Networks toutinging midseason programs New shows vying to become next hit

It’s the time of year when the networks trot out their last bunch of contenders for next fall’s schedule, hoping to find another midseason success story such as “Medium” or “House.”

That explains why ABC is giving the character-rich “Boston Legal” a four-week hiatus to free up a slot for the pretty, pastel hospital drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” debuting at 10 p.m. Sunday.

At the center of “Grey’s Anatomy” is Meredith Grey (played by Ellen Pompeo), the attractive daughter of a famous surgeon who is just starting her surgical internship at a Seattle hospital. She quickly makes friends with her fellow interns, who can best be described as the driven one (Sandra Oh, “Sideways”), the shlumpy one (T.R. Knight) and the drop-dead gorgeous one (Katherine Heigl, “Roswell”). They bond while being tortured by those staffers a rung or two up the hospital ladder.

With the voiceovers provided by Meredith and the alt-pop music-laced montages, it’s a wonder that “Grey’s Anatomy” never landed on the WB. Maybe these characters in their early 20s are just a little too old for that network.

Anyway, on today’s TV landscape, “Grey’s Anatomy” seems a little tame next to the freneticism of that old warhorse “ER” or the character-driven “House.” It’s tone is: “She doesn’t like me; she’s mean to me.” Well, wah, wah, wah. The wispy “Grey’s Anatomy” just doesn’t hold up under close examination.

Another trend (well, actually a staple) of TV programming is recycling. While the concept itself is laudable, the results are sometimes an actual waste of celluloid.

Take, for example, “Kojak,” debuting at 10 tonight on USA. Boomers are suckers for the TV shows of their youth, thus this revamping of this forgettable mid-’70s crime drama (what’s next, “Mannix” racing along in a hybrid car?).

This time out, the third incarnation of “Kojak,” instead of Telly Savalas as the big, bald, Greek title character, there’s Ving Rhames as the big, bold, black lead. This Kojak likes kids and jazz and doesn’t like criminals. That’s cutting edge.

The new “Kojak” makes time seem like it’s standing still, not a good thing in this case.

Who loves ya, baby? Not this reviewer.

Dale McGarrigle can be reached at 990-8028 and dmcgarrigle@bangordailynews.net.