Even as the new shows fall like dominoes, there a few series that have yet to make their debut. Two of those are premiering this week, and both have fairy-tale themes.

First up is “Once Upon a Time,” which debuts tonight (Oct. 23) at 8 on ABC. The premise: Fairy-tale characters live in Storybrooke, Maine – only they’re living as regular people, with no idea about their pasts. Jennifer Morrison (formerly of “House”) tries to track down connections between the two realities. “Once Upon a Time” also stars Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White and Lana Parrilla as the Evil Queen.

“Grimm” debuts Friday (Oct. 28) at 9 p.m. on Fox. It’s like a police procedural, only with a fairy-tale twist. In the premiere, for instance, a girl in a red hoodie is attacked. Could the big, bad wolf be behind it? Check out the video for a preview, but fair warning: It’s like watching the whole episode condensed into a few minutes. If you’re interested in checking out the series, you might want to skip it. But if you’re on the fence, or know you’re not going to watch it, it’s worth a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh3rFsv_WSE

Will either of these series have a happily ever after? “Grimm” seems like it might have broader appeal, but it’s buried on Friday nights, where good shows go to die. (See “Fringe,” “Chuck.”) That doesn’t bode well. As far as “Once Upon a Time,” it’s got the better timeslot, but it might have a harder time finding viewers who want to commit to a story that may take some time to develop. Both, though, may benefit from the later premiere date, with the field not quite so packed with debuts as it was in August.

— Heather Chavez