BY DAVID KRONKE >TV CRITIC

Usually, at this point in the year, we've seen at least one episode of all the new shows that the networks will premiere in the coming weeks.

This year, thanks in some measure to last winter's writers strike, no such luck.

Only CBS and Fox have offered up glances at their new programming, while NBC, ABC and The CW remain disquietingly silent.

There are fewer new shows debuting this fall than in the past. To get you up to speed, we're offering a recap of many of your favorites that left you hanging last spring.

We've also included a list of five performers you'll want to keep an eye on as the season moves forward. The list starts below. Keep in mind these may not end up being the five best performances; there may be some gems in the new shows forthcoming from the tardy networks.

David Kronke (818) 713-3638; david.kronke@dailynews.com; www.insidesocal.com/tv/

5 Actors to Watch

Laurence Fishburne ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation")

Laurence Fishburne is well-known to filmgoers as "Morpheus" in the "Matrix" trilogy and Ike Turner in "What's Love Got to Do With It," which earned him an Oscar nomination. And it may take an actor as formidable as Fishburne to help audiences get over the loss of as venerable a figure as Gus Grissom (William Petersen) on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."

Petersen will depart the series in the 10th episode of this, the show's ninth season; Fishburne will be introduced in episode nine. Details are sketchy about his character - when Fishburne's participation in the series was officially announced last week, his character didn't have a name yet.

And he and the producers even backed off previous reports (that came from CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler, no less) that his character will be a scientist who has genetic traits similar to those found in serial killers.

Fishburne said, laughing, "I have no knowledge of such a biological profile nor would I be at liberty to speak about such a biological profile if, in fact, such a biological profile did exist. I don't know. I'm just really excited that I'm going to be able to join this team. We have a lot of stuff to flesh out."

Prior to signing on to the series, Fishburne wasn't exactly a big "CSI" fan.

"To be perfectly frank, I felt a little stupid and embarrassed that I hadn't watched the show prior to having a meeting with them," he confessed.

But he eventually got around to watching a few episodes, and found them "really, really engaging, and really wonderful, and kind of dark and moody, like the work I've actually been involved in. And I thought ... `Wow! This will work!' ... So I'm very excited."

("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" returns Sept. 25 at 9 p.m. on CBS.)

Rutina Wesley ("True Blood")

In Alan Ball's new vampire fantasia, "True Blood," Tara Thornton (Rutina Wesley) has an abusive, alcoholic mother, a drug-dealer brother, trouble holding onto a job and a poignant, unrequited crush on a guy she should know is no good for her.

And she's the show's comic relief.

"True Blood" is adapted from Charlaine Harris' "Southern Vampire Mystery" novels, which feature Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Pacquin), a small-town Louisiana waitress who can read minds.

Vampires have recently "come out of the coffin" in society, though many still distrust them.

Tara is Sookie's protective best friend so she isn't sure what to make of it when Sookie becomes attracted to Bill (Stephen Moyer), a 170-year-old vampire. Tara's hard, impudent exterior masks her hurt, but make no mistake - she is a survivor.

Wesley, a 2005 graduate of Juilliard's school of drama, manages to circumvent what might be the more clichéd aspects of her character with witty élan. When a character hoping to seduce her tells her she looks good, she replies, "Yeah, I know I do," with a weary nonchalance that's both hilarious and heartbreaking.

("True Blood" debuts Sept. 7 at 9 p.m. on HBO.)

Anna Torv ("Fringe")

J.J. Abrams has a reputation for turning his leading ladies into It Girls. In fact, he has a perfect batting average: Keri Russell ("Felicity"), Jennifer Garner ("Alias") and Evangeline Lilly ("Lost").

So it's a safe bet that all eyes will be on "Fringe's" Anna Torv, an Australian actress who stars as Olivia Dunham, an FBI agent pulled into an investigation exploring the scientific experiments gone awry at General Dynamic, kind of the Halliburton of the technology world.

"It was actually a very long, arduous search" to land upon Torv, said Alex Kurtzman, who created the series with Abrams. "We saw so many people, and it wasn't just quick clicking. And one day we got a call saying, `You really need to look at this tape.' And we all slipped it in.

"There's something that happens when an actor inhabits a part. They're not trying to be that person. They just are that person, and they bring an organic life to the words that you've written.

The minute we saw Anna, we went, `This is who we've been writing for this whole time. We just didn't know it."'

The graduate of 's National Institute of Dramatic Art claims to be enjoying playing the action heroine, though there have been glitches.

"They freaked out when I had to do some of the driving," she recalled with a laugh. "Because I'm from , and we drive on the other side of the street, and (co-star Joshua Jackson) is a little bit scared as I'm looking over the wrong shoulder reversing back."

Torv doesn't look like her career is heading in the wrong direction, though.

("Fringe" debuts Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. on Fox and airs 9 p.m. Tuesdays thereafter.)

Katey Sagal ("Sons of Anarchy")

TV fans who know Katey Sagal as the brazen, vacuous Peg Bundy on "Married ... With Children," the goodhearted Cate Hennessy of "Eight Simple Rules" and even the one-eyed hottie of "Futurama" may be shocked by her makeover in "Sons of Anarchy."

As Gemma, the matriarch of a biker gang that basically runs and sometimes terrorizes a small California town somewhat inappropriately named Charming, Sagal plays perhaps the most creepy, controlling and amoral TV mom since Livia drove Tony to a shrink on "The Sopranos."

Most casting directors probably wouldn't consider Sagal for such a sinister role, and we're not suggesting any nepotism was at work, but "Sons of Anarchy" was created by her husband, Kurt Fuller, a former executive producer on FX's "The Shield."

"I've seen flashes of Gemma throughout the course of my marriage," Fuller joked.

Sagal said of her character, "She's a ferocious mother. She will do anything for her son and for her family, her family being this motorcycle world that she's so a part of. So a lot of that's role-modeled on me. I think I'm a ferocious mother when it comes to my children, but at the same time, she's very different than I am, in that she'd go to any lengths. And when you see the show, you'll realize how far all of them will go in the name of loyalty to their unit," she added. "It's actually a lovely bond. They just have a very deep way of expressing it."

("Sons of Anarchy" debuts Wednesday at 10 p.m. on FX.)

James Corden and Ruth Jones ("Gavin & Stacey")

OK, so James Corden and Ruth Jones aren't just one person, but you can't separate them. They're the creators and writers of "Gavin & Stacey," a profane yet sweet romantic comedy, which began last week, about a young couple who fall in love. They also star as Smithy and Nessa, the best friends of the two lovebirds who kind of find each other repugnant but also can't seem to keep their hands off of each other.

Smithy and Nessa are both loud and boorish in their own ways, but they are remarkably loyal to their pals.

Corden and Jones met while working on the British series "Fat Friends" and began writing "Gavin & Stacey" together while Corden was appearing on Broadway in the Tony-winning play "The History Boys." Corden and the show won 's equivalent of the Emmy Award.

Corden contrasts British and American comic sensibilities: "You kind of make those great sitcoms where six really attractive people all hang out and moan about not getting partners and live in massive apartments and moan about not having any money.

"That's sort of not the show that Ruth and I ever wanted to make. The stuff that interests us holds a mirror up to the world that we care about."

NBC has already announced plans to develop an adaptation of "Gavin & Stacey," hoping for the same lightning-striking-twice luck that brought it "The Office."

Jones insisted that press reports that the NBC deal has made them extraordinarily wealthy are simply not true. "I can categorically tell you," she said, "if you saw my car, you'd know that that's not true."

("Gavin & Stacey," new episodes air Tuesday at 5:40 p.m., 8:40 p.m. and 10:40 p.m. on BBC America.)

Returning Shows

"Gossip Girl"

Wait a minute - do you want the plot or what the girls were wearing? Vanessa (Jessica Szohr) wore a Jenny Humphrey dress in the season finale, but it looks like her romance is over with Nate (Chace Crawford), who is now hanging out with Serena (Blake Lively), who is being dumped by Dan (Penn Badgley), who ... well, you get it. (The CW, returns Monday, 8 p.m.)

"Prison Break"

Michael (Wentworth Miller) finally escaped from the Panamanian prison, hellbent to exact revenge upon Susan B. Anthony (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe) for her role in Sara's (Sarah Wayne Callies) murder. Except now we learn that Sara's not dead and Callies will be returning to the show. Awkward. (Fox, Monday, 8 p.m.)

"Bones"

Zack (Eric Millegan), a member of the Jeffersonian research team, was revealed to be the apprentice to the serial killer Gormogon. Temperance (Emily Deschanel) reacted to the news that Booth (David Boreanaz) wasn't really dead by punching him. (Fox, Wednesday, 8 p.m.)

"Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"

Cameron (Summer Glau), the Terminator sent from the future to protect John (Thomas Dekker), was blown up in a truck. The illegal trafficker Sarkissian might have had a hand in the attack. (Fox, Sept. 8, 8 p.m.)

"House"

House (Hugh Laurie) was inadvertently responsible for the death of Wilson's (Robert Sean Leonard) girlfriend, one of the doctors who had auditioned to be on House's medical team. As Wilson was House's closest (or, really, only) friend, this threatens to isolate House even more this season. (Fox, Sept. 16, 8 p.m.)

"Smallville"

Chloe has been arrested by the government. Kara (Laura Vandervoort) is stuck in the Phantom Zone. Lana (Kristin Kreuk) is dead, and Clark/future Superman (Tom Welling) has been trapped in the explosion caused by Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) of his Arctic Fortress. (The CW, returns Sept. 18, 8 p.m.)

"How I Met Your Mother"

Ted (Josh Radnor) proposed to Stella (Sarah Chalke). (As Chalke's still shooting episodes of "Scrubs," it'd be kind of tricky for Chalke's work schedule if Stella says yes.) At the same time, Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) realized his affection for Ted's ex, Robin (Cobie Smulders). (CBS, Sept. 22, 8:30 p.m.)

"Heroes"

Nathan (Adrian Pasdar) was gunned down just as he was about to reveal the vast conspiracy, or what he knew about it, at a press conference. On the other hand, he also seemed to have died at the end of the previous season, as well, and managed to survive that pretty well. Niki (Ali Larter), too, seemed to bite the dust when she was in a building that exploded. And Noah (Jack Coleman) was incarcerated by the company. (NBC, Sept. 22, 9-11 p.m., preceded by a recap show at 8 p.m.)

"CSI: Miami"

Horatio (David Caruso) was left in a pool of his own blood on an airplane tarmac; his attacker may have been someone on his team who got tired of his whipping-off-the-sunglasses-and-delivering-a-wan-quip routine. (CBS, Sept. 22, 10 p.m.)

"NCIS"

Director Jenny Shepard (Lauren Holly), Leroy Jethro's (Mark Harmon) former girlfriend, was murdered. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Jethro's unit was disbanded – Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) was sent back to Israel, Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) was transferred to a battleship and Jethro was handed a dossier with information about his new team. (CBS, Sept. 23, 8 p.m.)

"CSI: New York"

Mac (Gary Sinise) was taken hostage in the aftermath of a failed bank heist and held for ransom, his whereabouts a mystery. (It was not a good year to be a CSI investigator in a season finale.) (CBS, Sept. 24, 10 p.m.)

"The Office"

Toby (Paul Lieberstein) was getting the hell out of the Scranton bureau, and his going-away party invited all sorts of incidents. Jim's (John Krasinski) intention to ask Pam (Jenna Fischer) to marry him was interrupted by Andy (Ed Helms) asking Angela (Angela Kinsey) to marry him; she said yes, but was soon cavorting with Dwight (Rainn Wilson) behind Andy's back. And Michael (Steve Carell) was instantly smitten with the new human-resources gal (Amy Ryan), and she kind of reciprocated, but when he heard that his ex (Melora Hardin) was pregnant, he offered to accompany her to Lamaze classes. And all of that in one episode? Whew. (NBC, Sept. 25, 9 p.m.)

"Grey's Anatomy"

Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek (Patrick Dempsey) lost all their patients with brain tumors in the clinical trial, but, on the upside, they finally realized they were perfect for one another. Which, of course, was more important than any patients. (ABC, Sept. 25, 9 p.m.)

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"

After Gus (William Petersen) and his team went to heroic lengths to clear Warrick (Gary Dourdan) of the murder of a gangster Warrick believed had killed a stripper he had bedded, Warrick was gunned down outside a diner. Hate to spoil it for you, but Dourdan's not returning as a regular this season. (CBS, Sept. 25, 9 p.m.)

"Desperate Housewives"

The series flash-forwarded five years (which is where the series will pick up when it returns), to reveal that Gaby (Eva Longoria Parker) had become a bit of a frump, with two daughters; Bree (Marcia Cross) had become a Martha Stewart doppelganger, with a cookbook due out soon; Susan (Teri Hatcher) had a new man (Gale Harold) in her life; Lynette's (Felicity Huffman) sons had, unsurprisingly, grown into juvenile delinquents; and Katherine's (Dana Delany) daughter was about to get married. (ABC, Sept. 28, 9 p.m.)

"Chuck"

Captain Awesome (Ryan McPartlin) tried to give an engagement ring to Chuck's sister Ellie (Sarah Lancaster). Meanwhile, Chuck's government handlers - Agent Casey (Adam Baldwin) and Sarah Walker discovered that the someone had been spying on them in hopes of discovering "the intersect," who was Chuck (Zachary Levi), who worked in an electronic store but carried sensitive top-secret government data in his head. With Chuck's identity and life on the line, the government planned to relocate Chuck into a permanent holding cell. (NBC, Sept. 29, 8 p.m.)

"Pushing Daisies"

Before the stylish freshman dramedy's season was ended prematurely by the writers strike (it was one of a handful of shows that didn't resume production after the strike was resolved), Ned (Lee Pace) confessed to Chuck (Anna Friel) that he was kind of inadvertently responsible for her father's premature death, which tends to put a damper on true love. And Aunt Lily (Swoosie Kurtz) confided to Olive Snook (Kristin Chenoweth) that she was Chuck's real mother. (ABC, Oct. 1, 8 p.m.)

"Life"

Detective Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis), who was wrongly convicted of a triple murder and served 12 years in prison before being released, found the real killer in his case, but why remains a mystery. He also found more about how the father of his partner (Sarah Shahi) may have been involved. (NBC, returns Oct. 3 at 10 p.m.)

"30 Rock"

Liz (Tina Fey) had a pregnancy scare, and Jack (Alec Baldwin) abandoned his crummy crony's job in Washington to offer moral support; Liz contemplated having a child for real. (NBC, Oct. 30, 9:30 p.m.)

"Lost"

The Oceanic Six was rescued (in real time this time, not in flash-forward), but that was hardly happy news: Ben (Michael Emerson) informed Jack that his friends still stranded on the island were in for some hard times indeed, and that the only way to save them would be for the Oceanic Six to return to the island, along with the body in the coffin (Terry O'Quinn). (ABC, returns in 2009.)

>David Kronke