It's back to school time, and I want to tell you what I did on my summer vacation. OK,
I didn't really have the summer off, but it's such a popular topic this time of year. I do want to take some time to talk about the genre shows that came and went while we should have been out playing in the sun.

"John From Cincinnati" was a 10-episode series that aired on HBO and counted among its stars Bruce Greenwood, Ed O'Neill, Luke Perry and Rebecca DeMornay. I want to ask if anyone can tell me what the hell it's about? I can tell you what happened, but I'm not really sure what it all means.

"John" was filled with miraculous happenings in the surf town of Imperial Beach. I have my theories of what it is, but I think the only person who knows for certain is David Milch, writer and executive producer. HBO declined to order a second season, and I'm not surprised. Internet buzz died out as the show ran with more and more people giving up on this complex inexplicable drama.

If you have any interest in trying to decipher it for yourself, it's available on HBO On Demand and I'm certain a DVD release is imminent. They attempted to tie it all together with a voice over during the last scene of the final episode, but I don't think it made things any clearer. Also a warning, it's on HBO, so expect spicy language.

"Jekyll" is a delightful fantasy thriller written by Steven Moffat. Starring James Nesbitt as Dr. Tom Jackman/Mr. Hyde, it also starred an actress who should soon be familiar to us all, Michelle Ryan who's currently playing Jamie Summers on NBC's "Bionic Woman." Based on the premise that the Robert Louis Stevenson story was biographical, it follows Jackman as he fights to keep from losing himself to a monster.

It's genuinely scary in places, and Nesbitt manages to play two completely different characters expertly. The effects were done well, with the transformation from Jackman to Hyde handled with lighting and attitude. Nesbitt makes us believe in the transformation. Originally airing on the BBC, it aired in the States on BBC America. If you're looking for a treat, this one was released on DVD Sept. 18. The Brits sure know how to do sci-fi/fantasy right. We could learn a thing or two from them.

"Masters of Science Fiction" is the show networks will point to and say anthologies don't work. And it's a shame because there's so much potential in the format, when done right. Unfortunately "Masters" isn't one of those.

It had a lot going for it, like Professor Stephen Hawkings narrating, and decades worth of stories to choose from. But they misstepped somewhere, and I believe was in both the stories they chose to adapt, and how they were adapted. They chose low-key, thinking stories. Stories without any flash.

Unfortunately, modern audiences don't sit and think about their entertainment. Without any excitement, these adaptations came across as dull and lifeless. And it was probably for that reason that ABC held the series for as long as they did. It wasn't what they expected.

The series lured some top acting talent such as Anne Heche, Terry O'Quinn, Sam Waterston, Malcolm McDowell and Brian Dennehey. It looked beautiful, and the worlds felt real. But none of that could compensate for the scripts. Six episodes were produced, and ABC chose the four best to air. It's likely there will be a DVD release. I intend to miss it. You should do the same.

"Saving Grace" is a series about Oklahoma City detective Grace Hanadarko, played by Holly Hunter, and her angel Earl. Nothing is quite what you expect with this show, and I like that about it. I initially feared it would be about an detective and her angel solving crimes. I was happy to be wrong about it. Grace is a woman on the path to self destruction. She is a heavy drinker, if not an alcoholic. She will also sleep with anyone. The woman slept with a friend to help him get over the death of his cat.

Earl is a "last chance" angel, and can only help someone when they ask for help. So to get Grace to ask for help, he conned her into thinking she killed someone. He doesn't preach, but tries to push Grace into helping herself. Besides Grace and Earl, we follow Grace in her interactions with her co-workers and her family, who she keeps her emotional distance. The only person she does let in is her best friend, played by Laura San Giacomo. She works as a forensic scientist, and is trying to prove the existence of Earl scientifically.

TNT pulled out all the stops with this series, and it paid off for them. It is their best new show and has been renewed for a second season. They are beginning to re-air the show this fall. If you don't mind a dash of angels with your police drama, check it out.

Ed Left is a columnist for Airlock Alpha, working out of Chicago. He also is the Webmaster of SciFi On TV. He can be reached at eleft@airlockalpha.com.