POWER-PLAYERS! 'REVOLUTION' BEGINS ON UK TV

Children of the REVOLUTION emerge on post-apocalyptic Earth. Image: NBC.

Mankind has seemingly come to the end of the road in its existence and ambition, its power supplies across the planet lost in a sudden, unexplained blackout catastrophe, an event witnessed fleetingly, and teasingly, at the start of the hot new US series from that fantasy factory of J.J. Abrams and BAD ROBOT, teamed with SUPERNATURAL creator Eric Kripke, starting on SKY ONE HD from tonight: REVOLUTION.

Fifteen years on from that fateful night, its huge cities deserted and atrophied, its material-made transport gone the way of the dodo, and its natural resources now coming directly from the land, civilization has to get back-to-basics against a backdrop of unrest from warlords and militias, of which the once innocent Matheson family, possessing a mysterious pendant that may ultimately be the key to unlocking the mystery of what happened all those years earlier, become undeserved fugitives from the powerful antagonist that is Sebastian Monroe (David Lyons), who wants to become the ruling figure of the entire United States and wipe out any and all opposition standing in his way. The idea of a world returned to power that isn't through his hands must never be realised...

Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iUH7OuaMYc

With the exception of TWILIGHT's Billy Burke, paying another one those roguish types that have tried to follow in Harrison Ford’s original and weighty footsteps as Han Solo, and LOST/V’s lovely Elizabeth Mitchell, who, early on, appears in flashbacks that prove very LOST-like in their scene-setting (as the wife to one of the key players linked to the event launching Blackout), the show has no other relatively big name stars and is instead much more of a competent ensemble piece. In many ways, this decision, with such a surely expensive series to make, is to Abrams credit, continuing his trend of finding new faces and careers to launch.

Filmed in the forest and wildernesses of picturesque Georgia and North Carolina, directed with quality by feature film helmer Jon Favreau, this western/sci-fi blend aura to the series pilot holds the kind of subtle promise that will surely attract the kind of fan base Joss Whedon’s FIREFLY enjoyed a few years back. Ultimately, what I’ve seen of REVOLUTION so far, which isn’t much, hasn’t totally blown me away, but reviews online States-side have indicated that the series is gaining more story and character momentum, with a few shocks and surprises at the mid-season point, so I’ll see what happens to the Matheson’s and the pursuers for a little while longer. Possibly less convoluted and easier to follow in the long run, the show may perhaps prove long-term to be more relatable to audiences than some of Abrams previous weekly fantasy efforts: the also singular titled ALCATRAZ sadly bombed, despite another promising opener, whilst FRINGE made its five year duration mainly due to international sales success and a small but rabidly devoted fan base.

Check out some intriguing NBC promotional posters for the series, via the Sneak Peek website, here: REVOLUTION - THE TV SERIES

Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/RevolutionTvSeries

Official site: http://www.nbc.com/revolution/

A PROPERTY TO DIE FOR! '666 PARK AVENUE'

Elegant devilry by the Dorans (Terry O'Quinn and Vanessa Williams-left) reaches out to the young cast of the new supernatural/drama hybrid 666 PARK AVENUE. Image: ABC TV. 

I think that scientist have been lying to us. I think that the first human clone has been achieved and it's Terry O'Quinn! He just seems to be everywhere these days, and in all the top US TV shows, from HAWAII FIVE-O to FALLING SKIES. But, the good thing is that O'Quinn is also a terrific character actor and his performances in these shows, and past classics like MILLENNIUM and LOST, have always helped to elevate the quality level, something which I hope he, along with lovely co-star Vanessa Williams (playing his glamorous on-screen wife), will bring to the DEVIL'S ADVOCATE inspired television remake, with probably a lot of glossy, soapy DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES incident and beautiful people thrown in for good measure: 666 PARK AVENUE, from ABC TV, and coming soon to UK TV. Carrying on the dark and naughty tradition established by Al Pacino as the Devil, or someone/something very near him/it, is always going to be a hard act to follow, but O'Quinn, as super smart and immensely wealthy businessman Gavin Doran, can do mercurial evil very nicely-remember his final seasons turn as the Smoke Monster/the alternate John Locke in LOST?

Trailer: 666 Park Avenue On ABC (Trailer-3D) - YouTube

Created by Gabriella Pierce, and from her original popular book, the series involves a young well-to-do pairing (re: annoyingly attractive and body toned than you average normal human beings!)- Rachael Tayor as Jane Van Veen and Dave Annable as Henry Martin- soon discovering things going bump in the night beyond the bedroom, and their noisy and varied residents, when they take managership of a desirable Manhattan apartment building-the Drake- that just might be under the control of a mysterious supernatural force, courtesy of its owners, the Dorans. Bad enough that such on-screen stereotyped rich people can be so influential, evil and cruel, but giving them dark powers, too? Well, that's the end of the world in my book, baby!

Also starring Erik Palladino, Robert Buckley, Samantha Logan, Mercedes Masohn and TV baddie veteran Nick Chinlund, so memorable as death fetishist Donny Pfaster in an early episode of THE X-FILES, expect mild scares, occasional sexiness-the best that you'll get on network TV anyway, political and society in-fighting, and the odd bit of feminine super-bitchiness from the New York elite, alongside no doubt multiple character plot strands that may be the hit-or-miss mark on the shows future beyond seven (so far) episodes. Still, whatever happens, I'll be at least watching the pilot episode to see O'Quinn enjoying himself!

THE NEXT "GOOD GUYS"! 'PERSON OF INTEREST'

Men of Numbers. The intriguing crime-fghting duo of Jim Caviezel and Michael Emerson in PERSON OF INTEREST. Images: CBS.

Finally arriving on UK TV screens tonight via those US friendly show buyers at CHANNEL 5 (perhaps someone out there in the world of commercial entertainment suits-dom has finally been reading the KOOL TV site?) is the stylish cyber vigilante crime drama series PERSON OF INTEREST, produced and created by wunderkids of film and TV, LOST and FRINGE's J.J. Abrams and THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Jonathan Nolan (brother of director Christopher)-as if you didn't know who they were?!

Title sequence: Person Of Interest Main Title on Vimeo

Receiving critical acclaim for its often ingenious and almost believable blend of sci-fi technology and action drama format storytelling set in a post 9/11 uncomfortable America still slowly and subtly building up its Big Brother is watching you style of surveillance - a trend also pretty much followed by the UK and Europe these days- lead series stars Jim Caviezel and LOST's ex-baddie, the brilliant Michael Emerson (a kind of psychopathic looking, real-life version of big eyed Droopy and a grown up Stewie from FAMILY GUY!), have won plaudits for their on-screen charisma together: a fine duo of action and technology whose characters, soon fugitives themselves by pursuant government and varying law enforcers for their shady but necessary work, right wrongs and stop the innocent becoming victims to crime and violence beyond anything predicted by terrorism. Mixing an overall high concept idea with audience friendly plots- think a bigger and probably more stylish version of THE EQUALIZER, with a hint of INCEPTION and LOST thrown into the cooking pot for good measure- you'll get the picture of what this tantalising main course is all about...

Check out our earlier feature on the show here: FUTURE CRIME! WATCHING OUT FOR THAT "PERSON OF INTEREST"...

Here's the official page: Person of Interest on CBS.com
and FACEBOOK site: Person of Interest

DANGEROUS GAMES! 'SCANDAL' AT 1600

Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington, centre) and her team (including THE WEST WING's Joshua Malina, far left) are an altogether different kind of Presidential Protection Team in the new drama series SCANDAL. Images: ABC TV.

Described in some circles as "the anti WEST WING", Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of the soapy States-side hit medical show GREY'S ANATOMY, brings us SCANDAL, creates a new and apparently gritty drama series for ABC TV that's hopefully far removed from the previous soapy hospital environs of emotional and physical trauma that, whilst still popular, has seemingly passed its genre sell by date. Seemingly re-vitalising the small screen realisation of modern-day political and relationships intrigue set within the upper echelons of power that is the Oval Office, SCANDAL is, by its nature and description, exactly what the series is about, through the eyes and work of a powerful and influential damage control liaison and political fixer, Olivia Pope (played by the lovely actress Kerry Washington, best known for her film work in the likes of recent hits THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, and the two fun MARVEL comic blockbusters about THE FANTASTIC FOUR and the upcoming Quentin Tarantino western epic DJANGO UNCHAINED), apparently based on a real-life member of the George Bush administration, who's smart and savvy enough to know what's right and wrong for the people of America through their POTUS (that's the President, for all of us not in the know with all the behind the scenes lingo!). Having been a former communications director to President Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn), Pope and her well chosen and accomplished team of heavy-hitters (described as "Gladiators in suits'!) know how to make the most of, avoid or limit the daily problems and/or complex challenges facing and surrounding their boss and paymaster in his actions as the most powerful and recognised leader of the Western World, knowing when and where best to play to his greatest of strengths and personal charisma in the position. The very fact that she knows him beyond the job and her earlier political position-that she was and may soon continue to be his secret mistress- also puts her in a candid and unique position and perspective in which to influence his life and career, in ways that Martin Sheen never had with Allison Janney!

Tony Goldwyn as President Fitzgerald Grant.

Washington has the ability to be tough and tender in her new series role, capable of locking horns and verbal interplay with the President's most powerful players inside and out of the Oval Office (including Jeff Perry as the powerful bull-in-a-china shop figure of White House Chief of Staff, Cyrus Beene) and looks set to continue the trend for strong female lead roles in prime time series, what with the recent success of Julianna Margulies in THE GOOD WIFE, Anna Torv in FRINGE, and Maria Bello in the controversial US remake of the hit UK police drama PRIME SUSPECT.

Trailer: Scandal New ABC Series Official Trailer (Premier 2011 Fall) - YouTube

The Season One key art for SCANDAL. 

I'd hardly put the aforementioned GREY'S ANATOMY in my definition of KOOL TV, but from this new series trailer, its solid cast (including Guillermo Diaz as Olivia's top investigator, Huck, LOST's Henry Ian Cusick and THE WEST WING's Rob Lowe replacement, Joshua Malina), guest stars like MILLENNIUM's Megan Gallagher and Kate Burton (playing the Vice President), backed up with overall interesting plot synopsis for year one- and a second season on the way- which show a mystery/political thriller emphasis to them in certain developing areas, SCANDAL could be sufficiently intriguing enough for me to sample it when it eventually arrives in Blighty...

KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: 'HOMELAND's ZULEIKHA ROBINSON

Exotic delight: the lovely Zuleikha Robinson poses for the camera. Image: ULIKE.

From being a mysterious female James Bond industrial spy figure in Chris Carter's comedy drama series spin-off to THE X-FILES, THE LONE GUNMEN, to an ambitious prostitute with her sights on being a mistress of ancient ROME's dark and deadly streets in the adult and high quality HBO mini-series of the same name, making her mark as one of the better supporting characters stranded in island purgatory on LOST-another mysterious femme fatale/bounty hunter action heroine, to now being a middle Eastern journalist with a fiery agenda on the upcoming second season of the hit SHOWTIME suspense drama HOMELAND, lovely British actress Zuleikha Robinson, with her striking and exotic dark looks and admired busty, statuesque physique, has become a popular name in Hollywood, and deservedly so, in her playing of numerous intriguing roles over the last twelve years.

Making a fine entrance with the cast of THE LONE GUNMEN. Image: FOX.

Acquiring the next target: Zuleikha as Yves Adele Harlow in THE LONE GUNMEN. Image: FOX.

Making a striking first impression on viewers as the black leather clad weapons expert, the tough, no nonsense character of 'Yves Adele Harlow" (an anagram of JFK 'assassin' Lee Harvey Oswald-her real name would never be known through the series run), who often acted against her own commercial judgements to help out the three geeky and full of heart Lone Gunmen of the title (played with their own inimitable charm by Bruce Harwood, Tom Braidwood and Dean Haglund) out to expose the truth behind the various cover ups, conspiracies and technological dangers the modern world is facing, the show may not ultimately have lasted very long-a mere thirteen episodes- as a spin-off to such a popular show like THE X-FILES (perhaps a victim of audiences not quite knowing what to make of it overall)- alongside a wrap-up in it's brother shows  ninth and final season, but other feature film roles were soon around the corner for Robinson such as the mildly successful Joe Johnston directed desert horse racing adventure HIDALGO, and working alongside the iconic Al Pacino in the starry and well-made adaptation of Shakespeare's THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, before a return to popular TV in the second and final season of HBO's made for good notices critically and on her career CV, giving an excellent and highly charged performance in the equally excellent and highly charged historical saga that was HBO's ROME, playing another dangerous character-at first a tart with a heart and then going on to become Gaia (a real misinterpretation of the word's meaning: Mother Earth!): an ambitious, sex as a weapon manipulating figure doing her utmost best to control our central heroes Kevin McKidd and Ray Stevenson. Going from history to fantasy, Robinson would play gutsy and instinctive Eva Marquez alongside GAME OF THRONES star to be Nikolal Coster-Waldau's immortal New York detective John Amsterdam in another short running but liked FOX series, the HIGHLANDER-esque NEW AMSTERDAM, and then onto a much more memorable role in another equally iconic series now approaching its final two seasons: the hit JJ Abrams/ABC TV sci-fi/fantasy that captured and beguiled audiences hearts in equal measure: LOST, and making another exciting impression as the resourceful Ilana Verdansky, who first appeared in the show trapping and then beating into the middle of next Wednesday, our favourite Iraqi hero Sayid (Naveen Andrews) on the orders of the mysterious father-figure like Jacob (Mark Pellegrino), before being just as trapped as the rest of the core players on the constantly moving island as they took on the Black Smoke creature, and certainly coming to an unexpected and literally explosive end!

As the life hardened Gaia in ROME. Image: HBO.

Alongside Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in the short-lived NEW AMSTERDAM. Image: FOX.

And back in fantasy as battle hardened Ilana in the final days of LOST. Image: ABC TV.

Miss Robinson's streak for playing know what they want independent women characters continues apace within the next season of the eagerly anticipated and addictive new TV hit, the terrorist thriller/character drama from Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa, HOMELAND, where she'll be playing the middle eastern role of Roya Hammad, a journalist who has a connection to the mysterious Al-Qaeda-esque figure of Abu Nazir (Navid Negaban) and whom goes on to deliver an ultimatum to Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), the turned ex-American military man now intent on delivering a terrible death blow to his country's security and its people. How all the new seasons twists and turns will be revealed, and what further involvement Roya will play in the shape of things, remains to be seen, but Miss Robinson's expected presence in the show will certainly be enough to boost male viewers blood pressure a fair few points over the coming months.

KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: 'FRINGE's REBECCA MADER

The lovely British actress Rebecca Mader, as seen in the 2011 comedy series WORK IT. Image: ABC TV. 

Her fiery, often shady time-travelling architect character of Charlotte Lewis in the hit adventure/drama LOST may, ultimately, and sadly, have been unintentionally shortchanged in the final year of her two season stint on the series-ultimately due to an already creaking the floorboards major ensemble cast with multiple plot strands to be sorted out by the shows writers as it reached its finale), but that hasn't stopped the spirited and lovely British actress Rebecca Mader making a fine career for herself in American television, with guest star roles in other hit, well-known shows like ALPHAS (playing a deadly assassin with an ability to render herself invisible to the human eye), NO ORDINARY FAMILY, COVERT AFFAIRS and LAW AND ORDER to name but a few. Sci-fans who love the J.J. Abrams stable of sci-fi, including the aforementioned LOST, will be pleased to hear that she'll soon be playing another strong character role in the upcoming fourth season (series?) finale episodes of the mind-bending, mind-busting FRINGE (currently showing in the UK on the SKY ONE HD channel), playing Jessica, a potential new love interest (?) for the amiable scientist/ lead Peter Bishop, as played by Joshua Jackson. Jessica will become involved in the FRINGE division's desperate search for the renegade, parallel world traversing, terrorist super baddie David Robert Jones (as played with a high intelligence, supercilious nature by the excellent Jared Harris). KOOL TV looks forward to seeing Miss Mader in the series and what developments her appearance will bring...

Rebecca poses for another weird and wonderful LOST promotional shoot.

Getting down and dirty in the jungles of LOST, with Jeremy Davies and Josh Holloway.

THEY DON'T WANT PEACE! 'FALLING SKIES' SEASON TWO

One of the new and mysterious aliens seen in the Season One finale of FALLING SKIES. Images: TNT

Expecting a quick and easy subjugation and pillaging of the planet Earth- its environment and inhabitants (specifically children)- those formidable and as yet to be properly named aliens of the popular Steven Spielberg executive produced sci-fi invasion drama FALLING SKIES failed to anticipate the long-term spirited courage, selflessness and overall ingenuity of the gathered human survivor resistance forces that, by the end of the shows first season, had dealt an unexpected and critical blow to the "Skitters" plans- led by the courageous military historian Tom Mason (Noah Wyle). It was a daring attack which made the alien force astonishingly pause to reevaluate their game plan in the face of such unusual and effective retaliation, and soon having them communicating, albeit threateningly with force of arms and human captives to back themselves up, with their human enemies, resulting in an unwilling Tom going into the heart of enemy territory, where his chances of return or rescue seemed unlikely. Where this unusual, game-changing situation will lead, and what further revelations may unexpectedly ensue, will surely be revealed with the return of the series, created by Robert Rodat, for ten more episodes (its two hour opener intriguingly titled Worlds Apart) on the American TNT channel later in the summer, from June 17th 9pm (and no doubt shortly afterwards in the UK on the FX HD channel, too).

Will Tom Mason (Noah Wyle) find a new chink in the aliens armour?

Resistance fighters Captain Weaver (Will Patton) and Hal Mason (Drew Roy) plan new strategies.

A pause in the conflict for Hal and plucky, machine gun toting Margaret (Sarah Carter).

Ultimately, let's face it, there's nothing really remotely new or original about the show-it's definitely a familiar mixture of the grungy and almost hopeless post apocalyptic/action elements and last stand for humanity aspects witnessed in THE TERMINATOR saga, soaked up with the last legs of isolated humanity feeling that's prevalent to THE WALKING DEAD, but FALLING SKIES is enjoyable enough small-scale blockbuster TV fare which I'm glad got a second season. Early episodes in the premiere year were a little underwhelming and, despite a reasonably large budget, looked a little too filmed on the backlot for my tastes, but it soon picked up and found a voice to become quite involving, often with some good CGI and alien scare moments, whilst Noah Wyle became an effective and likable, often quite vulnerable, leading man/father figure hero, surrounded by a good enough supporting cast. For the new year, that supporting team gets some strong new credibility with the welcome inclusion of LOST/HAWAII FIVE O's Terry O'Quinn, who should add some fine acting chomps in his roles as one of  Mason's former teachers. In fact, the actor is starting to get pretty good at playing human Yoda type roles these days!

Captured and alien harnessed teenagers work for the mysterious race in Season One.

Season Two teaser trailer: Falling Skies Season 2 Trailer - YouTube

Look for more on FALLING SKIES Season Two on KOOL TV in the not too distant future.


Join the shows FACEBOOK site for more updates: Falling Skies

NOR IRON BARS A CAGE. UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF 'ALCATRAZ'

Escaping to where? A mystery past and present to solve for our heroes of ALCATRAZ. Images: Kharen Hill for FOX.

Comparisons to previous and distinctive BAD ROBOT/ J.J. Abrams productions are inevitable and unavoidable as far as the ambitious new multi-genre crossing FOX series ALCATRAZ is concerned: a ballsy leading lady (and blond, perhaps a homage to Hitchcock's passion for that hair colour with his heroines) with a mystery shrouded past yet to be revealed, acting alongside quirky supporting characters-some friendly, some with agendas, long term story arcs that may not necessarily be conveniently tied up anytime soon, some kind of island somewhere, one word titles, all-round weird goings on, and Michael Giacchino's now all too samey music, as well as links and nods to previous hit shows like THE 4400 and the granddaddy of them all, THE X-FILES. But, with its fast paced opening episode feel and a reasonably fresh new take adapting many popular film and TV icons- part mystery drama, part sci-fi/time travel, part conspiracy thriller, mixed with a little bit of THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION-ALCATRAZ, created by LOST writer Elisabeth Sarnoff with Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt, and soon to air exclusively on the UK's WATCH HD channel from 13th March, does show enjoyable potential which I hope sustains itself to at least reach a satisfying destination at the end of its premiere year.

Sarah Jones as Rebecca Madsen.

LOST's Jorge Garcia as Dr. Diego Soto

Parminder Nagra as Lucy Banerjee.

Sam Neill as FBI Agent Emerson Hauser

Solid, always on the move direction from British producer/ex-CSI and NIKITA director Danny Cannon keeps things lively and atmospheric against the picturesque San Francisco location filming of the opener, and brings an amiable main cast into focus, too. Sarah Jones proves a comfortable choice in the lead role of sharp eyed and instinctive Detective Rebecca Madsen, adding humour and tomboy-ish looks that make her different from FRINGE's slightly more aloof Olivia Dunham, ably supported by the always likable ex-LOSTer Jorge Garcia, escaping Hurley for the most part in a nice to see series second lead role (bucking the Hollywood trend-Thank God!- of not using way too young, Brad Pitt/ 12 year old looking facial types of the kind we see all too often as leads these days) as Dr. Diego Soto, a more serious but still fun Alcatraz expert/comic book writer whose knowledge of the inmates of the notorious, escape proof prison comes in very handy, though he soon finds a lot of his work turned upside down as frightening new revelations about the island's final days are slowly uncovered. No longer fighting Dinosaurs within JURASSIC PARK, Sam Neill is suitably enigmatic as shadowy FBI agent Emerson Hauser and adds the right kind of menace where needed, whilst ER's attractive Parminda Nagra goes beyond bending it like Beckham to play a character, Lucy Banerjee, whom we soon discover is shrouded in mystery. Could she be the Nina Sharp of the series? (But without the DR NO-ish black gloved hands, I hope!) The occasional appearance of popular seventies film star/character actor Robert Forster as Rebecca's great-uncle and ex-prison guard, with secrets to hide about what happened during the island's final days in 1963, also proves to be a fine casting choice, whom I hope we see a lot more of.
The same for ex-HEROES star Santiago Cabrera, too.

Its not a classic series yet, but ALCATRAZ certainly could be, as the long-term characters and story arcs begin to firm up and we find out more about the kidnapped 63's: 302 missing prisoners, wardens and their families who literally and inexplicably vanished into thin air in 1963- their loss covered up by the authorities- and whom are now returning to the present day, seemingly one by one, un-aged and with a purpose, under the orders of unknown deliverers/benefactors, to bring chaos to San Francisco and modern America. Is this mysterious, destiny controlling force from a down to Earth, as yet untraceable source? (Using a kind of Philadelphia Experiment type technology developed by ambitious scientists and government men in the sixties?) Are the returnees part of a long term and purposeful programme of de-stabilisation? Or is something more evil, possibly extra-terrestrial, at work? And how is all this connected to Rebecca's family lineage, who worked on the island during that intense period? Will dangerous and disturbing aspects of their past threaten her future? Lots of questions in just the series opener alone, and I look forward to finding out more. Though please, please-note to producers-don't spread the revelations out until five years time with the final episode!

The full series cast of ALCATRAZ. Coming to the UK's WATCH Channel and HD.

KOOL TV RATING OF OPENING EPISODE: 4 out of 5


Enjoy the UK WATCH website pages for the new series here: Alcatraz

Check out our previous series preview feature here: DOING TIME ON "ALCATRAZ" | KOOL TV


Look out for more of ALCATRAZ on KOOL TV in the not too distant future.

BEYOND BAUER! KIEFER SUTHERLAND HAS THE "TOUCH"

A new destiny for Martin Bohm (Kiefer Sutherland) and son Jake (David Mazouz) awaits in the new series TOUCH. Images: FOX.

It looks like 2012 is going to be a great year for fans of Kiefer Sutherland. Not only has the popular actor confirmed that he will be (finally!) returning to play patriot counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer, now outside the States- still working in real-time- and globe-trotting onwards in the spectacular fight against the worst of the worst baddies for the 24 movie, shooting from April, and hopefully for theatrical release at the end of the year or into 2013, but the greenlight was also given at the end of last year by FOX for a full season order of his new family/fantasy TV series vehicle TOUCH, created by popular HEROES/CROSSING JORDAN visionary Tim Kring. 


In a nice change of pace from playing the angry, ballistic missile speeding action hero that is Jack B.-and an attempt by the actor and series creator to bring more emotional resonance to the small screen, TOUCH has Kiefer playing Martin Bohm, a family man who discovers that his 11 year old special needs son, Jake (David Mazouz), has the incredible ability to predict the future before it happens: a condition that will surely bring the best and worse of humanity knocking on their door, and beyond, as father and son have the ability to save lives and right wrongs (possibly before they even happen), alongside all the other potential knock-on effect consequences their actions will involve down the line...


Trailer: Touch - Trailer (HD) starring Kiefer Sutherland - YouTube

TOUCH gives KOOL TV yet another fine opportunity to put up a picture of lovely Brit actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw!

The series, which premieres its pilot episode on January 25th (before its full debut in March), also stars the lovely ex-UNDERCOVERS star Gugu Mbatha-Raw (a series regular) as a social worker who becomes involved in the life and protection of the child, and also Danny Glover, always a fine character acting presence, as a professor who helps guide the Bohm's in their new lives. Plus, appearing in the pilot episode, comes  LOST's cool and dangerous"Smoke Creature" manifestation, Titus Welliver, as a stranger who holds the key to saving a group of lives at a specific time.


Let's hope that this series truly has the touch necessary to deliver a compulsive storyline and engaging characters without bogging the viewing audiences down in too much saccharine and sentimentality. If it can capture the same kind of balance that made the first and best series of Kring's HEROES so landmark, then it'll surely be a major winner!

DOING TIME ON "ALCATRAZ"

Dr. Diego Soto (Jorge Garcia), Det. Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones) and Agent Emerson Hauser (Sam Neill) investigate the mystery of ALCATRAZ. Images: FOX.

One thing's for sure about modern film and TV creative mastermind J.J. Abrams, he certainly knows all about islands, in particular the one he critically help shape for the iconic fantasy/adventure series LOST in its first three seasons. Now, he and his BAD ROBOT production company, in association with FOX, have got their creative guns aimed firmly at the real life ex-prison island of Alcatraz in their new series of the same name. And yes sir, as always with Abrams, this isn't going to be a simple drama about the facilities incredible and indomitable legacy as in inescapable jail for the majority of its hardened and dangerous criminals. The sci-fi/supernatural elements of storytelling that have become a firm trademark of his producership over the last eight years keenly return to latch themselves to the new shows format, devised by another LOST writing alumni Elizabeth Sarnoff- as a team of investigators, headed by gutsy Detective Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones), who already has family links to the island via her father (Robert Forster), alongside Alcatraz expert Dr. Diego Soto (Jorge Garcia, getting a well deserved lead role after his fine work on LOST as the always amiable, numbers beleaguered Hugo Reyes (aka Hurley), our window, and emotional barometer, to the characters of that series) and the enigmatic, secrets keeping government agent Emerson Hauser (Sam Neill, in another recent foray into the world of television since the TWIN PEAKS-esque HAPPY TOWN) prepare to solve the inexplicable mystery concerning 300 plus prisoners and guards once ensconced within its creepy interior who suddenly make an inexplicable return from their disappeared past back to the present day. Just how and why this has happened-and what its ramifications will bring to both America and the quirky investigative team- will surely be revealed in a deliberately suspenseful and audience teasing way by the shows writer/producers for the duration of its first season (and hopefully beyond).

Trailer: ALCATRAZ - First Look Trailer - YouTube

With a storytelling mix surely echoing facets of THE 4400, LOST, PRISON BREAK, FRINGE and THE GREEN MILE, let's hope ALCATRAZ, premiering in the US from the 16th January with a double episode launch, gets the new viewing season off to a great start and escapes the shackles of its TV ratings requirements, satisfying viewers with a strong, but hopefully not too confusing, storyline, alongside interesting characters capable of lifting it beyond other similar styled fantasy fare.

FUTURE CRIME! WATCHING OUT FOR THAT "PERSON OF INTEREST"...

The all-seeing eyes of the mysterious Finch (Michael Emerson) and Reese (Jim Caviezel) in PERSON OF INTEREST. Images: CBS.

Possessing distinctive features, baby-face eyes and high intelligence hairline, Michael Emerson has had a varied and interesting acting career on US television since the early nineties (of which we heartily recommend his charming and vulnerable performance in the 2002 THE X-FILES Brady Bunch celebration episode Sunshine Days) but it wasn't until 2006 that he truly made his name, deservedly hitting the TV big-league target with his portrayal of Benjamin Linus: the well-read, mysteriously complex and charismatic, but also decidedly bitter, manipulative and intuitively deadly leader of the equally kooky hippies with guns, The Others, in the hit sci-fi/action/character drama LOST.

First revealed whilst pretending to be a newcomer to the ever moving, hard to locate island, arriving there via crashed parachute landing, Linus, despite some wariness to his identity, infiltrated the small group of survivors of the Oceanic Airlines flight 815 crash for a brief time before his identity came to the fore, attempting to find out as much as possible about his new enemies and what would soon be their destinies-for good and bad- with the mysterious islands supreme being, Jacob. Over the course of the five seasons, Linus would confuse, astound, belittle, torture and befriend our heroes, and with every episodes complex building blocks Emerson would rightly win critical acclaim and fan adulation for his constantly evolving role, which often mixed bravery with indignation, and vulnerability with unexpected cruelty. Audiences would never quite be able to pin down Linus's allegiances until the last few episodes of the final season and by then the actor had surely cemented himself as one of LOST's greatest and now iconic assets.

Trailer: Person of Interest 1 Season 2012 Official Trailer Promo LoadTV.biz.mp4 - YouTube

Trailer/behind the scenes: Person of Interest - First Trailer - Starring Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel - YouTube

Beyond that finale episode of LOST, series co-creator J.J.Abrams has continued to recognise Emerson's talents by recently casting him as series co-lead (alongside film actor Jim Caviezel) in the brand new modern-day crime drama series PERSON OF INTEREST, which debuted to strong ratings and excellent demographics for the CBS channel since it began airing it this September. Keeping a little bit of the Linus character about him, Emerson plays the shadowy Billionaire Bill Gates-esque figure of genius computer/ software developer Harold Finch, who creates the ultimate computer program in the continuing evolutionary process of developing technology used in America's world wide counter-terrorism fight. This Big Brother'ish conception-which predicts nightmare scenarios before they happen- is soon put to good use in hunting down the terrorists, but its actions and abilities also trigger an intriguing sub-universe of statistics, information and personal Social Security Numbers where Finch quickly sees the potential of spotting other types of trouble-makers and future crime portent deadly enough that they too must be corrected and altered. With his US Government superiors uninterested in using the device beyond its initially conceived abilities, Finch, conveniently presumed dead shortly after, goes off the grid, and, paired with his specially selected, also "erased" presence of former Green Beret/ex-CIA agent John Reese (Caviezel), have their own world of pre-cog crime-fighting to begin...

Reese and Finch use their resources to look for the next "Person" of interest.

With its intriguing premise by Abrams - another of his fun and atmospheric sci-fi'ish concepts inspired from past shows like THE TWILIGHT ZONE and THE X-FILES fused with crime drama against our modern day reality of unwanted but mostly necessary surveillance and intrusions into our real lives by post-9/11 agencies/forces whose ultimate powers over us we can only guess at- probably going well beyond any of the kind of things first thought up by George Orwell!- PERSON OF INTEREST, co-written by Jonathan Nolan, (brother of equally talented Christopher Nolan - the pair having successfully brought DC COMIC's BATMAN back to his energised cycle of gritty darkness and realism in cinemas these past seven years), also boasting a strong chemistry between the two lead actors, looks set to be a modern US TV classic that's well worth keeping a look out- you could say a series of interest- when it eventually debuts on British television...

KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: "ALIAS"s JENNIFER GARNER

The gorgeous Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow in ALIAS. Image: ABC TV.

Re-vitalizing the action adventure series for the small screen in 2001, with more than a little bit of science fiction creeping into it along the way, LOST creator and modern 2011 onwards STAR TREK movie series visionary J.J. Abrams brought us ALIAS-a modern and hip new look at the world of the spy and the spy masters, in which young recruit Sydney Bristow (the lovely Jennifer Garner, in a lead role, that, though it launched her into a film career, hasn't been bettered), one of the the best and most deadly efficient members of the black-ops organisation she believes is SD-6, tries to maintain a not always easy balance between her personal and professional life, and her equally important relationships with friends and family. But things soon take a turn for the worse when her fiance is murdered and she finds her life turned upside down with the news that her shadowy employers are not whom they appear to be...

Packed with more twists and turns over five seasons than a game of Mousetrap!, alongside a fresh and exciting visual style that quickly caught the viewers imaginations and loyalties, created by a team assembled by Abrams that would go onto further great things alongside him (including writers Bob Kurtzman and Rocberto Orci, directors Jack Bender and Fred Toye, and music composer Michael Giacchino), and giving us great main/guest casts the likes of LOST's Terry O'Quinn, HEROES Greg Grunberg and David Anders, as well as major league film stars to be Bradley Cooper (of THE HANGOVER), Melissa George (who turns up in the show from Season Three onwards) and Lena Olin (a former Russian spy who turns out to be Sydney's mom, Irina Derevko), alongside memorable cult appearances from Rutger Hauer, David Carradine, Quentin Tarantino, Faye Dunaway and even 007 himself- Sir Roger Moore!, ALIAS was a sure fire, must-watch hit for ABC TV. But it wouldn't have worked anywhere near as well it did without the great central casting of Garner, who brought a youthful sensitivity and charm to the role of Sydney but whom also proved absolutely superb and highly accomplished within the shows physical aspects, looking sensational and believable in its many spectacular fight and stunt sequences. If Garner hadn't been so enthusiastic and pioneering in all these areas, I doubt today's action/adventure fans would be seeing the kinds of shows like NIKITA, COVERT AFFAIRS and the re-imagined CHARLIE'S ANGELS that they're enjoying today.

Beyond ALIAS, Texas born Garner would go on to play further types of sassy and physical heroines, such as the revenge fuelled Elektra in the MARVEL comics DAREDEVIL film adaptation, and playing the same character in her own starring vehicle, ELEKTRA (stylishly directed by THE X-FILES top visualist, Rob Bowman), as well as the faced paced Iraq set action/drama THE KINGDOM. She would also go on to prove herself with a likable talent for comedy including roles in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, 13 GOING ON 30 and, more recently, in the quirky sleeper hit JUNO.

Currently enjoying some family time with her husband, actor/director Ben Affleck, and now expecting a third child, we expect Miss Garner's eventual return to the film and TV world will continue to be as diverse and intriguing as it's previously been.