In a nation in turmoil, trou bled by war and natural disaster, there is just one topic on every citizen's mind at this hour.

I mean, of course, the upcoming fall TV season.

Eons ago, when the mighty dinosaur (Ed Sullivan) roamed the earth, all the new television shows debuted right around this time of year.

As kids, we were convinced that this was a vast grownup conspiracy to keep us from seeing anything good because it also marked the time we had to start doing home work after supper and going to bed early. To us, the logical time to start showing new stuff on TV would have coin cided with the end of school so we could fix our eyeballs on our TV screens and not take them off until Labor Day.

In those days, now shroud ed in the mists of time and Nickelodeon reruns, three great networks dominated the airwaves. And they really were airwaves, not cable or satellite hookups. Suburban homes all sprouted TV anten nae that could pull in two, or maybe three stations clearly (not counting the UHF sta tions that only dogs could hear). These networks went to great lengths of creative ener gy to produce outstanding examples of drama, comedy and variety entertainment, giving their talented produc tion staffs unbridled freedom to experiment with the medi um, as long as it involved shows about doctors, lawyers or cops.

(At one time it was doctors, lawyers, cops or cowboys but cowboys dropped out of sight after Ben Cartwright started running out of sons.)

Eventually, thanks to the advent of cable, the number of choices available to the viewing public grew and grew until today it is actually possi ble to catch the complete director's cut of `` Beastmaster II'' any time, day or night, on some movie channel.

But, the advent of fall still gives the major networks, and Fox too, the opportunity to flog their latest efforts in an increasingly desperate effort to lure viewers away from infomercials.

This year's top shows look to be:

REALITY PROGAMS: So called because they are so carefully scripted, sort of like pro wrestling.

Top pick -- Martha Stewart makes a triumphant return to the small screen by showing you how to arrange your duvet cover so it looks like you are still lying in your bunk while you desperately tunnel your way to freedom.

CRIME-SOLVING DRAMAS: Think `` CSI,'' `` Law and Order: Criminal Intent,'' `` Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,'' `` Law and Order: School Crossing Guard.'' Top pick -- a combination of crime drama and reality TV, just bloodier. It's the 11 o'clock news. Clever title.

WARM FAMILY COMEDIES: Remember `` The Waltons,'' or `` Eight is Enough?'' Top pick -- Chris Rock's `` Everybody Hates Chris'' is not going to be anything like that. For example, I don't recall John Boy using words like `` (at)(at)*#&(at)(at)&I,'' or `` #*&%'' and certainly not `` (at)(at)&*+'' -- at least not in front of his mother.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to see if there's a `` Full House'' rerun on. TOM REILLY is a Sun Chronicle news editor. He can be reached at treilly(at)(at)thesunchronicle.com or 508-236-0332, but not during prime time.