Top new TV series

The 2008-2009 television season was yet another in a long series of mixed bags — some disasters, a few near-misses, and a handful of series worth remembering.

Here’s our take on what worked. Not all of these did well enough to earn a second season, but at least they left an impression on their way out the door:

The Mentalist (CBS): Australian Simon Baker had the season’s biggest hit as a police consultant who helps solve crimes by using his unusually strong powers of observation. Offbeat and stylish.

Fringe (FOX): An FBI agent (Anna Torv) tries to unravel the mystery of a series of grisly murders with the help of a mad scientist and his son. It’s all part of “The Pattern,” and it all can get a bit complicated. Opened as the favorite to be the season’s breakout hit, but struggled to find its footing. After a midseason slump, the series finished strong and earned renewal.

Dollhouse (FOX): Eliza Dushku is part of a group of humans whose personality is erased and imprinted with a new one each time they go out on a mission. When the erasings don’t wash away all of her memories, she begins to question her past. Not a big hit, but the Josh Whedon project did well enough to earn a spot in the 2009-10 lineup.

Lie To Me (FOX): Tim Roth is a scientist who helps the cops catch the bad guys by reading people’s expressions and body language to determine whether they’re telling the truth. Cool premise, well executed. A late-season addition that showed potential.

Parks and Recreation (NBC): Saturday Night Live ’s Amy Poehler in her first sitcom, and the jury is still out. It debuted late and the talk-to-the camera format may not wear well over time, but Poehler’s charm could carry the day.

Life On Mars (ABC): This remake of a British hit featured a New York cop who is hit by a car and wakes up in 1973. Or that was the premise, at least. The show had some good moments and some interesting plot twists. When producers discovered it would not be renewed, they tacked on an ending to the last episode that wrapped up the story in a manner that sharply divided critics and fans.

True Blood (HBO): A tale of vampires and humans co-existing in the American South. A modest hit, but perhaps a bit of a disappointment considering an enthusiastic promotional effort by HBO. The second season begins in June.

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