10-11 PM · ABC · Debuts Sept. 26

CONCEPT Idealistic Nick (Six Feet Under's Peter Krause) reluctantly becomes the family lawyer for the Darlings, an ultrawealthy, eccentric New York clan. Explains exec producer Greg Berlanti (Brothers & Sisters): ''We pitched it as Dynasty meets Six Feet Under.''

THE SCOOP It's part soap, part mystery (Nick's dad, the last Darling attorney, died suspiciously), part morality play. DSM also has a sharp cast: The Darling family is headed by Donald Sutherland and Jill Clayburgh, and Billy Baldwin plays senatorial hopeful Patrick, whose bid may be hampered by his transsexual mistress. (We mentioned the soap part, right?) Let him explain the Darling world: ''It's like a train wreck between the Kennedys and Paris Hilton.''

BOTTOM LINE The big treat here is Natalie Zea (Eyes). As shallow but warmhearted socialite Karen Darling, she steals all the Dirty Sexy Money.