"The show gives the average American a glimpse into Muslim culture, and it is great that an everyday American can get to know a mainstream Muslim," she said.

Malik, who also compiles and edits the electronic newsletter Muslim News Digest, said "most readers of the digest have reacted positively to the forthcoming comedy series and hope that it will break the stereotyping of Muslims, overcome prejudices and respect diversity."

He said the "alien" aspects of the show are because the host family initially has many concerns, apprehensions and fears of the unknown, but as the family becomes more familiar with their guest they develop an understanding of him and friendship.

Malik especially can identify with the main character, called Raja, not only because he is Muslim but also because Malik, like Raja, is from Pakistan.

"The show reminds me of the days I first migrated to America's heartland from Pakistan 37 years ago," he said. "And I experienced that assimilating in a new society requires adjustments without compromising one's values and faith."

However, John Mulderig, media reviewer with the Catholic film and broadcasting office, who along with Forbes watched the fall pilots, said, "a lot of the humor is lowbrow."

"The actor (Adhir Kalyan) is the best thing about the show, and there is a positive presentation of his character," he said. "He prays and relies on God to see him through difficulties. He has a strong faith. But the series' overall humor undercuts those positive qualities to a large extent."

Of the new shows, Mulderig said the best one he previewed for families to watch together is "Life Is Wild," which will air at 8 p.m. Sundays on CW beginning Oct. 7. This is about a family that goes to South Africa, where the veterinarian dad cares for wild animals.

For Forbes, the best show he previewed for adults and older adolescents could be "Pushing Daisies," which will air at 8 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC beginning Oct. 3. The main character can raise the dead with a touch, but if he touches them again, they die.

"There are serious moral implications of such a premise," Forbes said, "but if you view it as a fantasy, it's arguably acceptable, and beyond that, sex, violence and language quotients seem reasonably low."

Forbes also liked "Life," which will air at 10 p.m. Wednesdays on NBC beginning this week. It's about a policeman who is exonerated and back on the force 12 years after he had been framed for a crime.

"The title is meant to be a pun on both his original sentence and his positive, life-affirming attitude," Forbes said. "He's extremely empathetic to people's problems and circumstances and makes a compelling hero."

Mulderig also likes "K-Ville," which began last week at 9 p.m. Mondays on Fox. This is a police drama set in New Orleans after Katrina.

His other pick is "Dirty Sexy Money," which will air at 10 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC beginning this week.

"You would expect it to be sordid," he said, "but the title is merely a come-on for an intelligent adult drama with little overtly objectionable content, though there is one storyline about a politician's relationship with a transsexual."

"One female character is about to be married for the fourth time, but no one's presenting her as a role model," he said with a laugh.

Mulderig said "Big Shots," which will air at 10 p.m. Thursdays on ABC beginning this week, gets low marks for scenes with pretty explicit sexual activity and a transsexual prostitute.

High on Henson's list of particularly bad family shows are "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Big Shots."

"They are part of this pattern that sex is only exciting if it is only extramarital," she said.

She also expects "Cashmere Mafia," which will air at 9 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC beginning Nov. 27, "to be pretty raunchy."

One show that particularly concerns her is "Kid Nation," which began airing last week at 8 p.m. Wednesday on CBS. This is about young people setting up and running their own society.

"The concern is, for starters, that there was no adult supervision for the kids," Henson said. "The kids were not allowed to contact their families. So it seems that they (the producers) put the entertainment of adults above the well-being of the kids."

Viewers who want family-friendly shows will have to do more than give vocal support, Henson said.

"You have to back up your words with actions," she said. "You have to support family programming by watching."

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