The Rising and Falling

Fall's not the only season that started last month.

It's also the time for new TV series to start their first season and old TV shows to start up their next season. New and even returning series face the question of, how long this show will last? With so many shows to choose from it's hard to find the appropriate teen show to watch. Some are becoming automatic hits while others may never even make it to the limelight, but the futures of all are uncertain.

The most popular channels for primetime TV shows are ABC (9), ABC Family (20), NBC (3), The CW (6), and Fox (8). The channels are airing over 40 shows this fall.

"I watch some shows," says Jamesville-DeWitt High School sophomore Clare Simizon. "I follow 'Gossip Girl' and in the summer, "˜The Real World'." However, she admits that now there's very little time available to just sit back and watch an hour of TV on a school night.

On the other hand, J-DHS freshman, Andrew Scibilia, says he finds time before and after dinner to watch TV. He watches numerous shows including "Family Guy," "The Simpsons," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "Bones," and "Lie to Me." Of the Fox series, "Bones" and "Lie to Me," Scibilia says, "I like the mystery in it. It's got a lot of suspense."

Contrary to Scibilia, J-DHS freshman Carsen Skeele, says one of the shows he dislikes is "Bones." "It gets a little too dramatic sometimes," he says.

NBC and ABC seem to carry some of the most popular television shows. On Sept. 20, NBC's "30 Rock" was the top winner at the Emmy's. NBC also airs "Heroes," "Law and Order," "The Office," the reality show "The Biggest Loser," and new this fall are "Trauma," and "Mercy."

J-DHS juniors Lilly Rizzo and Katie Murphy both watch "The Office." "When I first watched "˜The Office' I hated it, but then I kept watching and after a few episodes I loved it," says Rizzo. She also says this show takes an "acquired specific kind of humor."

"'The Office' is equal to amazingness," Murphy says. After the premiere of "The Office" on Sept 17 both girls said exactly the same thing: "The premiere (of this season) wasn't my favorite episode, but it was still pretty funny."
Long lasting shows aren't unusual for ABC. This fall

"Grey's Anatomy" will be starting its sixth season and "Scrubs" will be going into its ninth season. In January "Lost" will be starting its sixth and final season. Skeele has watched "Lost" in past seasons and says, "I like the suspense of it."

In addition there are at least four new shows starting this fall on ABC. These shows include "Cougar Town," "Eastwick," "Flash Forward," and "The Forgotten."

Other returning shows on ABC are "Brothers and Sisters," "Castle," "Private Practice," and "Ugly Betty." On ABC Family the shows "Greek," "Lincoln Heights," and "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" will be starting a new season this fall and the summer series "10 Things I Hate About You" will continue.