as dull as those of this trio? Creator Susan Harris needs to make the acquaintance of some new men.

Thursday

"Vengeance Unlimited" (8 p.m., ABC) - Here's a lovely little family-hour show for the kids - a dark, menacing drama about a guy who kidnaps, beats, shoots and otherwise terrorizes people whom he has unilaterally decided beat the system of justice (Yes, Virginia, the connection to O.J. is made abundantly clear.). Even dumber than last year's crackpot vigilante entry from CBS, Dellaventura," which at least aired at a later time.

* "Jesse" (8:30 p.m., NBC) - This is a borderline recommendation, but Christina Applegate ("Married ... with Children") is so much better as a working-class single mom starring in this sitcom than she was as bimbette Kelly Bundy that you can't help but pull for her to make it. Good supporting cast. Great time period. If "Jesse" doesn't make it, NBC could have big trouble on its once gold-plated night.

"Hollyweird" (9 p.m., Fox) - Still listed as part of the new season, but unlikely to hit the air in 1998 (if ever), this is the most troubled new series of the season. Shaun Cassidy and Wes Craven were to be executive producers of this drama about a Gen X couple who come to Los Angeles to do a cable TV show about the dark side of Hollywood, but Cassidy quit before one episode was even filmed. My great fear: Fox will give us two hours instead of only one of "World's Wildest Police Videos" to fill the gaping hole in its schedule.

Friday

"Legacy" (8 p.m., UPN) - There is nothing quite so awful as bad period drama done on the cheap. The time and place of this family drama is antebellum Kentucky. Horses, tobacco and bad Southern accents abound.

"Two of a Kind" (8 p.m., ABC) - Oh no, say it ain't so: The Olsen twins aren't back, are they? Oh, yes, they are, David, and they are more cutesy and precious than ever. I'd give anything for a friendly alien 8 o'clock show - a Mork, a Balki or an ALF. Maybe, if I think of the twins as aliens. Yeah, that's the ticket. Na-noo, na-noo, Ashley. Mary-Kate, phone home.

"Trinity" (8 p.m., NBC) - Modern-day family drama about an Irish clan that includes a cop, a priest and a union leader. Stereotypes are us. OK, there's a sister who's a stockbroker, but, in keeping with stereotypes, she's emotionally unfulfilled. Still, a pretty engaging pilot from producer John Wells ("ER").

"Living in Captivity" (8 p.m., Fox) - The other sitcom about a black family in the suburbs - this one starring Dondre T. Whitfield and created by Diane English. This one is worse than "The Hughleys" because it has other offensive depictions, a castrating Jewish female attorney and a nouveau-riche Italian named Carmine. Maybe English's better days are behind her.

* "Buddy Faro" (9 p.m., CBS) - Stylish pilot about a Sunset Strip private eye (Dennis Farina) who was the toast of the town back in the Rat Pack era, but then dropped out of sight in the late '70s and hasn't been heard from since. He's back now, though, baby, and it's a ring-a-ding-ding time. If they can do what they did in the pilot for 22 weeks, this bird is gonna fly, Clyde.

"Brother's Keeper" (9:30 p.m., ABC) - William Ragsdale stars as a strait-laced English professor raising his 8-year-old son alone. Their lives change dramatically when the prof's wild, younger brother, an NFL football star (Sean O'Bryan), moves in with them in an attempt to straighten out his life. Not available for preview.

Saturday

"Wind on Water" (8 p.m., NBC) - Drama with Bo Derek as matriarch of a modern-day, cattle-ranching clan in Hawaii. The younger members of the family not only punch cows, they surf competitively. Think "Big Valley" in search of the big wave. A very strange show, and it's not trying to be.

* "Fantasy Island" (9 p.m., ABC) - Now here's a series that wants to be weird and mainly gets it right in the pilot, with Malcolm McDowell as a sinister Mr. Roarke in this remake.

"Martial Law" (9 p.m., CBS) - Semi-weird, very violent cop drama with Hong Kong martial arts star Sammo Hung kick-boxing bad guys for the LAPD. This is CBS taking the low road to ratings with "Martial Law" as lead-in to "Walker, Texas Ranger."

"Cupid" (9 p.m., ABC) - Jeremy Piven ("Ellen") plays a guy in modern-day Chicago who claims to be Cupid. Says he needs to put together 100 or so couples before he can get back to Olympus. The lady shrink (Paula Marshall) called in to check him out thinks he's a nut case, but she's kind of attracted to him - you know, the way Maddie was to David. If you are alone on Saturday night and wishing you weren't, this series might be just the ticket.

Pub Date: 9/13/98