The only thing networks like more than introducing new shows is fiddling with old ones.
Take, for example, "The Naked Truth." When it premiered on ABC two years ago, it was a rather risque sitcom about a down-and-out photographer (Tea Leoni) who went to work for a sleazy supermarket tabloid.Then NBC grabbed the show and cleaned it up - toning it down, making the tabloid respectable and bringing in George Wendt as the new boss. Leoni's character became an advice columnist.
For this fall, Wendt and most of the rest of the supporting cast have been dropped. Those that remain (Leoni, Holland Taylor and Mark Roberts) get new jobs - for a sleazy supermarket tabloid. Leoni will now play a reporter, and new cast members include Christ Elliott, Tom Verica and Amy Hill.
Oh, and the show - which began on Wednesdays and then moved to Thursdays - is now seen on Mondays.
While that may seem like enough changes for an entire network, "The Naked Truth" is but one of the returning shows that will be at least a bit different this fall. And one of 26 moving to new nights, times or networks.
Here's a run-down:
Beverly Hills, 90210: Vincent Young joins the cast as the latest hunk - and love interest for Valerie. Hilary Swank comes aboard as a single mother who gets involved with Steve.
Boy Meets World: Matthew Lawrence ("Brotherly Love") joins the cast as Eric's college roommate - who turns out to be Shawn's half-brother.
Caroline in the City: At the corner's of this year's romantic triangle are Caroline (who poured her heart out to Richard in a message on his answering machine), Richard and his girlfriend, Julia.
Chicago Hope: Dr. Shutt suffers a life- and career-threatening brain aneurysm; Dr. Kate Austin goes looking for a new job.
Clueless: After getting the ax from ABC, the show has moved to UPN.
Cosby: Erica and Griffin move in with Hilton and Ruthie - and a day-care center opens next door.
Cybill: Danny Masterson joins the cast as Maryann's son and Zoe's boyfriend, and Cybill will be reunited with an old boyfriend (Peter Coyote).
Dr. Quinn: John Schneider ("Dukes of Hazzard") joins the cast as Sully's friend, who has feelings for Michaela.
Early Edition: Gary is now the proprietor of McGinty's bar, and Chuck and Marissa work for him.
Ellen: Ellen will search for a career she can feel passionate about.
ER: Maria Bello becomes a regular cast member. Alex Kingston ("Moll Flanders") comes aboard as a visiting British surgeon. Also, Carter suffers a career setback; Weaver is named acting chief of Emergency Services; and Ross and Hathaway renew their romance.
Everybody Loves Raymond: We'll see more of Ray's workplace (he's a sportswriter) and see him interview real-life sports figures.
Fired Up: Francesca P. Roberts joins the cast as a regular, reprising her recurring roll as the cynical unemployment office worker.
Frasier: Niles goes into intensive therapy with his unseen estranged wife, Maris; Roz faces a life-changing event; and some of Martin's blue-collar relatives pay the Cranes a visit.
Home Improvement: Tim encounters a midlife crisis.
Homicide: Life on the Street: Melissa Leo and Max Perlich have been written out, and John Seda, Peter Gerety and Callie Thorne all sign on as new detectives.
JAG: Karri Turner joins the cast as an ensign who gets involved with Bud.
Just Shoot Me: Expect to see a number of real-life, big-name supermodels make guest appearances.
Living Single: Mel Jackson joins the cast as the new roommate, a struggling songwriter.
Mad About You: Paul and Jamie take on the role of parents. Cynthia Harris and Louis Zorich become regulars as Paul's parents.
Melrose Place: Jamie Luner ("Savannah") and Linden Ashby ("Spy Game") join the cast a a recently divorced couple who stir things up for the returning regulars. Original cast member Doug Savant will be shoving off shortly.
Men Behaving Badly: Ron Eldard and Justine Bateman are being written out. Ken Marino ("The State") moves in as Jamie's new roommate, and Jenica Bergere ("Ink") is their new neighbor. And Dina Spyby is now a series regular.
Murphy Brown: The show not only moves to Wednesdays after nine years on Mondays, but takes on a serious subject - Murphy will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
The Nanny: Expect more big guest stars - like Elton John, Roseanne and Chevy Chase.
Nash Bridges: Kelly Hu joins the cast as a tough, hard-edged cop.
NewsRadio: An efficiency expert will shake things up at the station in a three-episode story arc.
Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher: This show is bringing on an all-new supporting cast. Nick is still a teacher, but now he's teaching a group of high-school misfits. Jane Sibbett ("Friends") is Nick's new boss.
NYPD Blue: Andrea Thompson and her character, Det. Jill Kirkendall, become regulars this season.
The Practice: Lara Flynn Boyle comes aboard as an assistant D.A. and love interest for Bobby Donnell.
The Pretender: Pamela Gidley joins the cast as an operative from the Centre who's out to eliminate both Jarod and Miss Parker.
Profiler: Heather McComb becomes a series regular, playing Malone's troubled teenage daughter, Frances. And a thrill-seeking cop joins the team.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Martin Mull joins the cast as Sabrina's suspicious vice principal; Lindsay Sloane comes aboard as the insecure Valerie; and Alimi Ballard will play The Quizmaster - a witch testing Sabrina before she can acquire her witch's license.
Seinfeld: Word is that they're looking for an actress to play a look-alike to George's late fiancee, Susan.
Spin City: The mayor gets divorced, and Mike's secretary, Janelle, is promoted to become the mayor's assistant.
Star Trek: Voyager: Jennifer Lien is leaving the cast; Jeri Ryan comes aboard as a former Borg.
Suddenly Susan: Susan will be pursued by her boss, Jack (who goes through a messy divorce). There's also a new investigative reporter (Andrea Bendewald) at the magazine.
3rd Rock from the Sun: Various obstacles will be put in the way of Dick and Mary's romance - including an appearance by Rose-anne as Dick's alien "fiancee" in the season premiere.
Touched by an Angel: Two new angels join the cast, played by Chris Burke ("Life Goes On") and Alexis Cruz.
Unhappily Ever After: Stephanie Hodge is being written out - her character will be killed but will return occasionally as a ghost.
Walker, Texas Ranger: Walker takes a young boy with AIDS under his wing.
*****
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Premiere dates
Here are the dates when returning shows begin their new seasons.
MONDAY, AUG. 25
In the House (7 p.m., UPN/14)
Malcolm & Eddie (7:30 p.m., UPN/14)
Sparks (8:30 p.m., UPN/14)
TUESDAY, AUG. 26
Moesha (7 p.m., UPN/14)
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 3
Star Trek: Voyager (8 p.m., UPN/14)
SATURDAY, SEPT. 6
Cops (7 p.m., Fox/13)
America's Most Wanted (8 p.m., Fox/13)
SUNDAY, SEPT. 7
Nick Freno (6 p.m., WB/30)
The Parent 'Hood (6:30 p.m., WB/30)
Jamie Foxx (7 p.m., WB/30)
Unhappily Ever After (7:30 p.m., WB/30)
MONDAY, SEPT. 8
Melrose Place (7 p.m., Fox/13)
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10
Beverly Hills, 90210 (7 p.m., Fox/13)
The Sentinel (7 p.m., UPN/14)
Sister, Sister (7 p.m., WB/30)
Smart Guy (7:30 p.m., WB/30)
Steve Harvey (8:30 p.m., WB/30)
THURSDAY, SEPT. 11
Living Single (7 p.m., Fox/13)
MONDAY, SEPT. 15
Cosby (7 p.m., CBS/2)
7th Heaven (7 p.m., WB/30)
Cybill (8 p.m., CBS/2)
Buffy the Vampier Slayer (8 p.m., WB/30)
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17
Party of Five (8 p.m., Fox/13)
The Wayans Bros. (8 p.m., WB/30)
FRIDAY, SEPT. 19
Family Matters (7 p.m., CBS/2)
Millennium (8 p.m., Fox/13)
Step by Step (8:30 p.m., CBS/2)
Nash Bridges (9 p.m., CBS/2)
SATURDAY, SEPT. 20
The Practice (9 p.m., ABC/4)
SUNDAY, SEPT. 21
Touched by an Angel (7 p.m., CBS/2)
The Simpsons (7 p.m., Fox/13)
King of the Hill (7:30 p.m., Fox/13)
MONDAY, SEPT. 22
Suddenly Susan (7 p.m., NBC/5)
Everybody Loves Raymond (7:30 p.m., CBS/2)
Fired Up (7:30 p.m., NBC/5)
Caroline in the City (8 p.m., NBC/5)
The Naked Truth (8:30 p.m., NBC/5)
TUESDAY, SEPT. 23
JAG (7 p.m., CBS/2)
Mad About You (7 p.m., NBC/5)
Clueless (7 p.m., UPN/14)
NewsRadio (7:30 p.m., NBC/5)
Home Improvement (8 p.m., ABC/4)
Frasier (8 p.m., NBC/5)
Just Shoot Me (8:30 p.m., NBC/5)
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24
Spin City (7 p.m., ABC/4)
Drew Carey (8 p.m., ABC/4)
3rd Rock from the Sun (8 p.m., NBC/5)
Ellen (8:30 p.m., ABC/4)
Law & Order (9 p.m., NBC/5)
THURSDAY, SEPT. 25
Promised Land (7 p.m., CBS/2)
Friends (7 p.m., NBC/5)
Seinfeld (8 p.m., NBC/5)
ER (9 p.m., NBC/5)
FRIDAY, SEPT. 26
Sabrina (7 p.m., ABC/4)
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27
Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman (7 p.m., CBS/2)
Early Edition (8 p.m., CBS/2)
Walker, Texas Ranger (9 p.m., CBS/2)
SUNDAY, SEPT. 28
Men Behaving Badly (7 p.m., NBC/5)
TUESDAY, SEPT. 30
Soul Man (7 p.m., ABC/4)
NYPD Blue (9 p.m., ABC/4)
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1
The Nanny (7 p.m., CBS/2)
Murphy Brown (7:30 p.m., CBS/2)
Chicago Hope (9 p.m., CBS/2)
FRIDAY, OCT. 3
Boy Meets World (7:30 p.m., ABC/4)
FRIDAY, OCT. 17
Homicide: Life on the STreet (9 p.m., NBC/5)
SATURDAY, NOV. 1
The Pretender (7 p.m., NBC/5)
Profiler (9 p.m., NBC/5)