It’s been a long while since I’ve expected the channel formerly known as Sci-Fi to give us much more than a lot of cheap and cheesy ghost hunting shows. Yes, the now-monikered SyFy has a few actual scripted science fiction shows. But from the channel that once aired “Battlestar Galactica,” the pickings are pretty slim.

So I’m happy to note one good sci-fi show currently airing on SyFy and, as a bonus, another that’s wrapping up its season on TNT.

The show approaching the end of its second season is “Falling Skies,” TNT’s post-apocalyptic drama about a group of survivors in the wake of an alien invasion of the Earth.

The first season showed the survivors, led by a history professor (Noah Wylie) and a military man (Will Patton) learning how to work together and avoid the spider-like alien invaders and their “Robocop”-type mech droids. The greatest threat they faced was the aliens’ aims to harness human youth, including one of Wylie’s sons.

This second season the humans have been journeying from New England to Charleston, South Carolina, where the U.S. government has been reforming.

In tonight’s episode, the travelers reach Charleston and find one of Wylie’s mentors in a pivotal role. The mentor is played by Terry O’Quinn of “Lost” fame and if you have a feeling he’s more than what he seems … I’m right there with you.

“Falling Skies” airs tonight and then wraps up its second season on Aug. 19.

On SyFy, “Alphas” is one of the most entertaining sci-fi dramas airing right now. Almost a TV version of “X-Men,” the Monday night show features a group of people with special abilities – super strength, heightened senses, the ability to persuade others to do anything – under the direction of human doctor Lee Rosen (David Straitham).

The teams of Alphas is a diverse bunch, often conflicting with each other like the teams from the best comic book stories. Among the most intriguing: Gary (Ryan Cartwright), a young man with autism who can “read” electronic signals from cell phones and computers in the air; Bill Harken (Malik Yoba) a cop whose super strength takes a toll on his body; and – new to the series as of last week – Kat (Erin Way), a young woman who can quickly absorb knowledge and become expert on any subject or technique.

“Alphas” tells interesting “small” stories – including one about a man whose super-speed abilities made him grow old quickly; be was played by 1980s star C. Thomas Howell as a college-age kid who unfortunately looked middle-aged – against a backdrop of a bigger story: The government’s concerns about and control of the Alphas and a rival team of Alphas with leanings that will remind “X-Men” fans of Magneto and his brotherhood.

“Falling Skies” has a fairly dense history that will make the most sense if you seek out and watch past episodes, but “Alphas” is a fun series that you can jump into at virtually any point. They’re both recommended.