The Futon Critic always has a great rundown of the new fall pilots, with summaries and cast and crew lists. Here's what I think looks promising (and will, thus, fail to make the fall schedules):

NBC http://www.thefutoncritic.com/devwatch. ... &daycode=2

20 Good Years: a multi-camera comedy with two great actors, Jefftey Tambor and John Lithgow. It doesn't sound groundbreaking, but it could be funny.

Andy Barker, PI: Andy Richter single camera private eye comedy. Could be good.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: This'll be awesome.

I don't have time to sift through the other networks, but here's the links:

ABC: http://www.thefutoncritic.com/devwatch. ... &daycode=2

CBS: http://www.thefutoncritic.com/devwatch. ... &daycode=2

FOX: http://www.thefutoncritic.com/devwatch. ... &daycode=2

CW: http://www.thefutoncritic.com/devwatch. ... &daycode=2

And will be canceled within the year, even if it is good.

I'll definitely be watching 20 Good Years. I must try to get my Arrested Development fix in any way I can.

Studio 60 has been the only pilot to stick in my mind since it first hit the pilot news a few months ago. I'm heavily anticipating it. I loved Sports Night, but haven't liked The West Wing much. Aaron Sorkin is hit and miss, so it's hard to tell how it'll turn out. I'm hoping good.

It's a comedy that's too good to be funny!

Shut up, and lick the frog.

Is it that good? I only saw a few episodes of it. It was alright. I think the episode was about some girl named Pixey or something

ABC
Possible Hits

UNTITLED PATRICIA HEATON PROJECT (ABC) - Desperate Housewives vein with big stars [ Jenny McCarthy, Mo Collins, Patricia Heaton...in terms of tv anyway with LESS THAN PERFECT writers.]
20 QUESTIONS (ABC) - Good concept
SIX DEGREES (ABC)
MR. & MRS. SMITH (ABC) - no brainer. A big start is almost assured.
SECRETS OF A SMALL TOWN (ABC) = DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES ALL OVER AGAIN. One season then cancellation.
BROTHERS & SISTERS (ABC) - Great cast. A LOT of Alias cast and crew involved.
HOUSE DIVIDED, A (ABC) - Bird York is in this Im bias.

The thing with the people from Alias is they must know that whatever they are doing after the show just wont compare.

Jenny Mccarthy is tv poison so that show will be gone in less than a month. Other than that not too bad of a line up for ABC

But I thought you liked Family Guy.

But think of the first two seasons of West Wing, before Aaron Sorkin freaked out because of 9/11, and then left. Now that is some really good tv.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip sounds the most promising so far, but it's still early.

NBC's Heroes (it's supposedly Lost-ish, a bunch of regular people discover they have superhero powers) also sounds good.

BROTHERS & SISTERS looks great.

Some of CBS' shows seem like sure-fire candidates to make it onto the schedule, especially Shark (James Woods as a celebrity attorney-turned-prosecutor) and Smith (inner workings of a team of criminals, starring Ray Liotta, Virginia Madsen and Amy Smart among others).

Virginia Madsen is going to tv? Wow....

Studio 60 has piqued my interest since day one.

That Smith show looks interesting.

I'm looking forward to Brothers & Sisters. Rachel Griffiths is in it.

But I do!! I was just referencing the frog-licking episode, where your quote came from!

Aww, there there.

What sounds interesting to me...

NBC

Andy Barker, P.I. - Sounds funny, and Andy Rihter Controls the Universe was a hilarious show... Too bad it got cancelled.

Community Service - If done well could be a mix of Gilmore Girls & Northern Exposure, and just a right dose of Everwood. And that would be cool.

Heroes - I like supernatural shows, and everytime I hear about some new supernatural show I always believe it will be great.

Lipstick Jungle - I hope this leans more toward Sex & the City as it promises, that The Bad Girl's Guide.

ABC

60 Minute Man - I already wonder where he loses one hour a day...

October Road - Small town against one man. It could be funny. And also very sad...

Secrets of a Small Town - We all love other people's dirty little secrets. If written good, could be good.

CBS

Nothing really caught my eye...

The CW

Aquaman - The only thing I like, and the only new CW show I've heard about. Others seem ordinary...

FOX

All these shows seem FOX-unlike. And all seem boring.

October Road will die quickly. It just seems too generic to be a hit. What about Brian run

So I've been hearing some speculation NBC may move ER (after 12 years) to another night during the week in order to position Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip at the 10 pm slot on Thursdays.

Why would they do that? I mean, it's not like The Office is a great lead in. Especially to a 1 hour drama.

They think ER will be more compatible after a Law & Order: SVU or something of the sort, I believe.

Eh, ER is dead. The only people who will watch yet another season are the people currently watching it. A better lead in won't help at this stage. They should give the new shows the good lead ins so they have a chance to survive.

Well, didn't ER start on Thursdays and started with a huge bang, like Desperate Housewives or Grey's Anatomy? I know the 2-hour comedy block was much stronger back then, but that doesn't mean ER was going to take off. I think NBC is relying HEAVILY on word-of-mouth giving Studio 60 over 15 million viewers for its premiere, which is a bit risky. But I think it could work.

And, it could fail horribly.

And, The Office (and Earl) aren't necessarily staying on Thursdays.

As long as they don't move to Tuesdays, I'm happy.