saved by the bell the college years

'Conan' isn't TBS' only big premiere this month. Tonight at 10PM ET, you can tune into the first episode of 'Glory Daze', a one-hour comedy set among the crushed beer cans and hand-me-down sofas of a fraternity house ... in 1986. (Read Maureeen Ryan's review of 'Glory Daze.')

The cast is full of fresh faces; the most famous name among the regulars is former 'Saturday Night Live' player Tim Meadows, as the awkward Professor Haines.

But can 'Glory Daze' succeed where other college comedies and dramas -- many others -- have failed? Though series set in leafy quads would seem to be limiting themselves to a four-year run, it could take the Hayes University screw-ups of 'Glory Daze' a decade to graduate.

Let's review some of TV's most memorable attempts to bring higher ed to the small screen. You'll be tested on this later.

It seems like no matter how many years have passed since I last made my way to a classroom, early September makes me want to buy penny loafers and Trapper-Keepers. The fact that I live in a university town probably has something to do with it. For the last week, it's been an endless parade of moving vans, stressed-out parents and loud porch parties. I suppose it's a sign of my age that I now relate more to the parents than the kids -- at least, I feel for them, helicoptering around the dumpy student houses, having no idea the insane things their kids will be getting up to once they head back to the highway.

On the surface, it all looks so collegial and lovely but the truth is, the first year of university -- and especially the first few months -- can be a pretty dark time. For a lot of kids, it's their first exposure to binge drinking, blacking out, date rape, teachers that don't know you exist and doing your own laundry. And despite the potential for drama, it's not something you often see on television.

We've talked about this a lot here at TV Squad: what are the worst spin-offs of all-time? Joanie Loves Chachi always makes such a list as does AfterMASH. So it's no surprise that both shows made Time's list of the 10 worst spin-offs of all-time. In fact, AfterMASH is in the number one slot.

Other shows on the list are good examples of bad spin-offs too, including The Ropers, the Three's Company spin-off that was rather unnecessary; Joey, the Friends spin-off that just couldn't recapture the magic of the parent series; and Baywatch Nights, which always amazed me with the fact that Mitch Buchannon never mentioned to the other lifeguards at his day job on the beach that he was fighting monsters and evil spirits in his night job.

I'm impressed that they not only picked the Spenser: For Hire spin-off A Man Called Hawk but placed it so high on the list, at number three. That really was a disappointing show. Some characters are just more effective in supporting roles.