'Thieves' is a show to catch

'Thieves' Airs: 8 p.m., ABC (Channel 9) Stars: John Stamos, Melissa George Most closely resembles: "Moonlighting" Aaron's advice: Watch it! In this crackling action-comedy, two top safecrackers get caught on the same sting and are enlisted in the government's attempt to fight crime. Stamos and George fling insults back and forth but, shades of Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd, we're led to believe this is their idea of a mating ritual. With this much energy, wit and panache, "Thieves" is, as they say in the crime biz, a real professional job. Too bad ABC has scheduled it for Fridays, where the network hasn't had a hit in years. 'Danny' Airs: 7:30 p.m., CBS (Channel 5) Stars: Daniel Stern, Joely Fisher, Jon Foster, Julia McIlvaine, Robert Prosky, Roz Ryan Aaron's advice: Try it. Recently divorced and comically unhip dad (Stern) tries to manage two teen-agers while wandering back into the primeval forest of dating. In its favor, "Danny" has no laugh track, and Stern is endearingly innocent of the perils of single fatherhood. But viewers have moved beyond conventional comedies like this one (and "The Ellen Show," which precedes it at 7 p.m.). They want fast pacing, big laughs and unpredictable outcomes. "Danny," sweet as it is, has none of these. 'Pasadena' Airs: 8 p.m., Fox (Channel 4) Stars: Dana Delany, Martin Donovan, Balthazar Getty, Alison Lohman, Mark Valley, Natasha Gregson Wagner Most closely resembles: "Dynasty" Aaron's advice: Try it. Remember the "Titans"? Last year's attempt to revive the prime-time soap opera didn't go very far on NBC. Now Fox is trying a different tack with "Pasadena," another dynastic soap but this time more along the lines of early "90210" - lots of strong feelings, a little whoopee and some high-school intrigue. The series is narrated by 15-year-old Lily McAllister (Lohman), whose clan owns and operates a big L.A. daily and live in tony Pasadena. A scandal has descended on her parents just as Lily is starting to uncover the family dirt. The first episode is much darker than the promos make it seem, but Mom (Delany) is just as kooky as she appears in the commercial. "Pasadena" isn't chock-full of the howlers that usually show up in evening soaps, but this show may be trying to satisfy a viewer demand that no longer exists. Aaron Barnhart's fall TV preview is online at www.kansascity.com. @ART CAPTION:Melissa George and John Stamos star in "Thieves" on ABC. @ART:Photo (color)