By JUDITH S. GILLIES

By JUDITH S. GILLIES
WASHINGTON POST
'UNFABULOUS'
Debuts: Sunday
Airs: Sundays at 8 p.m. on Nick
Ages: 9-14
Emma Roberts, daughter of actor Eric Roberts and niece of Julia Roberts, stars as Addie Singer, 13, a seventh-grader.
To help make sense of her life, she often retreats to her room where she plays guitar and sings her own (dare we say cute?) songs about things and events in her life. The song can be as simple as "New Shoes" or the joys of being "PG-13."
She also visualizes what she would like to happen in various situations -- so viewers see how events play out in her imagination as well as what actually occurs.
Her family includes an older brother, whom she sees as a competitor for the bathroom, but her classmates see as a hunk.
'LAZYTOWN'
Debuted: Aug. 16
Airs: Weekdays at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Nick
Ages: 4-7
The adults of LazyTown are couch potatoes but the kids are energetic -- largely because of Sportacus, an athletic superhero who encourages activity.
Stephanie, 8, has just moved to LazyTown and finds it a strange place, never mind her pink hair. She and her friends are caught between a lazy Robbie Rotten, who is a master of disguise, and Sportacus -- played by Magnus Scheving, a pro athlete and aerobics champion who created the program in Iceland.
Live action, puppets, animation -- and humor -- are used to encourage kids to make choices for healthy lifestyles.
'POSTCARDS FROM BUSTER'
Debuts: Oct. 11
Airs: Weekdays on PBS
Ages: 4-8
You may recognize Buster as the best friend of an aardvark: "Postcards From Buster" is a spinoff from "Arthur," also on PBS.
Buster is traveling with his father, a pilot taking a rock band on a concert tour throughout the continental United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
Luckily, Buster has a videocamera to capture the sights and sounds of the places and people he meets so he can create postcards to send home.
"Postcards" combines animation and live-action documentary footage to explore different cultures, communities and ways of life.
The best of the rest
'ATOMIC BETTY'
Debuts: Sept. 17 at 9:30 p.m.
Airs: Sundays at 8:30 p.m. on Cartoon Network
Ages: 2-11
Betty tries to balance her life as a junior high student -- and things such as a very bad haircut -- with her role as a "galactic guardian and defender of the universe."
'BACKYARDIGANS'
Debuts: Oct. 11
Airs: Weekdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Nick; Saturdays.
Ages: Preschool
Each episode in this animated program for preschoolers will have four new songs and feature dancing.
'THE BATMAN'
Debuts: Saturday
Airs: Saturdays
Ages: 6-11
The all-new animated adventures are based on the DC Comics superhero and feature high-tech Bat-gadgets as well as a revved up Batmobile.
'BRANDY & amp; MR. WHISKERS'
Debuted: Aug. 21
Airs: Saturdays at 8 p.m. on the Disney Channel
Ages: 2-11
Kaley Cuoco is the voice of Brandy, a pampered pooch stranded in the Amazon rain forest with Mr. Whiskers, an offbeat bunny (voiced by Charlie Adler). Along the way, they meet other animals who become their jungle family.
'DARCY'S WILD LIFE'
Debuts: Oct. 2
Airs: Saturdays
Ages: 6-14
Sara Paxton plays Darcy, a 14-year-old who leaves the glamorous worlds of Hollywood and Malibu when her actress mother moves to a farm. Darcy makes new friends and learns to care for all sorts of wildlife. The live-action comedy is executive produced by Stan Rogow ("Lizzie McGuire").
'FOSTER'S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS'
Debuted: Aug. 13
Airs: Fridays at 7 and 10:30 p.m. on Cartoon Network
Ages: 2-11
Foster's Home is occupied by an unusual group of imaginary friends that have been separated from or abandoned by the kids who first imagined them. They are in search of new homes and have wacky adventures along the way. Just going to the mall can be chaotic. The animated comedy was created by Craig McCracken ("Powerpuff Girls").
'NED'S DECLASSIFIED SCHOOL SURVIVAL GUIDE'
Debuts: Sunday
Airs: Sundays at 7:30 p.m. on Nick
Ages: 9-14
Devon Werkheiser is the star in this live-action comedy with tips for tackling middle school so future pupils benefit from his experiences. Tip 683.4, for example: Avoid overstuffing the backpack.
Ned and his friends deal with bullies, pop quizzes and smelly lockers with humor, perseverance and imagination.
More new shows
Fox Box starts its new lineup Sept. 18 from 8 a.m. to noon. New shows include "One Piece" and "Mew Mew Power."
"Higglytown Heroes" offers a parent preview at 6:30 p.m. Sunday on the Disney Channel. The show will air every day at 8 a.m. and weekdays at 12:30 p.m.
"Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go" on ABC Family at 9 a.m. weekends beginning Sept. 18.
"Maya & amp; Miguel" premieres Oct. 11 and will air on PBS.