For some years now, quite consistently ALL the most interesting new shows [other than South Park] have come from the Fox network. Comedy [Titus, Bernie Mac, Malcolm in the Middle, Wanda at Large, Greg the Bunny], drama [The Shield, 24, Buffy, Dark Angel, and most obviously animation [King of the Hill, Futurama].

This comes mostly from simply the courage to try something different. Again and again Fox tries things that are highbrow, lowbrow, quirky and askew from the most obvious. This report from the Kansas City Star about a presentation on the new network shows for the advertisers again underscores this point- and makes me interested in seeing some of these.

The difference between Fox versus a normal (ie dull, stale) network comes out best in comparing two similarly themed shows presented for next fall.

Every year, it seems there are two shows introduced by two networks that bear uncanny resemblances to each other. This year, the too-close-to-be-a-coincidence programs are ``Joan of Arcadia,'' a CBS program about a teenage girl who receives messages from God; and ``Wonderfalls,'' a show Fox will introduce in January, which Berman said was something like ``Touched by a Loony Angel.'' It's about a 20-something girl who receives supernatural messages from the souvenirs she sells at Niagara Falls. While ``Joan'' is earnest and touching, ``Wonderfalls'' is filled with quirky characters and funny plot twists.

Which one of those shows might actually turn out to be interesting? Let me suggest that CBS needs "earnest and touching" broke off up in them. This sounds like some more bland, mushy Touched by an Angel crap to replace the very tired and lame from the start show that we have only just gotten the hell rid of. The Wonderfalls show, however, might have some personality, some oddly personal perspective and style. It might just turn out to be stupid, like The Pitts. But the premise starts out off-kilter enough to see that it's going to be different from anything else going. I for one will be interested in giving it a shot.

On the other hand, there are still more people every week watching Everybody Loves Raymond than ever watched the late, lamented Titus- which died on the vine, so what do I know from a hit?