This show is a cross between a political thriller and a crime procedural, and while it suffers from the cliches of both genres, I'm still intrigued enough to catch the second episode.
Joanne Kelly plays Sara Collins, the disappeared wife of John Allen Nelson's senator Jeffrey Collins. As can be expected of any politician marriage from Hollywood, there is more than meets the eye and there are many skeletons in the closet (check-- although huge props for Nelson actually playing the role of wounded husband; don't know if it's an act for the Feds-- or if he really does love her). Their children fall into the cliched roles of this type of show: rebel (check-- Margarita Levieva) and supporter to a fault (check-- John Patrick Amedori). Both children are biological offspring of Jeffrey, but adopted by Sara (check-- easier to make the cliches work this way).
The FBI is called in, and damaged Senior Agent Graham Kelton (Gale Harold) is put on the case. He had a bad resolution to his last case, so he has a lot to prove (check). The case isn't helped by Senator Collins' previous criticisms of the FBI, so Kelton is repeatedly reminded to handle this matter delicately. Kelton's partner is played by always-great supporting actor Ming-Na, whose job is to keep him in check (calm partner to determined "lead"-- check).
And, finally, Rebecca Gayheart plays the reporter on the case (hot chick who first appears onscreen wearing underwear-- check). [For equal opportunity, Gayheart's boyfriend is seen in only his underwear later in the episode.]
Even though I joke and say "check" after every cliche, this show still has potential. Every lead the agents followed revealed yet another clue-- and more questions. There is much, much more to the disappearance than what we could see from one episode (and if the really obvious scene before the disappearance explains it all in the end, I just may fly to Hollywood and smack around the producers). If this show follows true to the format, I expect a twist and turn at least every episode. In fact, the ending of the pilot had a very intriguing question posed.
It certainly doesn't live up to it's Prison Break lead-in, but it could be a good companion until 24 comes back in January. I just hope this serialized drama actually makes it through the whole season, so we can have some sort of resolution. But the acting and script is much better than last year's Reunion, which also attempted a season-long storyline-- and was cancelled six-eight episodes in, so maybe people will follow along. FOX, smartly, is airing this after the hottest show they've got in the fall-- and well before the other networks start airing new episodes of their shows.
Oh yeah-- in case I don't post before tomorrow: Prison Break Season Two premiere is Monday at 7 pm CST. You'll hate yourself if you miss it. Trust me on that.
One final thing: the beginning of this week's Venture Brothers just came on while I typed this. " I am The Bat." Funny...
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