Tonight’s the night for “Hellcats” (9, WNLO-TV) and “Terriers” (10, FX).

And the two shows couldn’t be more different.

They certainly are looking for different audiences.

The first new network series of the fall – if you call the CW a network – “Hellcats” is a lively, upbeat series about a down-on-her luck college girl, Marti (Alyson Michalka , see above of “Bandslam”) willing to endure self-inflicted embarrassment to stay in school in Memphis, Tenn.

Marti is already embarrassed enough by her mom, Wanda (Gail O’Grady), who mishandled her scholarship and runs the college town bar. Sharon Leal (“Boston Public”) is another adult aboard.

If it were HBO or Showtime, Marti would become a stripper to stay in school.

Since it is the CW, she’s a different kind of dancer – a cheerleader — and Leal is her coach. Marti swallows her pride and joins a “legendary” cheer squad captained by a rival, Savannah (Ashley Tisdale of “High School Musical”).

I know the idea sounds terrible.  But ultimately “Hellcats” is a pretty looking series worth some mild cheering despite the evil title. It features a pretty cast and a pretty good attitude about giving people a chance at redemption.

Of course, there is a predictable catfight between the cheerleaders and the adults in it aren’t all prizes. But, hey, a show like this needs some conflict. Overall, “Hellcats” has the sensibility of “Flashdance” and “Glee” even if it its characters aren’t all misfits as they are in the popular Fox series.

I’m not exactly the audience for “Hellcats,” but I expect it should draw the young female audience that the CW is seeking.

On the other hand, the latest show on FX, “Terriers,” is a show for a man’s man produced by Ted Griffin (“Ocean’s Eleven”) and Shawn Ryan (“The Shield”). It’s a buddy drama about two 30something male mutts who pal around while trying to solve crimes as unorthodox private eyes.

If you’re really old, you might see it as a crime version of “Oliver and Hardy” or “Abbott and Costello” and expect one character to utter “this is a fine mess you’ve gotten me into Ollie.”

Donal Logue (“Grounded for Life,” “The Knights of Prosperity”) plays a part he can do in his sleep. He’s a former cop, Hank Dalworth, who lost his job and his pretty wife after becoming a drunk. His partner, Britt (Michael Raymond-James of “True Blood”), is a former petty thief who tags along to be a punching bag and provide dry comedy relief.

“I wish I knew you when you were a drunk,” Britt dryly tells the cheerless Hank early on. “I bet you were so more much fun then.”

Hank can give as good as he takes. When he decides to take a dog on a mission rather than Britt, Hank says “I need a partner who can keep up with me mentally.”

Somehow, these mutts have attracted some pretty ladies, who remain in their lives.

In tonight’s pilot, Hank and Britt start investigating a murder that implicates a 20something daughter of one of Hank’s old drunk friends.

Along the way, the buddies kidnap a dog, discover a dead body and put a down payment on a house with money given to them by a rich guy with something to hide.

The plot is decent, even if it isn’t essential to the enjoyment of a series amusingly built around the friendship of two lovable losers with big hearts and their own set of rules and principles.

The script even has some moments that turn these mutts into sweet puppy dogs.

On opening night anyway, “Terriers” clearly is the top dog.

Rating: “Hellcats”: 2 and a half stars out of 4

“Terriers”: 3 and a half stars

pergament@msn.com