TV with MeeVee: Fall TV Night-By-Night: Tuesday

Tuesday's prime-time lineup features the most doomed hour of television this fall and a tough choice for viewers at 9 o'clock.

Many, me included, think ABC has lost its mind in opening this night with the new sitcoms "Cavemen" and "Carpoolers." "Cavemen," spun off from the Geico insurance ads, is a) bad b) controversial c) really bad or d) all of the above. As you may have guessed, the correct answer is (d). The producers say they're trying to satirize prejudice, but for some viewers at least, they're enacting it. "Carpoolers," on the other hand, is just bad. Some critics predict "Cavemen" will be the first show canceled this fall, although you can perhaps wonder if sheer curiosity might bring enough of an early tune-in to earn it a reprieve. ABC isn't rolling out these two until Oct. 2. Otherwise, the network is sitting pretty with returning shows "Dancing With The Stars" and "Boston Legal," both due Sept. 25.

CBS stands pat for its more traditional viewers with "NCIS" and "The Unit" followed by the new Jimmy Smits drama "Cane," all on Sept. 25 The latter show, about a large Cuban American sugar-cane dynasty in Florida, is more soap opera than action thriller, but still, this looks like a solid if unsurprising evening of television. And there's a lot of word of mouth on "Cane," thanks mainly to Smits and some young eye candy.

The tough choice for those without DVR comes Sept. 25 at 9 p.m., when the Fox drama "House," starring Hugh Laurie, goes up against CW's "Reaper," one of the best and brightest of the new fall shows. "House" is a reliably creative and edgy hospital show featuring a great performance by the British comedian Laurie as the sardonic, tormented American doctor. "Reaper" stars Bret Harrison - the kid from "The Loop" - as a big-box store worker who finds himself working for Satan to capture Hell's escapees. It's frickin' hilarious - like "Ghostbusters" for the iPod generation.

This is going to be a real dilemma for many viewers. The ratings winner may be decided by what's on each network at 8 p.m. - "Beauty and the Geek" on CW beginning Sept. 18, and "Bones" on Fox Sept. 25. The former may be "Reaper"-friendly, but witty forensic drama "Bones" may be growing into a genuine hit thanks to an increasing focus on the chemistry between stars David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel.

NBC has the dismal "Biggest Loser" already underway at 8, which could tell you how the peacock does on Tuesdays this fall, despite the popular "Singing Bee," hosted by Joey Fatone, at 9:30 beginning Sept. 25. The reliable "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" airs at 10 on the same night, bringing more dark, depressing tales of horrible crimes to viewers who are looking for that sort of thing.

THE LINEUP (new shows in bold):

ABC
8 p.m.: "Cavemen"
8:30: "Carpoolers"
9: "Dancing With The Stars"
10: "Boston Legal"

CBS
8 p.m.: "NCIS"
9: "The Unit"
10: "Cane"

CW:
8 p.m.: "Beauty and the Geek:
9: "Reaper"

Fox:
8 p.m.: "Bones"
9: "House"

NBC:
8 p.m.: "Biggest Loser"
9:30: "Singing Bee"
10: "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"