BIG APPLE

Al Bundy busts heads. That's an oversimplification of this intricately-plotted drama from creator David Milch, of "NYPD Blue" fame, which pits cops and the FBI against break-ya-fingas types. But anyone who's seen Ed O'Neill's performance in the TV movie "Popeye Doyle" knows he delivers the goods when it comes to playing one scary dude. This show met an early death on network TV, but it plays out like a fascinating what-could-have-been, not unlike reading a great author's unfinished work. With Michael Madsen and David Strathairn.

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BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

One of the most celebrated dramas on television, "Battlestar Galactica" is the classic adventure of a ragtag fleet of humans, the sole survivors of a devastating nuclear attack by the robot cylons. Faced with an un-winnable battle against a deadly enemy, they are forced to flee under the protection of their one remaining warship, the outdated Battlestar Galactica. Pursued by the cylons-some of whom have now taken human form-Commander Adama (Olmos) and President Roslin (McDonnell) lead these last remnants of humanity in search of a new home - a planet called Earth.

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KIDNAPPED

Tense, ticking-clock thriller about a bare-knuckled P.I.'s attempts to rescue a wealthy couple's kidnapped son. Although the series met an early demise at 13 episodes, don't be afraid to let the storyline hold you hostage: the producers wisely wrap things up in the final episode. The unusually good cast is another tip-off that this is worth your time: Timothy Hutton, Dana Delany, Delroy Lindo and Jeremy Sisto.

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FIREFLY

Five hundred years in the future there's a whole new frontier, and the crew of the Firefly-class spaceship Serenity is eager to stake a claim on the action. They'll take any job, legal or illegal, to keep fuel in the tanks and food on the table. But things get a bit more complicated after they take on a passenger wanted by the new totalitarian Alliance regime. Now they find themselves on the run, desperate to steer clear of Alliance ships and the flesh eating Reavers who live on the fringes of space.

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FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

Go, team, go! football show. Book, film, now TV, the critics all agree, it's a big thumbs up. Social issues, bring the tissues. Filmed on location, Texas vocation, for the winning cast: Chandler, Britton, Porter, from 1st to 4th quarter. Hey, want to see the ref, penalize in hi-def? Watch Friday Night Lights!

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JERICHO

A nuclear blast devastates the US; residents of a small Kansas town deal with the fallout as they try to determine who's responsible. Viewers were so devastated by the show's cancellation that, in reference to something a character said in the final episode, they mailed bags of nuts to the network. 20 tons of nuts. The retaliatory strike worked; the network shelled out money for seven new episodes, and that ain't peanuts. If that doesn't pique your interest in this terrific show, nothing will. With Gerald McRaney and Skeet Ulrich.

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PHILLY

The City of Brotherly Love? Not so much. Newly divorced defense attorney Kim Delaney is pitted against lowlife clients, obnoxious judges and even her bitter ex-husband, an assistant district attorney who's in no mood to make life easy for her. This sexy and daring Steven Bochco-produced effort had a short shelf life, and even shorter skirts, thanks to the leggy Delaney, but we think it deserves a second look.

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SEX, LOVE & SECRETS

Oh sure, try and pretend like that title doesn't scream "guilty pleasure." Set in L.A.'s Silver Lake area, the story revolves around a group of hot twentysomethings orbiting planet Hollywood, including Eric Balfour, who plays a hunky hairstylist, and Denise Richards, who plays a busty bitch. The fun comes with the revelation of those "secrets"-and finding out who's zoomin' who.

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SIX FEET UNDER

If you've been looking for a series to curl up with but are a little gun shy because you've been burned in the past, we have a recommendation. This raw, sharply-written, wickedly comic show about a family-run mortuary business depicts life as seen through the inescapable prism of death. Buried in accolades during its five-year run, it's flat-out great, from the memorable pilot episode, in which the main characters react to the passing of the family patriarch, to the haunting, unforgettable finale. Stick with this one and you'll be rewarded in the here-and-now. With Peter Krause, Frances Conroy, Lauren Ambrose and Rachel Griffiths.

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SOUTH BEACH

Hot babes, hard bodies, "South Beach" plays like a television show equivalent of one of those trashy page-turners that people read while sunbathing, and we mean that in the best possible way. The plot's about two guys from Brooklyn who move to Miami for-oh, who are we kidding? The actors are so good looking, it doesn't matter. Jennifer Lopez is one of the executive producers. With Vanessa Williams, Adrianne Palicki, Steven Bauer and Michael Paré.

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THRESHOLD

When aliens make the trek to Earth, the US government cracks down on the intergalactic immigration problem by dusting-off a contingency plan codenamed "Threshold." The invaders want to alter human DNA; Threshold scientists want E.T. flown home. Before the storyline could play out, the network pulled the plug, leaving four episodes unaired. However, Universal HD will air all 13 episodes of this "reverse X-Files." With Carla Gugino, Charles S. Dutton and Brent Spiner.

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TOUCHING EVIL

Stateside redo of knockout British series sees brain-damaged, uninhibited FBI agent clashing with by-the-book partner as they track down psychopaths and other violent peeps. The creepiness and character dynamics might remind you of "The X-Files" before it went overboard with the "what the?..." Never released on home video, so catch it while you can. Co-producer Bruce Willis turns up in a small cameo. With "Burn Notice's" Jeffrey Donovan and Vera Farmiga.

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