the river

Here we are: Fall TV premiere week.

There are some exciting shows slated for fall, including 'Person of Interest' (CBS' Michael Emerson-Jim Caviezel procedural with a twist), 'Up All Night' (NBC's relatable new comedy starring Will Arnett, Christina Applegate and Maya Rudolph), 'Pan Am' (ABC's swinging '60s drama set in the world of mile-high espionage), 'Secret Circle' ('The Vampire Diaries' boss Kevin Williamson's answer to witches) and 'Terra Nova' (Fox's ambitious time-travel dinosaur drama, pictured), just to name a few.

But some of the most buzzed-about shows are being held for January 2012 and beyond, and we're not the only ones taking note.

We gathered a group of esteemed critics to pick their favorite new dramas and comedies -- check out all our videos here -- and the conversation changed completely when we opened the selection up to include midseason offerings as well.

So, as much as people are probably over this common fill-in-the-blank statement, I'm saying it: This year, midseason is definitely the new fall. Check it out ...

We've seen the network's new fall pilots, and while they're not for review -- things often change drastically before the shows are set to premiere -- we do want to share our first reactions with you.

This is designed to get you excited for some new shows ... and to warn you to curb your enthusiasm for others. Just keep in mind that we'll have full reviews of the final pilots closer to airdate, in the fall or midseason. For now, here are our snap judgments of all of ABC's new shows for the 2011-2012 TV season.

There are 12 shows total -- the good ('Good Christian Belles'), the bad ('Charlie's Angels') and the ugly men dressed as women (cross-dressing comedy 'Work It') -- and plenty of varying opinions from Mo Ryan, Maggie Furlong, Jean Bentley, Chris Harnick, Kim Potts and Alexis Moore.

Here's how we're breaking these down:
Watch It - awesome show, can't wait for more
Skip It - it's either horrible or just totally not their thing
DVR It - there's potential, will give it a second chance

It's a new day at ABC, with 13 new shows set to fill the fall and midseason lineup.

Get your first look at the new shows including the 'Charlie's Angels' reboot, fairytale-themed 'Once Upon a Time,' Christina Ricci's first series regular role with 'Pan Am' and Tim Allen's return to sitcoms, 'Last Man Standing.'

Be on the lookout for veteran TV faces such as Teri Polo, Krysten Ritter, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Emily Van Camp and more.

ABC did not release trailers for highly-anticipated shows 'Good Christian Belles' and 'Missing.'

For more information on ABC's new fall schedule, including which night your favorite show will air, check out our post here.

Watch the videos after the jump.

For the first time ever, ESPN is going to show The World Series of Poker while the event is still going on. It won't be live or even same day, but it's a big change from previous years, when they would show the event a few months after it was over. Coverage starts Tuesday night at 8.

I'm a big poker fan. Not playing it (I'd love to but don't have any friends who are into it and I don't have the balls to enter a tournament), but watching it on television. I would have thought the poker craze would have died out by now, but if anything, the TV coverage is increasing. FOX Sports even has a new show coming up where the players will be housed in some dome, with special cameras set up around the table and heart monitors hooked up to the players.