This TV Season's Winners & Losers

The new network Prime Time season begins in earnest Monday September 24th. I've picked my favorites, but favorites don't always mean success. Everything depends on where it's scheduled and what other shows it's up against. With that in mind, here's who I think will succeed or fail in their opening time slot.

Monday: CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" will succeed, only because it's in the Monday night comedy line-up that has brought reasonably good returns for the network. NBC's "Chuck" and Fox's "K-Ville", however are going up against that, as well as ABC's juggernaut "Dancing With The Stars". I'm afraid that spells doom for those two. ABC's "Samantha Who?" benefits from being sandwiched between "Dancing With The Stars" and "The Bachelor."

Tuesday: Everything is a returning series on CBS, NBC, Fox and CW leading off, and that means absolutely no chance for ABC's "Cavemen" and "Carpoolers." "Reaper" on CW has gotten good buzz, but has no chance against "House" and the "Dancing" results show. CBS' "Cane" has a good shot against ABC and NBC, whose "Boston Legal" and "Law and Order: SVU" don't garner killer ratings.

Wednesday: All new for ABC with "Pushing Daisies", "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money". The first stands a good shot because "Kid Nation" on CBS and "Back To You" on Fox have both premiered and gotten just so-so ratings. I think "Kid Nation" will run it's course but not be renewed while "Back To You" will survive a full season. New shows have head-to-head competition after that. Either ABC's "Private Practice" becomes a breakout hit and destroys everyone else or it survives and shares success with NBC's "Bionic Woman". Finally, ABC's "Dirty, Sexy Money" should have enough to beat NBC's "Life."

Thursday: The only major new show here is ABC's "Big Shots", going up against "Without A Trace" and "ER". Needless to say, it has no shot of lasting long.

Friday: There's going to be an interesting battle in the middle time slot, with ABC's "Women's Murder Club", CBS' "Moonlight", returning "Friday Night Lights" on NBC and Fox checking in with "Nashville." There are no clear winners here, with Fox the only clear loser. This could be like Thursday, with everybody getting about an equal share of the pie.

Sunday: About the only new thing here is CBS' "Viva Laughlin" going up against "Extreme Makeover", "Sunday Night Football" and the combo of "The Simpsons" and "King Of The Hill." Failure for the new show is imminent.

Recap: Winners: "Samantha Who", "The Big Bang Theory", "Cane", "Pushing Daisies", "Back To You", "Private Practice", "Dirty Sexy Money", "Women's Murder Club"

Losers: "Chuck", "Journeyman", "K-Ville", "Aliens In America", "Cavemen", "Carpoolers", "Reaper", "Life", "Gossip Girl", "Big Shots", "Don't Forget The Lyrics", "Next Great American Band", "Nashville", "Viva Laughlin"

Maybe: "Bionic Woman", "Moonlight"

Makes it but won't get renewed: "Kid Nation"