I am – Hercules!!

It’s a WB drama from producers Mike Tollin and Brian Robbins (“Smallville,” “Birds of Prey”) that involves no superheroes! Instead, it involves two estranged half-brothers from different sides of the tracks who find themselves playing on the same high-school basketball team -- and competing for the same hot cheerleader. It stars Chad Michael Murray (“Gilmore Girls”), James Lafferty (“Emeril”), Hilarie Burton (MTV’s “Total Request Live”), Paul Johansson (“John Q”), Moira Kelly (“The West Wing”) and Craig Sheffer (“A River Runs Through It,” “Sleep With Me”).

This was originally going to be a midseason replacement, but got promoted over the summer when the Bruckheimer actioner “Fearless” got pulled for some retooling. TV Guide says:

Dawson’s Creek left a void. But this goopy soap is no substitute.

The Hollywood Reporter says:

It's a little bit early to make a definitive assessment, but the opening hour is too loaded down with cliched angst to stimulate much more than the libido of its target teen audience. … "One Tree Hill" is all music and mood and heavy suds.

Variety says:

As trite as it sounds, the series plays it all earnestly enough for its target audience, and the show is beautifully shot … On the downside, a few of those strategies out of the WB playbook are starting to wear a bit thin …

Entertainment Weekly says:

Reserved judgment – we’re all for animosity and resentment, but if it’s a weekly theme, who knows whether these two saplings will grow into strapping nighttime stars.

USA Today gives it one and a half stars (out of four) and says:

One Tree Hill isn't the worst show you'll see this season, but it may be the most depressingly superfluous. ... Hill is a howler. ... seldom has the combination of cast and character been this unconvincing. ... MTV's Hilarie Burton makes the girl so unpleasant, you figure the loser gets her.

The Los Angeles Times says:

The characters all walk the line between archetype and stereotype ... The female characters could use some development. Burton's snippy Peyton likes loud music; other than that, she's just a trophy for whom the two brothers compete. Lenz's Haley is the typical zany best gal pal who runs on at the mouth in a not-too-adorable way. ... This compelling storyline could make the tale of battling basketball brothers a keeper for the WB.

9 p.m. Tuesday. Fox.