A big night for USA Network with the series finale of “Monk” at 9 p.m. and the fall finale of “White Collar” at 10.

On Sunday, CBS has the finale of “The Amazing Race” at 8 p.m.

ABC will return “Flash Forward” on March 4, several months before its anticipated summer airing.

MTV gave “The Hills” a sixth season and its spinoff series “The City” a second, Variety reported.

In a world where endless cop shows, doctor shows, and lawyer shows do battle for primetime network TV slots, some shows dare to be different. These shows are quirky, creative, clever, and under-watched. Here I give you a by no means comprehensive list of the best shows you’re not watching.

1. Sons of Anarchy

Hamlet on motorcycles meets “You had me at hello.” A tough-as-nails motorcycle gang keeps the peace and organizes the crime in the town of Charming. Each week the Sons of Anarchy defend their turf against rival gangs, butt heads with city hall, and take the law into their own hands”¦ and it’s all based on the Shakespearean classic. Catch it on FX, Tuesdays at 10 p.m.

2. Glee

“Glee” is by far one of the most delightfully hilarious shows on television. It’s a musical satire about the high school caste system. An optimistic teacher revives the school’s glee club, but has a little trouble on the way with the “Cheerios” captain, his “pregnant” wife and talented kids who don’t have enough confidence. With hilariously stereotypical characters and over-the-top musical numbers in every episode, it’s basically an accurate and serious representation of high school. Wednesdays at 9 on Fox.

3. Fringe

Don’t believe the commercials. If you do, you think that “Fringe” is simply “CSI: Boston.” But spend one episode following FBI agent Olivia Dunham and you’ll find that that couldn’t be further from the truth. Somebody is experimenting on the world, using bizarre science”"astral projection, genetic engineering, pyrokinesis, the works. A team of FBI agents headed up by Dunham called the “Fringe” division (including a real life mad scientist and his son) is trying to figure out why. Each week the unexplainable, unbelievable and disturbing lead our group of intrepid, world-saving believers further down the rabbit hole. It comes on Thursdays at 9 on Fox.

4. Parks and Recreation

Don’t listen to the nay-sayers who claim that Amy Poehler’s “Parks and Rec” is just her playing Michael Scott. Poehler, famous for “Baby Mama” and her various roles on “SNL,” takes her comedy to the next level in this show. Using the same documentary style as “The Office,” viewers get to take a look inside the world of the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Illinois. Poehler plays well-meaning but hopelessly clueless mid-level politician Leslie Knope. She is joined on the cast by fellow comedians Aziz Ansari (“Funny People”), Rashida Jones (“The Office”) and Aubrey Plaza (“Funny People). It comes on Thursdays at 8:30 on NBC

5. Flash Forward

Everyone in the world blacks out for 2 minutes and 18 seconds while they have a vision of their individual futures. Why? No one knows. And that’s not even the weirdest part. Thursdays at 8 on ABC.

Is nobody watching your favorite show? Tell us! In these days of repetitive programming, no good show should go unwatched.

BURBANK, Calif. — Easily one of the most anticipated shows of the season, ABC’s “FlashForward” promises not only thrills but an ensemble cast sheet that reads like a roster for some big budget Hollywood film.

The plot surrounds 2 minutes and 17 seconds, when people all over the world inexplicably experience a power blackout at once. As if things were not eerie enough, survivors of the event discover they have caught glimpses into their own futures, a flashforward. With such such a dramatic and mysterious start, it’s easy for someone to label it offhandedly as a sci-fi series, when in fact the only really surreal element is the blackout itself. After previewing the pilot earlier this summer, it became clear that the driving force will be how individual people take charge in shaping the future. Will some of them fulfill their futuristic visions? Or will some change it?

After the debut of the series, there is no doubt that most viewers will be asking the same questions.

After a series of set visits, our meet up with the cast of “FlashForward” took a different spin. Upon arrival we immediately crossed the threshold of what is the interior of the federal building. The set is impeccable and very see-through, as glass windows encircle the room leaving little room for hiding out.

We sat in a tucked away office on set with Courtney B. Vance (Stan Wedeck) and Christine Woods (Janis Hawk). Both actors said they were excited about the new series.

The cast also includes Dominic Monaghan (“Lost,” “The Lord of the Rings”), John Cho (Harold from the “Harold and Kumar” movies), Sonya Walger (“Lost”), Genevieve Cortese (“Wildfire”) and Jack Davenport (“Swingtown,” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies). The series is produced by Marc Guggenheim, David Goyer, and Brannon Braga.

We wondered how each character’s “flash” would play out.

Courtney B. Vance stars in FlashForward (Blast staff photo/Conception Allen)

Woods added, “And it’s interesting because, as an audience, for some flashes, you know what’s going on. You’ve seen the flash, and it’s interesting to watch the way they are or are not forthcoming to other (characters). It’s like you get to watch some people lie about it, but as an audience you know.”

And while both actors may not always know what to expect for their characters, they conveyed to us their thoughts about it.

“Well, you can’t prepare for what you don’t know, really.” Vance said.

“For me, I kind of like not knowing because in that way you can be in the moment. To not have these (expectations)” said Woods.

When we asked further about working with an ensemble, and whether characters’ storylines overlap at some point, it was interesting to find that for their roles, they’re spread out a bit more.

“Are you in this episode?” Vance turned to ask his co-star.

“I’m in episode eight.” Woods replied.

“Yeah, see I’m in episode seven and eight. I was crazy in episode five, and a little in six.

So I relish the idea that there will be some times when we’ll be absolutely crazy. And since we’re doing two or three at a time (episodes), it’s especially crazy on all of us.” Vance concluded.

“And I think because it’s two episodes (filming) at once, I think it’s a lot easier for them to keep secrets from us,” Woods said. “Because it’s such a puzzle, the way that they shoot the series with so many people, you look at the schedule and it’s confusing. Even if you’ve read the script.”

Vance added, “On top of the fact we may be shooting one, and reshooting another one. So continuity wise, it’s hard trying to get a sense. On Thursday we were shooting four and five, then reshooting five and six. So it’s just crazy.”

Vance with Woods (Blast staff photo/Conception Allen)

For the cast of “FlashForward” it’s easy to see the friendly vibes among them are mutual, where big egos don’t seem prevalent. As a veteran on stage, and recently part of “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” we asked how Vance felt taking up the role of FBI handler Stan Wedeck, another character in law enforcement.

“For me it’s different because in ‘Law and Order’ there was no characterization. You’re just the facts man. This is refreshing because we’re all (together), and we’re all involved,” Vance said.

“And we are all so personal,” Woods said. “We take it to the personal side of things because it is really a mystery show, an investigative show. These people are what essentially make it.”

While the hype is still out there about the series and fans anticipate its premiere, Blast says the show is much more than a sci-fi series. FlashForward is more about the human elements that make you care about those characters onscreen.

This is the first of our two part feature covering “Flash Forward”. Coming up, more details about the series after the pilot from the series producers, plus more with Courtney B. Vance and Kristine Woods and our interview with Joseph Fiennes.

HOLLYWOOD — September is the biggest month for TV fanatics as the new lineup makes its debut on the small screen.

Blast went on the sets of some of ABC’s hottest new shows. In a series called “On the Set,” Blast will showcase both a gallery of images and a set of candid interviews with stars like Kelsey Grammer, Sara Rue, Ed O’Neil and Joseph Fiennes.

The first piece comes later tonight with the premiere of “The Forgotten” by executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer, slated for Tuesdays at 10 p.m. This drama centers around a group of volunteer citizens who team together in solving John or Jane Doe cold cases outside the realm of law enforcement. The leader of the group is Alex Donovan played by Christian Slater.

Coming up later this week:

• Wednesday: Modern Family — The return of Ed O’Neil to primetime
• Thursday: Flash Forward — This season’s biggest show starts with a bang!

LOS ANGELES “" Imagine going about your daily routine. There’s nothing much going on; either you’re taking the kids to school, stuck behind an office desk, or driving back from your lunch break.

Without warning your body buckles down. You’re swimming in darkness until images flood your thoughts in rapid succession, and slices of your life are put into motion.

Just when you think you understand what’s going on, your eyelids snap open, and you awake to a world engulfed in chaos.

Equally as disturbing is the knowledge that within that brief and shattering moment, you just caught a glimpse of your own future.

Would you change or surrender to it? And more importantly, how did this all happen?

The search for answers begins with ABC’s upcoming “Flash Forward;” a suspenseful drama meets (somewhat) science fiction series to air this fall. The show’s premise details the aftermath of an unexplained event where people all over the world lose consciousness simultaneously. Matters complicate themselves further when everyone awakens with visions of the future.

Currently, the credits for the TV series reads like a fanboy or fangirl dream. This includes producers David Goyer (co-writer of “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight”), Brannon Braga (“24,” “Threshold”) and Marc Guggenheim (“Brothers & Sisters,” “Eli Stone”).

Equally as impressive is the ensemble of talent such as Joseph Fiennes, Sonya Walger, Peyton List and John Cho, to name a few.

Recently Blast was invited to a press screening of the pilot in Los Angeles; an assignment which left this reporter curious and excited as all I had to go on were a couple of promos before seeing the pilot episode.

Let me also preface that I am sworn to secrecy about the details concerning the pilot. Although I know it’s going to be a long summer until it airs, it is certainly worth remaining spoiler-free. And speaking from experience, less is definitely more going into watching this show.

This of course helps when the actors are simply stellar. I have to give kudos to those in charge of casting this show. The sheer mix of actors whose range of talent varies from film to screen and theater just play to one another’s strengths. I’m more than certain viewers will be in store for a pleasant surprise.

What can be discussed is the overall feel of the show. It’s very clear there is a conscious effort from the producers to afford audiences more than the benefit of the doubt. As someone who loves a good story on TV sans the reality train wreck, I am relieved by that fact.

This brings me to a point where I feel the need to tackle general concerns about the use of time as a plot device. Whenever time is manipulated in any way, there develop issues about continuity. It’s a precarious rope to walk as far as storytelling because it requires not only accuracy but clear explanations that work within the rules of its plot. Failure in even a small way can distract the audience, generate major plot holes and ruin the dynamic of the show. Fans tend to either suspend their disbelief or outright hate it.

Luckily for us, Guggenheim and Goyer are aware of this challenge. In the post-screening Q&A both producers spoke candidly about their enthusiasm for the show’s premise. They were also none too shy in expressing their grievances when good shows don’t allow their characters to ask the more obvious questions during a crisis.

Fortunately, viewers can rest assured when it comes to “Flash Forward.” The series in itself is unique despite its ominous tone; a noticeable factor in its promos, causing online fans to draw comparisons to ABC’s own “Lost” and NBC’s “Heroes.” However, based on the released material on hand and what I’ve seen of it, there are valid arguments for why “Flash Forward” on premise alone will garner as insatiable a fandom as its contemporaries.

Whereas “Lost” and “Heroes” work within the challenging constructs of the island and super-genetics, “Flash Forward” presents itself more of the philosophical question: Is there a certain fate outside our inevitable death? Or is free will an illusion?

They’re some pretty heavy questions, but they are the kind of questions which appear to work more in favor towards this premise because it’s more of a global effect rather than a limited central group of people.

While “Lost” still remains beloved amongst fans, as well as intriguing and riveting, there have been lags in the past too obvious to ignore for long-time viewers. And while “Heroes” deals with the same “global” themes of “ordinary people with extraordinary abilities” the series unfortunately struggles balancing the intrinsic conflicts between the core characters and the science of the show. In effect, most “Heroes” fans were left with convoluted time warps and doomsday plots. While those ideas keep you at the edge of your seat, the consistency of characters that audiences grew to love during its pilot season seemed lost.

“Flash Forward” has the advantage of working with not only innovative writers and producers, but the cast itself, once again, set the series off to a great start. Sometimes, the success of a show relies on the group dynamic. The direction of this pilot definitely allows each actor to play upon their strengths in an effortless way.

I know I have pretty much given my approval, but I do so with several things in mind. The concept of time warps and butterfly effects are nothing new; if anything, it raises the standard for any series attempting this angle. And yes, the leading characters are not uncommon as far as archetypes. And there were some more predictable moments, which is natural if you watch enough television. There will be some scenarios where, if someone missed an episode, they could get lost, yet with the availability of watching episodes on the network sites it shouldn’t be too big of a hassle if you’re interested enough in it. So, essentially, for some viewers it may appear generic because of its familiar outline.

But here’s my stance. I learned long ago there is no such thing as an original idea. What matters most is how you choose to tell a story, and finding ways to make its premise relevant to an audience. What will make “Flash Forward” hit a chord with viewers are the same reasons which incidentally made “Heroes” and “Lost” successes in their pilot seasons: the characters.

So for those who want to set a date for the show, remember to tune in on ABC Thursday at 8 p.m. eastern/7 p.m. central September 24 when the series makes it debut.