After Buffy the Vampire Slayer ended, I stopped watching television. I've never earned enough money to invest in cable so premium shows like the Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Carnivale, Weeds, etc. all had to have been watched when they made it to DVD. The fact is, I never got into crime shows or medical shows or courtroom drama shows. I don't like the merry-go-round of characters on them and the crime reenactment scenes that have become popular on shows such as CSI and Bones.

This fall season, as I finally have the time to sit around and watch more television, I've become intrigued by the more character driven dramas that have returned to television. Even more importantly, the networks have bought into the idea behind sites like YouTube.com and started featuring weekly episodes on their web sites so that viewers can watch them online. I almost enjoy watching the show online more because there there aren't regular commercials.

Anyway, back to the reason I like TV again. Aside from guilty pleasures like Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy, I have discovered three shows worth watching: Ugly Betty and Heroes. Ugly Betty is based on a Colombian telenovela that became an internation success. My roommate, who happens to be Colombian and interestingly enough lived in the same apartment building as the original Colombian actress who played Betty La Fea, made me watch episodes, and the Colombian soap is impossible to beat. However, after watching the American adaption, there are some very good things going on. America Ferrara is on the brink of becoming a superstar. She carried that first episode off with charm, moxie, and determination. Add to that Eric Mabius (whom I have loved since he was the bad boy in Welcome to the Dollhouse) and this show can definitely grow into itself. It has the potential to be a fantastic show, perenially nominated and recognized perhaps as a cult hit. That's what I hope for anyway. Add to that a cameo appearance from Gina Gershon in the premiere, and you have me hooked.

The only two reasons I watched Heroes were because of Ali Larter and the fact that it was about superheroes. I wasn't disappointed. In fact, Adrian Pasdar is also on the show, and I like him a lot too. The cast is great and the premise is cool. They don't jip on the special effects either and it promises to be dark. So this one is flying on my radar.

I hope neither of these shows goes the way of My So-Called Life or Freaks and Geeks, two worthwhile shows that got the ratings ax.