Soapy Dramas

If you can easily rattle off the past, present, and secret romances of each and every resident of Wisteria Lane and love catfights, carrying-on, fisticuffs, and family feuds, click through this slideshow for your list of must-watch sky-high drama.Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM

Based on the best-selling book by Candace Bushnell ("Sex and the City"), "Lipstick Jungle" is a sexy drama that follows three high-powered friends as they weather the ups and downs of lives lived at the top of their game. Armed with humor and strength, these modern New York women support one another through the triumphs and tears that come with making it big in the Big Apple. Fridays at 10pm ET on NBCNBC/Andrew Eccles - Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM

"Grey's Anatomy" is the wildly popular, character-driven medical drama that centers around a team of doctors (interns at the start of the series) and their personal and professional challenges. Even though Jeffrey Dean Morgan's character, Denny Duquette, died in season 2, he's returning to the show this fall! Another hunk to look out for in the fifth season is Kevin McKidd of "Rome" fame. He's playing a military doctor who may get into a steamy relationship with Cristina. Speaking of relationships, Meredith and McDreamy may finally be in happy one while Alex and Izzie's season 4 finale hook-up persists, and Callie and Hahn embark upon a relationship themselves. Thursdays at 9pm ET on ABCABC/Bob D'Amico - Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM

Based on the best-selling 2006 novel by Gigi Levangie Grazer, last year's chick flick of a mini-series, "The Starter Wife," followed Molly Kagan (played by Debra Messing), the wife of a high-powered movie studio exec. Molly's not only been dumped by her husband, but also blacklisted by her Hollywood friends and shut out of the life she once knew. Not about to throw in the towel, she enlists her friends to help her reinvent herself at a Malibu resort. Thanks to the miniseries' success, "The Starter Wife" is now a bona fide TV series, picking up where the story ended, as Molly gets more serious about her writing career and even stumbles into new love. In addition to Messing, Judy Davis (who won an Emmy for her role as pal Joan in the mini-series) returns, and Levavngie Grazer is one of the series' executive producers. She should have plenty of inspiration, thanks to her recent split with her mega-producer husband, Brian Grazer. Fridays at 10pm on USA USA Network/Matthew Rolston - Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM

Nick George (Peter Krause) is an idealistic young lawyer whose father passed away leaving behind an empty position as legal counsel for the Darlings, New York's most affluent family. The patriarch of the Darlings presents Nick with an offer he can't refuse--to fill his father's shoes--but is he selling his soul to the devil? From the marriage-obsessed Karen Darling to the Reverend Brian Darling (who has an illegitimate child and is Nick's half-brother), this family is a handful. The sophomore season of "Dirty Sexy Money" will see Lucy Liu joining the cast as Nola, a lawyer. Another new face who promises to stir things up even more for the Darlings is Simon Elder's son. And things get even worse when the Darling matriarch is put on trial for the murder of Nick's dad (and her ex-lover). Wednesdays at 10pm ET on ABCABC/Andrew MacPherson - Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM

"One Tree Hill" follows the lives and loves of a group of teens in the sleepy town of Tree Hill. The show took a risk last season, leaping forward four years to find the group of young friends (and frenemies) struggling in the post-college working world. Season 5 ended with several cliffhangers, including Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) making a call to one of the girls (which one?) asking her to elope with him to Vegas. Mondays at 9pm ET on The CWThe CW/Andrew Eccles - Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM

Behind the manicured lawns and well-tended flowerbeds of Wisteria Lane, secrets and scandals spring up like weeds. "Desperate housewives" Lynette, Gabi, Bree, Susan, Edie, and Kathryn are always stirring up trouble and usually involved in one mystery or another. Last season, the show fast-forwarded five years into the future. Wisteria Lane's resident glam goddess and diva extraordinaire, Gaby, has become a frumpy housewife after having children, Susan is still married but not to Mike, Bree is now a successful Martha Stewart-like author with Kathryn as her employee, Lynette and Tom's boys are now teenagers who are still getting into all kinds of trouble, and Carlos is a masseuse. In the fifth season, you can expect plenty of new neighbors including Neil McDonough who's playing Dave, Edie's new husband. One can only imagine the sort of secrets and mystery Dave will bring to town. Sundays at 9pm ET on ABCABC/Randee St. Nicholas - Tuesday, August, 26, 2008, 7:26 PM

"The Hills" follows "Laguna Beach's" Lauren "LC" Conrad as she moves to L.A. to attend college at the Fashion Institute and the drama that ensues with best friends Lo and Audrina and former BFF, Heidi. The show focuses on the challenges LC faces while she is trying to juggle work, school, and relationships. Mondays at 10pm on MTVMTV - Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM

"Gossip Girl" is the TV adaptation of the breakout book series by Cecily von Ziegesar. Every step (and misstep) that the privileged prep school teens of Manhattan's Upper East Side take is well-documented on the website of the all-knowing Gossip Girl. The second season kicks off with the pretty teens enjoying the perks of their wealth in the Hamptons. Mondays at 8pm ET on The CWThe CW/Andrew Eccles - Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM

This acclaimed series came dangerously close to getting cancelled, but thanks to an outpouring of support from fans, it's been saved, albeit in an unconventional way. The show, which aired on NBC in the past, will now air its third season this fall on DirecTV, and then re-air the season in 2009 on NBC. So one way or another, fans will get to enjoy Season 3 of "Friday Night Lights," the compelling drama which follows the residents of Dillon, Texas, who gather to watch the Dillon High Panthers do what they do best -- play football. But for the rest of the week, life for the dwellers of Dillon is far from just a game. The head coach, the talented players, the faculty, the students, the passionate fans, and their families all face various challenges and obstacles both on and off the field. Returns Friday, 1/16 at 9pm ET on NBCNBC/Mitchell Haaseth - Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM

"Boston Legal" is the darkly comic spin-off of "The Practice" centering around the professional and personal lives of the eccentric attorneys at Crane, Poole, & Schmidt. The court cases bring various social and ethical issues dramatically to light even as the cast of characters bring absurd (and at times surreal) humor to the proceedings. Emmy winners James Spader and William Shatner head up the cast as Alan Shore and Denny Crane. The chemistry between wry Alan and flamboyant Denny keeps the show humming as they and their colleagues push the boundaries of the law to win case after case. When we last left the lawe offices, Shirley and Carl had broken up and after drinking lots of scotch, Denny and Alan joined the Coast Guard. Comprised of 13 episodes, the fifth season of "Boston Legal" will be its final one, where we'll see both Lorraine and Clarence out, Jane Lynch will reprise her guest stint as a sex therapist, Denny gets hopeful news that he may not have Alzheimer's after all, and yet another old flame of Alan's pays him a surprise visit. Mondays at 10pm ET on ABCABC/Andrew MacPherson - Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM

Long before there was "Gossip Girl" or "Friday Night Lights" or "One Tree Hill," there was "Beverly Hills, 90210." Back in the '90s, it was THE hot show for teens (and for plenty of adults too). Now, nearly 20 years after the series premiered, a new incarnation is upon us, dubbed simply "90210." The premise is the same: Two siblings from the Midwest are thrust into the snobby and swanky world that is West Beverly High School and must navigate the town's all-important social scene. Expect lots of hot hook-ups, catty classmates, and daily drama -- along with some familiar faces from the original series. Tuesdays at 9pm ET on The CWThe CW/Art Streiber - Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM

Emmy-nominated "Brothers & Sisters" tells the story of the Jewish-Irish Walker family, beginning with the death of its patriarch, William. After his death, his dark secrets come to light, such as his long-standing affair with Holly; the introduction of their illegitimate daughter, Rebecca; and his misuse of the family business, Ojai Fruit. Left to pick up the pieces are his wife Nora, as well as his children: Sarah, a working mother with a diabetic daughter; Kitty, recently married to Senator Robert McAllister; Tommy, the heir to the family business; Kevin, an openly gay lawyer; and Justin, a war veteran. At the end of the last season, Uncle Saul came out, Kevin and Scotty got married, and Rebecca revealed that she's not a Walker which means that there's another Walker sibling out there somewhere. This season, we'll get to meet William Walker's missing love-child as well as see a couple of new faces as Eric Christian Olsen and Will McCormack are set to join the cast as Sarah's new colleagues and one of the two will get intimate with her. The Ojai family business will undergo major changes as Kitty and Robert decide to adopt, and Justin and Rebecca's relationship grows now that they've discovered that they're not related. Sundays at 10pm ET on ABCABC/Justin Stephens - Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM

The doctors and nurses on this medical drama set in Chicago's rough County General Hospital have seen their share of scandal, calamity, romance, and, of course, medical miracles. Entering its 15th and final season, "ER" should go out with a bang. Perhaps some familiar faces (like George Clooney as Doug Ross) will show up to say goodbye? Thursdays at 10pm ET on NBCNBC/Warner Bros. - Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM

"Private Practice" is a spin-off of "Grey's Anatomy" focusing on Dr. Addison Montgomery, who decides to leave her mistakes behind and start anew. When two old friends from medical school invite her to sunny southern California to join the staff at Oceanside Wellness Center, Addison jumps at the chance for a change of scenery. Finally getting her groove back in sunny Los Angeles, Addison continues her romance with police officer Kevin in season 2 as the varying love lives of the docs of Oceanside Wellness Center come into full attention. Also, Grant Show takes a break from the swingin' '70s for cameo as the ex-lover of one of the doctors. Thursdays at 10pm ET on ABCABC/Eric Ogden - Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM

"Ugly Betty" is the smash hit, fish-out-of-water dramedy about an awkward but compassionate and competent young woman who works at fashion magazine. Funny, campy, dramatic, and colorful, this beloved series addresses the issue of true beauty versus the skin-deep variety. Love was in the air last season when Betty found herself torn between moving to Tucson to marry Henry or going on a whirlwind vacation to Rome with Gio. It looks like Betty will be alone in season 3 as both the actors who play her love interests are not signed up to move to New York with the rest of the show. But that doesn't mean that there won't be love in the future for Betty. Lindsay Lohan will also be reprising her role as Betty's childhood bully in the new season. Thursdays at 8pm ET on ABCABC/Bob D'Amico - Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM

The family-friendly dramedy "GR∑∑K" spotlights collegiate life and the social minefield that is the Greek fraternity and sorority system. The show introduces us to a unique cast of characters as they navigate their way through this treacherous terrain and try to find their places at Cyprus-Rhodes University. The first season ended with the gang hitting Myrtle Beach to celebrate spring break, where Casey and BFF Ashleigh went skinny dipping…but the two weren't alone! How will the Casey/Cappie/Rebecca love triangle play out in the next season? Will Ashleigh find the identity of her CRU Monster? And who else stripped down to their skivvies that night? Tuesdays at 9pm on ABC FamilyABC/Family/Bob D'Amico - Tuesday, August, 19, 2008, 12:19 AM