Returning to television as the star of ABC's "Mr. Sunshine," Matthew Perry faces two formidable challenges: First, he must out-grow, live-down, or crawl out of his intimate association with Chandler, his legendary "Friends" persona. Second, Perry and co-star Allison Janney must inspire their audience to forget "Mr. Sunshine" replaces Courtney Cox's hit "Cougar Town." Perry and Jenny benefit from writers' and producers' wonderfully quirky visions of their characters and unusual situation. Perry plays Ben, a character potentially as memorable as Chandler but with far greater depth and much richer melancholy mid-life undertones. Operations Manager of The Sunshine Center, a run-down San Diego arena, home of the circus and lingerie football, Ben learns on his fortieth birthday that his girlfriend is leaving him because he is so thoroughly self-involved he has no love left over for anyone else. Jenny plays Crystal, the arena's pill-popping owner who could become America's next favourite villain on the strength of her thinly veiled racism and despise of children, except that Jenny's consummate skill as an actress redeems her. One Los Angeles reviewer wisely concludes, "["Mr. Sunshine"] isn't perfect; and it won't change the landscape of comedic television right away, even though it's part of a game-changing three-hour comedy block for ABC. But it is taking all of the important steps in the right direction." If "Mr. Sunshine" seems a little wobbly at first, viewers should remember "Cougar Town's" first-episode identity crisis, allowing lots of latitude for Perry's and "Mr. Sunshine's" rapid evolution.

When Sasha Paley wrote her "young adult novel" about weight problems that are all too common in today's youth, she could have more than likely foreseen the popularity of a television series based on the concept. It is an enormous problem for many young people today and by addressing it within the context of a popular TV program it will be seen by many and perhaps help some who are struggling with their weight. A summer camp dedicated to weight loss, Camp Victory is the destination for the cast of "chubbies" determined to lose weight and become healthier along the way to becoming popular in school. Written capably by Winnie Holzman (My So-Called Life) and her daughter Savannah Dooley, the cast includes Nikki Blonsky playing Willamena, filled with resentment for being sent to "fat camp" by her parents, Hayley Hasselhoff is Amber, thinner and prettier than the rest but lacking self-confidence, and Raven Goodwin who plays Becca, bookworm who is painfully shy and becomes fast friend with Willamena. Good writing and a talented cast make this semi reality show well worth watching.

Yet another reality show for television? Now that's seems to be getting to be a pretty old concept until you figure in the producer of this hot television industry based program who just happens to be Kim Kardashian herself! The show is centered around Hollywood and the ins and outs of getting on the A list or being invited to red carpet events. It's all about knowing who to befriend and who to simply ignore. The Spin Crowd is paparazzi at its low down dirtiest and often that's what it takes to make it in tinsel town. Ms Kardashian herself has been sometimes victim and often target of much hype and deception brought her way by those who make their living off "celebrityism" and even though she is behind the cameras for this show, she knows who to ask for help when it comes to getting that head shot seen by the important people in Hollywood. The Spin Crowd shows the viewers how difficult it is to get ahead in the celebrity industry, and talent often has little to do with winning.

DreamWorks TV and producer Steven Spielberg are hoping their latest entry into prime time television lives up to its name. Smash is about the making of a Broadway musical play which involves the life of Marilyn Monroe. But personal conflicts among the cast members prove to be difficult to work with as they deal with the everyday demands of theater life and this musical in particular. Debra Messing stars as Julia Houston who is the co-writer as well as lyrist and song writer on Smash. Messing, formerly seen on Will & Grace, is an award winner with a musical background. Angelica Huston (Prizzi's Honor, The Adams Family) plays Eileen Rand the musical's producer who has to juggle handling a messy divorce along with the difficulty that goes with producing a Broadway musical. Frank Huston, Julia's husband is played by Brian d'Arcy James (Broadway's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) is jealous of Tom Levett (Christian Borle from Broadway's Jesus Christ Superstar), Julia's partner and co-writer of Smash. The actress who finally gets the role of Marilyn is Ivy Lynn played by Megan Hilty from the Broadway production of 9 to 5: The Musical. Plenty of behind the scenes back biting helps keep this production on a bumpy road.

Kenny Powers can play baseball with the best of them but when his career as a professional pitcher is on the downslide he decides to go back home to Shelby, North Carolina and become a physical education teacher. Some may wonder where those coaches come from and this might be a clue. Plenty of pro athletes return to their roots when they find there are only so many positions to go around and lots of excellent potential superstars to fill them. Helping mold and train those brilliant young athletes is what coaching is all about and Kenny Powers plans on doing his best to help build the best. Danny McBride stars as Powers and this Will Ferrell produced television show made for HBO is excellent programming that shows the difficulty and rewards of becoming the best that you can be. The trip back to his middle school and home town give this burned out ball player a new lease on life and is an inspiration for young athletes and physical education in general.

Legendary bad-boy and all-around ace philanderer Charlie Sheen stars in CBS's hit sitcom "Two-and-a-Half Men," inspiring most loyal viewers to wonder how much the show and its situation actually challenge the million-dollar jokester really to act. Sheen plays, just coincidentally, of course, Charlie, a profligate composer living comfortably on the beach in Malibu thanks to his singular gift for making-up catchy commercial jingles. Charlie's steadfast devotion to "The Playboy Philosophy" meets serious challenges when his frighteningly repressed, skin-crawlingly anxious, and obnoxiously too-preppy chiropractor brother moves into the beach house, bringing his adolescent son with him"”both refugees from a Southern California tract-house divorce. Perfectly cast for his role in "Two-and-a-Half Men," John Cryer brilliantly recreates Alan's tics, quirks, and peccadilloes; and Angus T. Jones, television's consummate anti-Disney superstar, makes puberty and cluelessness look (almost) vaguely adorable. Brilliant, insightful, incisive, snarky and sardonic, frequently edgy, deliciously allusive writing keeps the show fresh and relevant"”lots of running jokes and familiar motifs have developed, but nothing ever seems even vaguely old"¦least of all, Charlie Sheen.