It's been that kind of year, with fantasy thriving. "Medium" survived by switching networks; "Dollhouse" was renewed, despite awful ratings and (at first) negative reviews. "In the second half of the year, (producer Joss Whedon) really found the show," insisted Fox programmer Kevin Reilly.

There are also four new fantasy shows, three on ABC. "It's funny the way development often works like that," said ABC programmer Stephen McPherson, "(with) certain kinds of shows together."

Or maybe an old trend has revived. TV was steeply ambitious in 2001 (with "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives") and in 2005-2007 ("Prison Break," "Heroes," "Pushing Daisies," "Chuck").

Some were fantasy, some weren't, but all used huge stories and spectacular visuals. "We had some pretty ambitious stuff," McPherson recalled. "(Then) the strike really derailed us."

The 100-day writers' strike was settled on Feb. 12, 2008. By then, some of the more complicated shows had lost their audiences; plans for the 2008-2009 season were makeshift.

Now the old ambition returns. Shows range from young vampires to wise witches; many are big in concept, visuals, emotions and budgets. "There are certain shows like 'FlashForward' that absolutely demand that kind of cinematic feel and production value," McPherson said.

SHIFTING STRATEGIES

ABC prefers to have series — even if it can't guarantee there will be a finale. NBC expects that its post-apocalyptic "Day One" will start in March 2010 and wrap up by the end of the season. "We've always looked at 'Day One' as a big event for us, and not necessarily a show that would be ongoing," said programmer Angela Bromstad.

For ongoing series, there are three new medical shows — CBS' slick organ-transplant hour, "Three Rivers" (8 p.m. Sundays; Oct. 4), NBC's "Mercy" (7 p.m. Wednesdays; Sept. 23) and "Trauma" (9 p.m. Mondays; Sept. 28).

"Mercy" clearly fits what Bromstad calls "the NBC Brand" — shows that are "human first, deal with real people (and are) fundamentally positive."

In contrast, "Trauma" has the high-octane power of rescue helicopters. "We're not going to blow up the world every week," said producer Dario Scardapane, "but yes, there's going to be an intense event."

Then there's the flip side: "Research does say that people want more comedy," Bromstad said.

Beginning Sept. 14, NBC gives the 9 p.m. slot every weekday to Jay Leno. Don't expect it to be his old show, though. "It will be a little bit more intense," Leno said. "There will be a lot more comedy."

That arrives after some years when laughs were scarce. The CW even dismantled its comedy department; it has no comedies this season and considered no comedy pilots.

Still, the others keep trying. There will again be four-comedy nights on CBS (Monday) and NBC (Thursday); each injects one new show. And ABC jumps in with a four-comedy Wednesday.

That concludes with "Cougar Town" (8:30 p.m. Wednesdays; Sept. 23) and another trend — older women, younger men. This season brings lovers in their 20s for Rebecca Romijn, 36; Jenna Elfman, 37, Laura Leighton, 41; and Courteney Cox, 45.

Still, don't expect that to be unanimous: ABC's funny "Modern Family" (8 p.m. Wednesdays; Sept. 23) has a weary Ed O'Neill, 63, married to a zesty Sofia Vergara, 37. CW's "The Vampire Diaries" (7 p.m. Thursdays; Sept. 10) has teen girls romancing vampires who may, after all, be in their 100s.

WILD CARDS

A few TV shows defy category. This year, they also happen to be the year's best and worst shows — somehow co-existing on one strange network.

New Fox show "Glee" (8 p.m. Wednesdays; Sept. 9), which debuted in May, was oddly original and miraculously good. Depicting a high school glee club, it mixed wicked wit, shiny idealism and upbeat songs.

Can the series stay that good? Almost; two of the new episodes show that "Glee" has a tad less idealism this year and a tad more dark humor. Still, there continue to be good spirits and great music. If anything, Sue Sylvester, the satanic cheerleading coach, perfectly played by Jane Lynch, is meaner and funnier than ever.

"The Cleveland Show," also on Fox (7:30 p.m. Sundays; Sept. 27), has a cartoon character from "The Family Guy." It's every bit as awful — blunt and unfunny — as "Glee" is good.

"The Jay Leno Show" on NBC (9 p.m. weekdays; Sept. 14) is the most important show of the season, in quantity and in impact, but we'll have to wait to see what it's like. It airs almost live, trying to deliver an hour stuffed mostly with comedy, with occasional music and talk.