Next, a list of some upcoming TV shows which I think are really worth catching.

Now showing:

1) The Practice ( Tuesdays 10:30pm, Channel 5 ) - It's sometimes hard to imagine that David E. Kelley is capable of writing a show as fantastic as this, when he's also responsible for the ditz-fest known as "Ally McBeal". This new season promises more sensational cases and riveting courtroom drama, as well as a Hannibal Lecter-type killer. Seeing Dylan McDermott on the small screen again is always a good thing too. :)

2) Boston Public ( Tuesdays 11:30pm, Channel 5 ) - Okay, this one's not that high on my list, but it'll be interesting to see how the 2nd season progresses. Set in a high school swarming with troubled teens and stressed out teachers, it tends to over-dramatize situations, yet that's precisely what makes it so addictive. Here's a place where the students ridicule their principal on a public website, commit murder/suicide, get pregnant, or get scholarships.

3) Restless ( Tuesdays 10pm, Channel 5 ) - Touted as the female/Singaporean version of "The Sixth Sense", but will most likely disappoint, as all local English productions usually do. The protagonist looks useless, and so far I've only seen one expression on her face -- that of utter confusion ( it's supposed to pass for terror, I assume ). I'll watch the first couple of episodes for the heck of it, and post my opinions another time.

4) Survivor:Thailand ( Fridays 3pm and 10pm, Channel 5 ) - The review you may have read in the papers is right. This motley crew of Robinson Crusoe wannabes is definitely the most interesting bunch since the Survivor season set in the Australian outback. The pilot episode featured the novel concept of asking the 2 eldest participants to choose their team members, and was made even more unpredictable when the female senior citizen decided to gather all the old fogies into her fold. And within this first hour, I've already identified the heckler ( a long-haired bartender whose name I haven't memorized yet ), a female fire-fighter who pulled a Richard Hatch by stripping naked the first night, a cop who looks like Ricky Martin from certain angles, an Asian called Shi-Ann who calls herself a "she-devil" ( she'd better not shame Chinese all over the world by doing something stupid or disgusting ), a nasty pastor ( who got booted off, darn ), and porn-actor-turned-used-car-salesman Brian. I'm already hopelessly addicted. :)

Coming soon:

1) Scrubs (?October, Channel 5 )- Yet another medical drama, but I haven't done any research on it yet, so I'll post details as and when I find out.

2) Six Feet Under ( premieres October, SCV HBO Channel 60 ) - It's earned rave reviews in the US for its dark humour and portrayal of family dysfunction, so this is one I'm really looking forward to.

3) The Amazing Race 3 ( October, Channel 5 ) - The most gruelling obstacle course in reality TV, where 12 teams race around the world finding clues to their next destination. There's little time for rest, and the stress level's enough to kill you or make you really sick. However, it's yet another Jerry Bruckheimer production, and past countries featured include New Zealand, France, Africa, China and Australia. There's lots of human drama as well, 'cos this competition always brings out the worst in its contestants.

I shall end off with some hilarious lyrics from the song "Daddy Wasn't There", which is featured on the "Austin Powers:Goldmember" soundtrack, and brilliantly performed by Mike Myers.

"When I was first baptized/
When I was criticized/
When I was ostracized/
When I was jazzercised/
Steak and kidney pies/
One hour Martinized/
When I was cir-cum-cised/
Daddy wasn't there."