This season there are a ton of new shows on TV, but only five that you absolutely, positively must watch.  Sure, we're definitely going to check in every week on the sexy stars of the CW's Vampire Diaries and Melrose Place, and we'll enjoy the ladies of Eastwick, but right now, we're talking about five watch-or-die shows.

But this isn't about shows we like and may become addicted to after a while.  This a place for instant attraction, for shows so good that we would sell our own grandmothers to get a look at the next episode.  These five shows inspired that kind of rabid passion, and are the ones that you will want to watch over and over again.

BuddyTV's top five writers and TV fans watched all the pilots and here are the ones we can't stop raving about.


Community
Meghan Carlson's Pick
Premieres Thursday, September 17 at 9:30pm on NBC

In a TV landscape full of remakes, spin-offs and a slew of "same old, same old" sitcoms, Community is a refreshing take on a familiar premise: under dubious pretenses, a smarmy lawyer inadvertently joins a ragtag gang of misfits and wash-ups at a community college, where he's sure to learn how to live and love anew. Smart, self-aware writing and a stellar ensemble cast (including The Soup's Joel McHale, The Daily Show's John Oliver and Chevy freakin' Chase) keep even the pilot's overt Breakfast Club call-backs from getting too cheesy, and it's great to see an NBC comedy that doesn't get most of its giggles from a blundering boss.

To put it plainly: Community is funny. If that doesn't convince you, let the caliber of its behind-the-scenes crew do the trick: the show comes from The Sarah Silverman Program producer and writer Dan Harmon and Arrested Development directors Joe and Anthony Russo.

Flash Forward
Rachel Cameron's Pick
Premieres Thursday, September 24 at 8pm on ABC

Do you like being in a constant state of "huh"? Are you curious about what your future holds? Well once you've seen it you might realize you don't like what you see. ABC's new sci-fi show Flash Forward leaves you on the edge of your seat trying to find the missing piece of the puzzle. And by the looks of things, many of them will be working to change the future...if they can.

If that's not enough reason to watch, remember that after this season Lost will be gone from our lives and this is a perfect show to fill the hole. Not only does it star Penny Widmore herself, Sonya Walger, but Dominic Monaghan is also joining the cast!

Glee
Kim Wetter's Pick
Premieres Wednesday, September 9 at 9pm on FOX

Glee is the most original and most exciting program to come out of network television in years. It's not just a musical... it's a really good musical with wit and heart and passion and glory. Creator Ryan Murphy found a unique way to not only convey what it's like to be in high school, but what it's like to be a human.

Characters are imperfect and life is hard but it's worth it for the moments when you harmonize with those around you, creating a pitch perfect piece of life. Glee is enchanting and deserves to be the most-watched show on television.

Modern Family
Abbey Simmons' Pick
Premieres Wednesday, September 23 at 9pm on ABC

A new, dare I say modern, take on the family sitcom. A surprisingly well constructed pilot with hilarious moments that will have tears streaming down your face, as well as tender moments that may have you welling up for a whole other reason.

Flawlessly cast and incredibly well written, the show is bubbling with potential drama and humor. There is no show we are more eager to tune in to the next episode to see if they can live up to the familial tension and tenderness of the pilot.

V
John Kubicek's Pick
Premieres Tuesday, November 3 at 8pm on ABC

It may not come out until November, but V is worth the wait.  The pilot is as good a first episode as you'll see, combining the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the pilot of Lost with the dense, plot-heavy Alias plot.  Despite the fact that J.J. Abrams isn't involved, this is the logical successor to his work, a show with so many shocking twists and turns that you will instantly fall in love, the same way women instantly fall in love after catching a single glimpse of the dimple-riffic Scott Wolf.

And if that's not enough, the show features an all-star collection of sci-fi alums, with Firefly's Morena Baccarin and Alan Tudyk, Smallville's Laura Vandervoort, The 4400's Joel Gretsch and Lost's Elizabeth Mitchell.



-BuddyTV Staff
(Images courtesy of FOX, ABC and NBC)