Mid-Season Premiers

Well, now that we're a couple weeks into the new year, the mid-season TV premieres have rolled out. Below is the list of new pilots I saw this week with a grade. It's looking a little thin new show wise, so be warned.

Episodes, Sundays at 9:30 p.m. on Showtime

Synopsis: This show is being billed as Matt LeBlanc's return to TV, so I found it odd that he doesn't appear in the pilot episode. But what is there is pretty amusing at times. This could work in the kind of odd ball way that "Curb Your Enthusiasm" works on HBO, but only time will tell. It also might be a little too "inside" the industry to be a hit with large audiences.

Verdict: B-

Shameless, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime

Synopsis: Based on a British show of the same name, starring William H. Macy, and produced by John Wells ("ER," "The West Wing"), this show had a lot of hype. None of it was deserved. The show wastes a strong cast on a story that is tough to watch and lacking in depth. You'd be hard-pressed to find a likeable character in the group.

Verdict: C-

The Cape, Mondays at 9 p.m. on NBC

Synopsis: Superhero shows have been all the rage on TV in recent years, but they haven't exactly panned out. "Heroes" fizzled fast on NBC and "No Ordinary Family" lacks cohesion and direction on ABC. Now we have "The Cape." This show has an interesting style and a talented cast, but the first two episodes (NBC aired them in a two-hour block) weren't that entertaining. This might end up being a niche viewership kind of show.

Verdict: C

Lights Out, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on FX

Synopsis: This show centers on a former heavy-weight boxing champ "Lights" Leary. The pilot was the best of the new shows I saw, but it had a little bit of an edge to it. The basic concept is intriguing and the cast works well, but the show may end up being a little too violent for some viewers. Also, unlike some shows designed around sports that are more human dramas, I think this show will be more immersed in the world of boxing.

Verdict: B

Off The Map, Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC

Synopsis: From the producer of "Grey's Anatomy," this show follows a familiar formula. It has a good cast — including Caroline Dhavernas and Zach Gilford — but the pilot was a little cliche and boring. As with most of the Shonda Rhimes shows, the success of this will likely rest on how much you like the characters. In other words, the jury is still out.

Verdict: C