While "Reaper" did just that -- gathering great reviews and scoring an eye-popping 81 at Meta Critic -- viewers did not flock to this Tuesday night entry on the fledgling CW. That nascent network was created last year with the merger of the WB and UPN. Both those nets were home at one time or another to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," another supernatural show that sent critics swooning but failed to impress Emmy voters. In that show's seven year run, it won only two creative arts Emmys -- music and makeup -- and got just one single telecast award nod -- for writing in 2000.

And unlike "Buffy," "Reaper" has generated little interest in our forums - CLICK HERE. The show's strongest Emmy hope is veteran actor Ray Wise, best known as the doomed newsman in "Good Night, and Good Luck," who plays the Devil in this wry satire. For example, Bianco says, "Wise has been given a great chance to shine, and he makes the most of it, stealing scenes with such aplomb it may almost be a sin."

Over on CBS, "Cane" came up short with both critics and viewers so grand slam winner Rita Moreno is unlikely to be adding any more awards to her crowded mantle for playing the matriarch in this Latino spin on prime time soaps exec produced by series lead Jimmy Smits.

Michelle Ryan, the new "Bionic Woman," pulled in viewers for NBC on Wednesday night, but it is unlikely she will be able to pull off an Emmy upset a la Lindsay Wagner, the original superheroine, who won back in 1977. Ryan did rate with some critics but mixed reviews for the show kept the show grounded at 58 on Meta Critic. And our forum posters were equally ambivalent - CLICK HERE.

While ABC's time slot competitor "Private Practice" may have a good prognosis for longevity with healthy ratings, this "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off flatlined with critics, with a sickly 45 at Meta Critic. Lead Kate Walsh, who went without an Emmy nod in her two seasons supporting on that medical sudser, came in for much of the criticism. As our pal Ray Richmond noted in the Hollywood Reporter, "this is Walsh's big moment, of course, though the early returns seem to confirm that she's an odd choice to carry her own drama series. Her inherent blandness is covered by the confident performances of her co-stars in the opener." And our forum posters were equally disappointed - CLICK HERE.

Interestingly, "Grey's" leads have failed to impress Emmy voters who remain smitten with the supporting and guest cast -- 12 such nominations in three seasons capped off with that surprise win for Katherine Heigl last month. This newcomer's strongest Emmy contender could be last-minute replacement Audra McDonald. This four-time Tony winner has done little TV work till now but she did score an Emmy nom back in 2001 for supporting actress in a movie for her work as a compassionate nurse in "Wit." By the way, for helming that adaptation of the stage hit, Mike Nichols picked up his first Emmy, thus becoming the ninth grand slam winner.

The jury is deadlocked on ABC's lead-out, "Dirty Sexy Money," a prime time soap about the poor woes of the idle rich. (Again, see the separate item for an in-depth look at this show.) NBC's time slot rival, "Life," may not have had as much preseason buzz but it did generate solid ratings, winning with the 18-49 demo, and scoring with some critics, coming in at 64 on Meta Critic. Singled out for praise was lead Damian Lewis, as the wrongfully convicted detective released after twelve years in jail. (For more on this show, also see the separate item.)

Finally, ABC's heavily hyped Thursday night newcomer "Big Shots" -- a male version of Emmy favorite "Sex and the City" -- may have come in a respectable second in the ratings but it was dead last with the critics, managing a meager 33 at Meta Critic, and generating mixed reviews in our forums - CLICK HERE.