Guide to October 2008 Series Premieres

THE EX LIST (CBS)
Premieres: Friday, Oct. 3 at 9:00 PM
Time slot: Fridays at 9:00 PM
A comedic drama about a woman (Elizabeth Reaser, Grey’s Anatomy) who begins to revisit her past relationships after she’s told by a psychic that she’s already dated her future husband and if she doesn’t find him in the next year, she’ll remain alone forever. Co-starring Rachel Boston (American Dreams), Adam Rothenberg (Mad Money), Alex Breckenridge (Dirt), and Amir Talai (Campus Ladies). From executive producers Diane Ruggiero (Veronica Mars) and Jonathan Levin (Charmed), although Ruggiero has recently exited the series.

SANCTUARY (Sci Fi)
Premieres: Friday, Oct. 3 at 9:00 PM
Time slot: Fridays at 10:00 PM
This science fiction drama centers on a scientist (Amanda Tapping, Stargate SG-1) who tracks strange and mysterious creatures living among us. The series, which began as a high-definition web series, is shot entirely against a green screen, in the vein of movies like 300 and Sin City. Exec produced by Damian Kindler (Stargate SG-1) and Martin Wood (Stargate Atlantis) and co-starring Emilie Ullerup (Battlestar Galactica), Robin Dunne (Dead Like Me), Christopher Heyerdahl (Stargate Atlantis) and Ryan Robbins (Battlestar Galactica).

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS (Cartoon Network)
Premieres: Friday, Oct. 3 at 9:00 PM
Time slot: Fridays at 9:00 PM
In the signature style of Lucasfilm Animation, this series chronicles the adventures of Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Ahsoka Tano and other favorite Star Wars characters as they struggle against the dark side during the divisive, action-packed Clone Wars. Each week, a new story in the galaxy-changing Clone Wars comes to center stage, brought to the screen by supervising director Dave Filoni and executive producer George Lucas.

IN HARM’S WAY (The CW)
Premieres: Sunday, Oct. 5 at 6:00 PM
Time slot: Sundays at 7:00 PM
This reality series from Craig Piligian (Dirty Jobs, Ultimate Fighter, American Chopper, Survivor) looks at the lives of people doing dangerous jobs. Each unscripted episode will follow the brave individuals who risk their lives in a multitude of life-threatening jobs, including war photographers, oil well cappers, Coast Guard divers and minesweepers.

VALENTINE (The CW)
Premieres: Sunday, Oct. 5 at 8:00 PM
Time slot: Sundays at 8:00 PM
This one-hour romantic comedy stars Jaime Murray (Dexter), Kristopher Polaha (North Shore), Autumn Reeser (The O.C.), Patrick Fabian (Veronica Mars), Greg Ellis (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End) and Robert Baker (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) as a family of Greek gods whose purpose is to bring soulmates together, while keeping their own identities secret. Kevin Murphy (Desperate Housewives, Reaper, Ed) serves as executive producer/creator for the series along with executive producer Courtney Conte.

EASY MONEY (The CW)
Premieres: Sunday, Oct. 5 at 9:00 PM
Time slot: Sundays at 9:00 PM
This one-hour drama about a family that runs a modern, legitimate version of loan sharking–an advance payday operation–features Laurie Metcalf (Roseanne) as the matriarch of the brood and Jeff Hephner (The O.C.) as her middle son, who’s brilliant at his job but conflicted about the nature of the family business. Judge Reinhold (The Santa Clause), Nick Searcy (Rodney), Jay Ferguson (Sleeper Cell), Gary Farmer (Moose TV) and Katie Lowes (The Ghost Whisperer) co-star. Diane Frolov and Andy Schneider (Northern Exposure, The Chris Isaak Show, The Sopranos) serve as executive producers.

KATH & KIM (NBC)
Premieres: Thursday, Oct. 9 at 8:30 PM
Time slot: Thursdays at 8:30 PM
This series is based on the successful Australian comedy series about the most dysfunctional mother/daughter duo in suburbia. Kath Day (Molly Shannon, SNL) is the mom, a foxy, 40-something divorcée who finally has time for herself and her valiant search for love. Kim Day (Selma Blair, Hellboy) is the daughter, a self-absorbed princess recently separated from her husband who finds consolation in stuffing her face. The executive producer/writer is Michelle Nader (The King of Queens) and the executive producer/director is Paul Feig (Freaks and Geeks, The Office).

ELEVENTH HOUR (CBS)
Premieres: Thursday, Oct. 9 at 10:00 PM
Time slot: Thursdays at 10:00 PM
Based on the British miniseries by acclaimed writer Stephen Gallagher, this adaptation from producer Jerry Bruckheimer follows Dr. Jacob Hood (Rufus Sewell, John Adams), a biophysicist and special science advisor to the government, as he investigates scientific crises and oddities. Co-starring Marley Shelton (Grindhouse), the series is executive produced by Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, Danny Cannon, Cyrus Voris, Ethan Reiff and Mick Davis.

LIFE ON MARS (ABC)
Premieres: Thursday, Oct. 9 at 10:00 PM
Time slot: Thursdays at 10:00 PM
October Road’s Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg have stepped in for David E. Kelley as showrunners of this American adaptation of the acclaimed BBC drama about a 21st century detective (Jason O’Mara, Men in Trees) who, following a car crash, mysteriously finds himself working as a cop in the 1970s. Co-starring Harvey Keitel (Reservoir Dogs), Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos), Gretchen Mol (3:10 to Yuma), and Jonathan Murphy (October Road). Lisa Bonet (Enemy of the State) also appears as a recurring guest star.

TESTEES (FX)
Premieres: Thursday, Oct. 9 at 10:30 PM
Time slot: Thursdays at 10:30 PM
This comedy series from writer/creator Kenny Hotz (Kenny vs. Spenny), stars Canadian newcomers Steve Markle  and Jeff Kassel as two best friends and roommates in their early 30s who work as test subjects for “TESTICO,” a less-than-normal product testing facility. In each episode, Peter and Ron are given a new experimental medication or treatment to test, with usually ridiculous and almost always negative side effects.

MY OWN WORST ENEMY (NBC)
Premieres: Monday, Oct. 13 at 10:00 PM
Time slot: Mondays at 10:00 PM
Henry Spivey (Christian Slater, Bobby) is a middle-class efficiency expert living a humdrum life in the suburbs with a wife, two kids, a dog, and a minivan. Edward Albright is an operative who speaks 13 languages, runs a four-minute mile, and is trained to kill with his teeth. Henry and Edward are polar opposites who share only one thing in common — the same body. When the carefully constructed wall between them breaks down, Henry and Edward are thrust into unfamiliar territory where each man is dangerously out of his element. Jason Smilovic (Kidnapped) is the executive producer; David Semel (director of the American Dreams, Heroes and Life pilots) is the director and executive producer.

CRUSOE (NBC)
Premieres: Friday, Oct. 17 at 8:00 PM
Time slot: Fridays at 8:00 PM
Based on the legendary novel by Daniel Defoe, this is the tale of Robinson Crusoe, a young man who leaves his true love to embark on an adventure — only to end up shipwrecked on a remote tropical island for 28 years. His desire to return to his wife and his strong and unlikely friendship with Friday are the only things that keep him sane. While stranded, Crusoe encounters enemies and braves the elements. Equal parts MacGyver, Castaway and Pirates of the Caribbean, this series is an inspirational tale of survival rife with action and comedy, starrin Philip Winchester (Thunderbirds), Anna Walton (Hellboy II), Sam Neill (The Tudors), Sean Bean (The Lord of the Rings), Mia Maestro (Alias), Tongayi Chirisa, and Joaquim De Almeida (24).

CRASH (Starz)
Premieres: Friday, Oct. 17 at 10:00 PM
Time slot: Fridays at 10:00 PM
Dennis Hopper stars in the first original drama series from Starz Entertainment, based on the Academy Award-winning Best Picture. Set in Los Angeles, the series explores the complexities of social and racial tolerance and the meaning of the American dream through characters whose lives intersect and collide. The drama features a disparate group of Los Angelenos, including maverick record producer Ben Cendars (Hopper); impulsive cop Kenny Battaglia (Ross McCall, Band of Brothers); his actress-turned-police officer partner Bebe Arcel (Arlene Tur); frustrated Brentwood mom Christine Emory (Clare Carey, Jericho); her pre-bust real-estate developer husband Peter Emory (D.B. Sweeney, Jericho); former gang member-turned-EMT Eddie Choi (Brian Tee, Grey’s Anatomy); Ben’s street-smart driver Anthony Adams (Jocko Sims, Dreamgirls); illegal Guatemalan immigrant Cesar Uman (Luis Chavez, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles); and cocky, hot-tempered detective Axel Finet (Nick E. Tarabay, The Sopranos).

STYLISTA (The CW)
Premieres: Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 9:00 PM
Time slot: Wednesdays at 9:00 PM
Eleven aspiring fashion enthusiasts vie for a much-coveted editorial job with Elle magazine in this reality series. They work as assistants to Elle‘s Fashion News Director, Anne Slowey, a demanding but well-respected fashion icon, who fires one contestant every week. From executive producers Tyra Banks, Ken Mok, Eli Holzman, Desiree Gruber and Jane Cha.