Spinoffs best bets

Imitations, retreads and spinoffs — these are a few of the networks’ favorite things this season.Whether it’s NBC spinning “Joey” from “Friends” or CBS splintering off “CSI” into a second stepchild, the fall promises plenty of warmed-over material.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The early “Joey” pilot (the show debuts at 8 p.m. Thursday) delivered both easy laughs and a genial support crew for the lunkheaded friend, and “CSI: Miami” proved the original show’s mojo can survive at least one separation surgery.

And who can argue with yet another “Law & Order” (“Law & Order: Trial by Jury”) when the first two spinoffs have proved to be ratings grabbers?

In fact, “CSI: New York” (10 p.m. Sept. 22) with Gary Sinise and Melina Kanakaredes is the safest bet of the season.

Everything else, from round two of NBC’s “The Apprentice” (8:30 p.m. Thursday) to Fox’s decision to hold new episodes of “24” until January, smacks of at least some risk for the usually risk-averse industry.

Traditional sitcoms are on a downward slope this fall, while dramas are on the upswing, particularly ones set in Las Vegas or Hawaii.

Suddenly, the East and West coasts seem to be slipping out of vogue.

Tell that to ABC’s “Boston Legal” (second cousin to the network’s “The Practice”) starring James Spader and William Shatner, whose career resuscitation is complete. “Legal” debuts 10 p.m. Oct. 3.

In the copycat department, Fox and ABC, both clearly hoping to bag the next Trump-like figure, are trotting out billionaire-based shows.

ABC’s “The Benefactor” (8 p.m. Sept. 13) stars Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, looking to give away a cool million to one of 16 contestants who “impress” him with their intelligence and philanthropy.

Meanwhile, Fox’s “The Billionaire: Branson’s Quest for the Best” (8 p.m. Nov. 9) features Virgin Group head Richard Branson in a contest that mirrors his adventurous life.

Reality television promises a slugfest between boxing-based elimination competitions from both NBC and Fox as well as new editions of “Survivor” and “The Bachelor.”

The buzz-o-meter has been sounding long and loud on ABC’s “Lost” (8 p.m. Sept. 22), from “Alias” creator J.J. Abrams. The new sci-fi drama puts a group of airplane-crash survivors — who may or may not be alone — on an isle as remote as Gilligan’s.

UPN also has a pair of potentially strong entries, Taye Diggs’ “Kevin Hill” (9 p.m. Sept. 29) and “Veronica Mars” (9 p.m. Sept. 21), which follows a young woman who works in her father’s private-investigation office.

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