With the beginning of the new television season last fall, the three largest networks each tried a new "alien invasion" series. Fox, having already been down that road with "The X-Files," declined to follow along. ABC launched "Invasion," CBS tried "Threshold," and NBC worked with "Surface."

Aside from titles that show symptoms of monophasia, two of the shows are pretty much in the vein of "The X-files" with the usual government insiders, paranoid vibes and heroic outsiders. I suspect the only thing that will keep "Surface" on the air is if the lovely Lake Bell continues to oblige the producers with swimsuit and underwear scenes--the other main story is like a really bad knock-off of "ET." "Invasion" really isn't too bad, although any viewer who enjoyed the original "American Gothic" from the same production team is likely to remember that series with fondness by comparison.

The series that broke this mold is "Threshold." The government insiders are the good guys for a change and the real enemy is a kind of combined computer/biological virus of apparently alien origin. Humans overtaken by the pernicious virus are reasonably scary with enhanced abilities and an implacable pursuit of their goal: spreading the virus.

Naturally, CBS cancelled "Threshold." I don't know whether the viewers who don't watch it or the network who wouldn't give the show a chance frustrate me more.

CDs listened to today:

• Thicke: A Beautiful World
• Elliott Carter: The String Quartets
• Various Artists: Legally Stoned, disk 1
• Andrew Bird: Andrew Bird & The Mysterious Production Of Eggs
  
• Weezer: (eponymous blue album)