Granted, the season is just beginning and a number of shows have yet to debut, but the fall is almost entirely void of buzz-worthy new programming. In the past couple years, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," "Friday Night Lights" and "Pushing Daises" were anticipated properties entering the fall, and though their quality level varied wildly, they at least brought some excitement to the fall season. This year, J.J. Abrams’s “Fringe” had some potential, but it debuted on Fox last week and seems to be nothing more than the “X-Files” with fewer internet porn addicts and more Mighty Ducks. NBC has a revitalized “Knight Rider” set to debut in the coming weeks, but that will probably only appeal to the type of person who gets excited when they’re in a car with OnStar.

And sure, “The Office” and “30 Rock” are coming back, and “Lost” will be consistently blowing my mind by early next year, but network television’s prospects are pretty dark outside of that. For an industry built on shallow hype, it’s doing a poor job of making me excited about anything new this fall.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go put a hole through my wall.