Is it just me, or is anybody else happy to see the 2007-2008 TV season winding to a close? This has been one of the more tumultuous seasons in recent memory, mainly due to a writers' strike that brought scripted television to screeching halt for months.

Given that, it's tempting to look ahead to next season. But that, too, is problematic. The writers' strike messed up the traditional pilot season, in which pilots for prospective new shows are created, and networks decide whether to order the pilots to series.

This year, fewer pilots were produced due to the strike. Thus, many networks ordered shows straight to series, without aid of a pilot. Others added very few shows to their lineups.

Anyway, to help make a complicated situation easier to understand, here's a network by network rundown of what to expect next season.

NBC: I'm getting this one out of the way first. Unlike the other networks — which unveiled their fall lineups last week — NBC announced its fall schedule last month, so it's kind of old news. But here's a brief recap.

Freshman series "Journeyman" and "Bionic Woman" are gone and fellow newbies "Chuck" and "Life" are back in fall. The sitcom "Scrubs" is moving to ABC and the drama "Friday Night Lights" is coming back via a partnership with DirecTV. New shows include a spin-off of the sitcom "The Office," a remake of the Australian sitcom "Kath & Kim," and the drama "Kings" with "Deadwood" star Ian McShane.

There was some fresh NBC news

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announced last week: former "Saturday Night Live" cast member Jimmy Fallon will be the new host of "Late Night." He'll take for current host Conan O'Brien in 2009, when O'Brien leaves to take the reins of "The Tonight Show" from Jay Leno.

Ah, the circle of life.

Fox: In a somewhat surprising move, Fox canceled its freshman sitcom "Back to You," despite good reviews and a stellar cast that included Kelsey Grammar, Patricia Heaton and Fred Willard. That's strange, considering that the network brought the show back after the strike break, and appeared to be supporting it.

But the numbers were apparently not there, so it was dropped, as were most of the network's new shows. By my count, only one of last season's new offerings — the fun action drama "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" — is coming back.

As for existing shows, there's some good news for "24" fans. The show never premiered this season due to the strike, and isn't scheduled to return until January. However, Fox announced on Thursday that it would air a two-hour "24" prequel Nov. 23. The special event will set the scene for the new season.

Meanwhile, Fox is only putting on two new shows in the fall: the drama "Fringe" and the comedy "Do Not Disturb." Of the two, "Fringe" is more promising, as it comes from the brilliant J.J. Abrams of "Lost" and "Alias" fame.

The network has saved its buzziest new show for midseason: "Dollhouse," from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" mastermind Joss Whedon. Yet another creative genius, Mitchell Hurwitz of "Arrested Development" fame, comes back to Fox at midseason, with an animated series tentatively titled "Sit Down, Shut Up."

Midseason also brings a "Family Guy" spin-off called "The Cleveland Show." About which I have nothing to say.

ABC: ABC also has two new shows debuting in fall — the game show "Opportunity Knocks" and a remake of the British series "Life on Mars." However, the network has a slew of shows in development for a possible midseason debut, including the animated series 'The Goode Family," from "King of the Hill" creator Mike Judge.

The network's biggest piece of programming news is its decision to import the sitcom "Scrubs" from NBC. It joins ABC at midseason, on Tuesdays at 9 p.m.

In other ABC news, the network has apparently cancelled freshman series "Women's Murder Club," "Cashmere Mafia," "Miss Guided," "Cavemen," "Carpoolers" and "Big Shots." But it's renewed much of last season's lineup, including the midseason series "Eli Stone."

CBS: Despite a dedicated cult following, the network opted not to renew the drama "Moonlight" for a second season. That's too bad. While not must see, the show was entertaining. The James Woods vehicle "Shark" is also gone, as is the Jimmy Smits drama "Cane."

But the drama "The Unit" is coming back, as are on-the-bubble sitcoms "How I Met Your Mother" and "The Old Adventures of New Christine." Last fall's new sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" is back, too.

CBS also is debuting two comedies and three dramas. The new class includes another British import, "The Ex List," about a woman looking for her future husband among her former boyfriends, and a dramatic thriller from Jerry Bruckheimer, called "Eleventh Hour."

CW: I've saved the best news (or, at least, my favorite news) for last. The CW is renewing the charming fantasy comedy "Reaper" for a second season. I couldn't be more pleased. "Reaper," about a young man forced into service as Satan's bounty hunter, was one of my favorite pilots last fall. It floundered a bit early in the season, but, since returning from the strike, it's been stronger than ever. It returns at midseason.

Less of a surprise was the renewal of another fave new show of mine, "Gossip Girl." Sadly, the sitcom "Aliens in America" wasn't picked up for a second season.

The network's new shows for next fall include the much hyped "90210," a reboot of the beloved teen soap "Beverly Hills, 90210." The new show features a fresh crop of young hotties, and at least one familiar face — Jennie Garth, who will reprise her role as Kelly Taylor from the original show.

Other newbies are "Surviving the Filthy Rich," a drama about young journalist who becomes live-in tutor to some rich kids, and Tyra Banks-produced reality show "Stylista."

So, that's next fall in a nutshell. What did I tell you? Complicated. But it looks like there's some interesting stuff, including the return of some old favorites. Maybe next season will be better.

Newsroom@ctpost.com Amanda Cuda can be reached at acuda@ctpost.com. Visit her blog at forum.connpost.com/turnedon.