Syndication

Verne Gay

September 17, 2006

A quiet fall on the syndication front? Is it ever? And one name alone, "Rachael Ray," should pretty much dispel any notion of peace and tranquillity. Indeed, there's plenty going on, and without further ado:

Rachael Ray (Monday, WABC/7 at 10 a.m.; WLNY/55 at 3 p.m.): This is the big new spatula of the fall though don't expect only recipes and cooking tips from this already ubiquitous (Food Network host; editor of own mag; bestselling author) personality. Her show's billed as "celebrate the can-do spirit in you," and will offer - according to her show's Web site - "simple solutions for everyday issues ... and entertaining ways to squeeze just a little more out of life every day."

The Megan Mullally Show (Monday, WNBC/4 at 3 p.m.): A talker with the longtime star of "Will & Grace." Think the Mullally personality mixed in with celeb interviews, music, comedy and "offbeat experts."

Dr. Keith Ablow (already launched, WNYW/5 at 10 a.m.): Star Ablow is a prolific author of fiction (mysteries) and nonfiction ("Inside the Mind of Scott Peterson," among others). He's a psychiatrist who describes his therapeutic approach thusly on his Web site: " ... all of us suffer, that none of us is born evil, and that we must be helped to confront the truth about our lives."

Greg Behrendt (already launched, WPIX/11 at 9 a.m.) stars the comedian-author in a show about relationships, from marriage to the workplace. Behrendt's best known as a bestselling co-author of books with catchy titles like "He's Just Not That Into You" and "It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken: The Smart Girl's Breakup Buddy."

Judge Maria Lopez (already launched, WPIX/11 at 1 p.m.) is a daily half-hour court show starring a former assistant attorney general in the civil rights division of the Massachusetts AG's office. Billed as having a "hard-knocks perspective and no-nonsense approach."

Cristina's Court (already launched, WWOR/9 at 7:30 a.m.) stars Cristina Perez, the former host of Telemundo's court show, "La Corte de Familia."