• by Ed Martin , June 3, 2011

It's entirely too early to pass judgment on any of the new fall series the broadcast networks introduced during Upfront week, largely because the pilots that have been sent to advertisers and critics have been designated "works in progress" rather than finished series premieres. That's the situation every year, because the networks want to keep their options open. As always there will be reshoots and recasts throughout the summer that will alter a number of fragile freshmen shows. That's the reality of television production today.

Here's another harsh statement of fact: Pilots that don't look so great now aren't going to look much better come September, no matter what changes are made to them. Privately, critics are already identifying the frosh-bombs to come. They are potent and plentiful.

Still, as I make my way through what currently passes for the 2011-12 freshman class, I have to say that, at first blush, this fall's newcomers are collectively more promising than last year's memorably terrible offerings. As a group they aren't as exciting as the fall 2009 newbies (which included "The Good Wife," "NCIS: Los Angeles," "Modern Family," "The Middle," "Cougar Town," "Glee," "Community" and "The Vampire Diaries," plus three eagerly anticipated entries that were later exposed as epic fails, "FlashForward," "V" and "Melrose Place"), but they represent a welcome step forward rather than a sorry step back.

That said, nothing I have yet seen for fall has excited me as much as the one new show we will have to wait until September to see: Fox's competition series, "The X-Factor." The on-camera reunion of Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul will be the new season's most-talked-about event. In addition, my growing interest in "The X-Factor" may have something to do with the fact that the first half of 2011 has been so strong for the reality genre. Kirstie Alley's remarkable progress - from falling down to executing flawless flips and spins -- helped make this season of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" one of its best yet, just as the clever maneuvers and final triumph of "Boston" Rob Marciano made "Survivor" even more intense than usual. The revitalized "American Idol" shook off the doldrums of the last few seasons and delivered at least six finalists nobody was anxious to see leave. Fueled not so much by Donald Trump's blustering about a possible presidential run as the bad behavior of its contestants (specifically Star Jones and Dionne Warwick), NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" emerged as the season's ultimate guilty pleasure.

Most noteworthy of all is NBC's "The Voice," which began in late April as what appeared to be a late-season throwaway only to distinguish itself as an instant winner. Now, in what has to be a first, the best new series of the traditional broadcast season, which ended last week, still has several weeks to go. In fact, as of this posting the live episodes of "The Voice" haven't even begun. What's more, all that exciting new energy surrounding "The Voice" this past Tuesday helped propel NBC's returning summer staple "America's Got Talent" to its best season premiere numbers ever. (The breathtakingly original Team iLuminate is already the act to beat.)

There will be much more to say about "The X-Factor" and every other new fall series over the course of the summer. But I feel compelled to note that I don't feel the same sense of overall excitement about September that I currently do about June and July. Putting aside pay cable, the credit for my growing warm-weather enthusiasm goes to basic cable. USA Network has already started a new season of "In Plain Sight" and June will bring new episodes of its "White Collar," "Royal Pains," "Burn Notice" and "Covert Affairs," plus the premieres of two promising new series, "Necessary Roughness" and "Suits." AMC is still offering new episodes of "The Killing" and will begin the fourth season of its Emmy-magnet "Breaking Bad" on July 17. FX will debut the new hugely distinctive comedy "Wilfred" and the second season of "Louie" on June 23, while its gritty firehouse drama "Rescue Me" returns for its final run on July 13. Over on TV Land, the third season of the daffy delight "Hot in Cleveland" begins on June 15. The promising Syfy adventure "Alphas" starts up on July 11. TNT is about to roll out new seasons of "Memphis Beat" (June 14), "Leverage" (June 26), "The Closer" (July 11) and "Rizzoli & Isles" (also July 11) and will debut its new alien-invasion adventure "Fallen Skies" on June 19.

Now that's a television season to get excited about, in early summer or anytime of the year.