The big story of the fall television season is not the success or failure of a new show. It's the emergence of veteran CBS crime drama "NCIS" as television's No. 1 program.

A top-10 series for the last two seasons, "NCIS" kicked it into a higher gear at 8-9 p.m. Tuesdays these last two months, making it the juggernaut show to beat. And does that ever bode well for

the 9-10 p.m. Tuesday spinoff series starring Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J. "NCIS: Los Angeles" is cruising along in the top 10, the 2009-10 season's highest-rated new show.

"NCIS" not only has claimed the top spot, it has strengthened its power base as a hit-maker. Last season's highest-rated rookie show, "The Mentalist," found a huge audience with "NCIS" as its

lead-in show on Tuesdays. Moved to 10 p.m. Thursday, "The Mentalist" continues as a top-10 show this fall.

Except for "NCIS: Los Angeles," it has not been a season for breakout hits or, for that matter, spectacular flops. Only three of the 22 new shows fielded by the five broadcast networks this fall have been canceled. And 11 already have been given full-season orders.

While hardly tearing up the ratings, new shows with Northeast Ohio connections were among the most acclaimed of the fall. They included the NBC comedy "Community" (with Cleveland's Russo br others as executive producers and East Cleveland native Yvette Nicole Brown as a regular) and three ABC rookies: "The Middle" (starring Bay Village native Patricia Heaton), "Modern Family"

(starring Youngstown native Ed O'Neill) and "FlashForward" (the science-fiction drama co-created by Canton McKinley High School graduate Brannon Braga).

So here's how the midterm report cards look as the networks enter the holiday lull and prepare for the midseason returns of "American Idol," "24" and "Lost":

Shows New shows already canceled: ABC's "Hank" (Kelsey Grammer's sitcom was dropped Thursday) and "Eastwick" (13 episodes and out); The CW's "The Beautiful Life" (after only two episodes). New shows in ratings trouble: ABC's "The Forgotten," CBS' "Three Rivers," Fox's "Brothers," NBC's "Trauma" and "The Jay Leno Show," and The CW's "Melrose Place." New shows already given full-season orders: ABC's "The Middle," "FlashForward," "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town"; CBS' "NCIS: Los Angeles" and "The Good Wife"; Fox's "Glee" and "The Cleveland

Show"; NBC's "Community" and "Mercy"; The CW's "The Vampire Diaries." New shows looking good: ABC's "V." New shows on the fence: CBS' "Accidentally on Purpose." Returning shows already canceled: Fox's "Dollhouse" (13 and out) and NBC's "Southland" (picked up by TNT). Returning shows facing serious audience defection: ABC's "Ugly Betty," CBS' "Numb3rs" and "Cold Case," and Fox's "Fringe" and " 'Til Death."
 

You can find related DVDs here:

Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service Seasons 1-6 DVD Boxset
The Mentalist Season 1 DVD Boxset
Dollhouse Season 1 DVD Boxset
Southland Season 1 DVD Boxset
Ugly Betty Seasons 1-3 DVD Boxset
Numb3rs Seasons 1-5 DVD Boxset
Cold Case Seasons 1-6 DVD Boxset
Fringe Season 1 DVD Boxset