As the fall TV season proceeds, the weaker shows continue to fall by the wayside. (So long, Charlie's Angels, Memphis Beat, Playboy Club, Free Agents...)

But among the new fall shows that are showing signs of strength -- and maybe even longevity -- are two fairy-tale-inspired ones, ABC's Once Upon a Time and NBC's Grimm.

Once Upon a Time is a supernatural drama about Brothers Grimm characters who've been exiled from fairy-tale land by the Evil Queen, and are now living in Storybrooke, Maine. The show had a big premiere, and it's maintained its high ratings.

Grimm is a supernatural crime show about a homicide detective who must protect citizens from an influx of supernatural beings coming from Grimm's fairy tales. It premiered opposite Game 7 of the World Series, and somehow managed to attract 6.6 million viewers -- a good number for a Friday night and a great number considering its baseball competition.

The success of the shows is somewhat surprising because fairy tale-themed TV doesn't exactly have a proven track record, like, say police procedurals or courtroom dramas. The only show close to these in the last few years was the whimsical Pushing Daisies, which failed to attract enough viewers to keep it on the air more than two seasons.

So why the sudden interest in adult fairy tales? There's no obvious answer to that question, though it's tempting to suggest that now, more than ever, people are drawn to escapist TV. That may have something to do with it, but it's also true that both shows have veteran writers on their staffs, and likable actors who are able to pull off the out-there stories they're telling.

In Grimm's case, Buffy the Vampire Slayer writers are behind the smart scripts. And Once Upon a Time comes from the pens of Lost writers and producers, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.

Could it simply be that several of Hollywood's most talented writers decided to turn to fairy tales for their next project? That's as good an explanation as any. Whatever the cause, hopefully these shows can keep their fairy-tale runs going. Then, perhaps, the trend will truly catch on.

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