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New TV Shows Play It Too Safe

January was once a launching pad for influential new network TV shows. But this year, the midterm slate is lackluster at best, say media watchers. From a retread of a 10-year-old show, ABC's "Cupid," to more reality shows and crime serials, the schedule abounds with sameness.

The networks are trying to survive, but they're making the wrong decisions for a creative business, says Jeff McCall, professor of communication at DePauw University. "Network executives are like timid poker players. They want to make big money, but they're afraid to put any big money on the table."

Yet compelling forces point to increased television viewing, says futurist Marian Saltzman. When people are losing their jobs and homes at historic rates, everyone gets worried. "When the evening news is full of reports that nobody is safe from a Bernie Madoff or the economic collapse, people look for ways to save money and, obviously, television is some of the cheapest entertainment around," she says.

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