The prime-time schedule for the four networks is set to premiere on Sept. 18 - officially. But more than several programs have gotten an early start to try to win viewers ahead of time.

The following are up-to-date capsule reviews of new network TV programs, with premiere dates in parentheses:

"Life Goes On," ABC: Sure to be a winner, even if too-easy problem resolutions make life seem unrealistic, series stars Patti LuPone and Bill Smitrovich are terrific as working- class parents. Full of hope for their articulate daughter - played by the properly hysterical Kellie Martin - and Christopher Burke, a Down's syndrome teen who steals the show, LuPone and Smitrovich are an attractive, cleaner Roseanne and Dan. (Sept. 12)

"The Magical World of Disney," NBC: Beginning with "Brand New Life," the family hour features a wheel format, with several series alternating. "Brand New Life" stars Don Murray and the seemingly indestructible, ageless Barbara Eden as a modern-day "Brady Bunch," with a gaggle of kids. (Sept. 18)

"Booker," Fox: Teen heartthrob Richard Grieco spins off from "21 Jump Street" in a new series about the former cop turned private investigator. (Sept. 24) 8 P.M.

"Free Spirit," ABC: Winnie the witch is the housekeeper in a household where the kids are savvy, the dad's in the dark. How many cuter-than-a- button kids can prime-time TV take? (Sept. 22)

"Sister Kate," NBC: The once-glamorous Stephanie Beacham ("Dynasty") plays a nun who hates kids, yet for some unexplained reason is put in charge of an orphanage filled with hard-to-place orphans. If you believe this one, do I have a bridge for you! (Sept. 16) 8:30 P.M.

"Homeroom," ABC: An all-black sitcom about an ex-advertising copy writer (Darryl Sivad) who's now a fourth-grade teacher in an inner-city school, his medical student wife (Penny Johnson) and his father-in-law (Bill Cobbs), with whom they live. Sivad and Cobbs disagree about everything, so "All in the Family" immediately comes to mind. (Sept. 16) Monday

8 P.M.

"Major Dad," CBS: Gerald McRaney plays a tough Marine who marries a liberal reporter (Shanna Reed) with daughters. Do opposites attract? Can a gruff military man find happiness with four women? Does anybody care? (Sept. 17)

8:30 P.M.

"People Next Door," CBS: The influence of "Roger Rabbit" was bound to be felt on TV, and this is it. Jeffrey Jones plays a cartoonist who's kids are embarrassed by his rich fantasy life, which - guess what? It's cartoons! (Sept. 18) 9 P.M.

"Alien Nation," Fox: Based on last year's movie of the same name, the drama - set in the 1990s - pairs an earthling detective with an alien. A group of humanoids with large heads and no ears crash-land in Los Angeles and set up housekeeping. (Sept. 18) 9:30 P.M.

"The Famous Teddy Z," CBS: Jon Cryer is terrific in a sitcom that doesn't take Hollywood any more seriously than it takes itself - a refreshing change. Teddy Zakalokis is slated for a life of what he thinks is drudgery in the family bakery, but instead makes a meteoric jump from talent agency clerk to big-time agent. (Sept. 18) Tuesday

8 P.M."Rescue: 911," CBS: Trying to cash in on the popularity of NBC's "Unsolved Mysteries," the reality-based series goes cross-country to re-create graphic situations involving emergency specialists, including police, firefighters and paramedics. William Shatner ("Star Trek") hosts. (Sept. 5) 9 P.M.

"Wolf," CBS: Jack Scalia plays an ex-San Francisco cop who returns to his native city to help his dad (Joseph Sirola) and play detective. Shot on location in the scenic city, where the father and son live on an old boat, the series is pretty to look at, as is Scalia. (Sept. 13) 9:30 P.M.

"Chicken Soup," ABC: The network is pushing this dog, placing it in the key spot right after No. 1 "Roseanne." Other than that, Jackie Mason as a retired salesman and Lynn Redgrave as his girlfriend - he's Jewish and she's Catholic - don't add up to anything more than unappetizing gruel. "Chicken Soup" can't be good for anyone. (Sept. 12) 10 P.M.

"Island Son," CBS: King of the miniseries as well as former 1960s "Dr. Kildare" Richard Chamberlain moves to Hawaii, where he's not a detective, or a Shogun, but a (gasp) doctor. (Sept. 19) Wednesday

8 P.M.

"Peaceable Kingdom," CBS: Lindsay Wagner plays the director and Tom Wopat plays the curator of a zoo. She lives there with her three kids, who sometimes find life with animals a drag. (Sept. 20) 9:30 P.M.

"Doogie Howser, M.D.," ABC: Neil Patrick Harris plays a 16-year-old surgical resident whose parents are played by James B. Sikking ("Hill Street Blues") and Belinda Montgomery. From talented Steve Bochco's company, "Doogie" is offbeat and fun as the boy-man struggles with life and death in the hospital and learning to drive. (Sept. 19)

"The Nutt House," NBC: Mel Brooks is responsible for this older-than-the- hills sitcom, which is really just a string of gags broken up with commercials. Harvey Korman and Cloris Leachman play the unfortunate leads. (Sept. 20) Thursday

9 P.M.

"The Young Riders," ABC: Tales from Pony Express days, when the mail had to get through. The Western stars a group of young men, led by Josh Brolin and Ty Miller, who brave all kinds of danger to do their jobs. (Sept. 20)

"Top of the Hill," CBS: Set in Washington, D.C., William Katt plays a surfer from California who follows his father into Congress to be the most singular elected official in the land of power. (Sept. 21)

"PrimeTime Live," ABC: A showcase for the Sam (Donaldson) and Diane (Sawyer) duo, the highly touted news program makes little sense in its "live" format, studio audience or multimillion dollar star salaries. (Aug. 3) Friday

8 P.M.

"Snoops," CBS: Tim Reid and Daphne Maxwell Reid are back after the failed but well-received "Frank's Place," this time as a criminology professor and State Department protocol chief. Another Washington, D.C.-set drama with promises of "The Thin Man" revisited that may prove to be unfulfilled. (Sept. 22)

"Baywatch," NBC: There's no Annette Funicello, but lots of other jiggle and bounce at the beach with David Hasselhoff and Parker Stevenson as lifeguards in Southern California. The emphasis is on rescue - of boats, people, animals - with lots of perfect bodies displaying the latest fun-in-the- sun swimwear. (Aug. 20)

8:30 P.M.

"Family Matters," ABC: A "Perfect Strangers" spinoff, in which the elevator operator, played by Jo Marie Payton-France, gets her own house, complete with husband, mother-in-law, sister and kids. A black family sitcom, in which everything turns out OK every 22 minutes - as it can only on TV. (Sept. 22) 9 P.M.

"Hardball," NBC: Action-adventure with two mismatched cops: John Ashton as the veteran and Richard Tyson as the cocky kid who comes up with some comedy in the process of chasing (and always getting) the bad guys. (Sept. 21) 10 P.M.

"Mancuso, F.B.I.," NBC: Robert Loggia plays an old-school, crusty, moral agent who does his best to fight injustice in our nation's capital. The spinoff of last year's miniseries "Favorite Son" doesn't suffer at all from lack of Harry Hamlin and Linda Koslowski. (Oct. 13) Saturday

8:30 P.M.

"Living Dolls," ABC: High-fashion models are chaperoned by Michael Learned ("Nurse") in a comedy in which she tries to impart the concept that life's more than a pretty face (and body). (Sept. 26)

9 P.M. "ABC Mystery Movie": "Columbo" and "B.L. Stryker" are joined by Telly Savalas, who reprises his role of Detective Theo Kojak and Jaclyn Smith as a financial adviser in "Amanda Vanderbilt." (unannounced) 10 P.M.

"Saturday Night With Connie Chung," CBS: The news anchor jumped ship from NBC for a multimillion- dollar contract and the chance to be sole host of a revamped "West 57th." Can a news magazine find life in prime time after losing the likes of Meredith Vieira, John Ferrugia and Bob Sirott? Stay tuned. (Sept. 23)