ABC's FlashForward

These days the network ABC is trying to find a replacement for one of its key shows which is soon going off the air. That show is "Lost" and though its rating aren't what they once were, the show has a very serious core of diehard fans. I must admit that I count myself among those who is a diehard fan. They want to move the island? Sure, I go right along with it and delight in the craziness.

Well, "Lost" is heading into its last season. Whatever the ultimate ending of that series, it is very likely going to disappoint some, if not all, of its fans. There is just no way a series can be building and building to a conclusion that is going to make everyone happy. That being said, the network is hoping to find the next big cultural phenomenon.

There have been other attempts to create that even on ABC. Other networks have tried as well, with mixed results. "Heroes" was a success its first season, but eventually ran right off the rails and is now so far gone, I don't think it can be saved. There was that strange series about people who survived a bank robbery and hostage situation called "The Nine" that just didn't have enough to keep you interested. There was that other series about a guy reliving the same day over and over again until he saved his girlfriend that I can't even remember the title of.

Now ABC has debuted the show called "FlashForward" and it not only borrows the idea of a long-running mythology from "Lost" but also a few actors from that other series. In fact, it is so beholden to "Lost" that it even tosses out a few direct acknowledgments to the series in its debut.

"FlashForward" I am happy to say, works very well. Of course, there has, so far, been only one episode. However, a show like this can go wrong very quickly. Those other shows (with the exception of "Heroes") all went right off the rails right away. You could tell that the concept and ongoing plotline was not going to be enough to sustain the series. Thankfully, in the first episode, "FlashForward" has an interesting concept and seems to be an interesting potential series.

The show imagines the world as it stands today. The primary characters are all living in a city that reminds me a lot of Los Angeles, but I cannot honestly say they ever said for sure it was Los Angeles. Anyway, suddenly, and without warning, everyone in the world falls unconscious at exactly the same time. Everyone is out for exactly two minutes and seventeen second. When everyone wakes up they all realize that they all saw glimpses of the future, roughly six months, while they were out. Some saw confusing things. Some saw horrible things. Some saw hopeful things. At least one saw nothing.

What caused the people to fall unconscious? Are the visions actually going to come true or can some of the future be changed? Were they actually glimpses of the future, or maybe glimpses of some alternate reality? Why is there one guy in Detroit's baseball stadium evidently still awake on a grainy video image when the rest of the world is out?

All in all, the set-up is pretty good. There is an immediate feeling of paranoia that sets in as the world wonders what could have caused this thing to happen and will it happen again? Because when it did happen it caused a lot of chaos. You see, cars were still moving and planes and helicopters were still flying and doctors were in the middle of operations when everyone fell asleep.

Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love) plays the series' main character, FBI agent Mark Benford. He does a great job of not only disguising his English accent, but of playing an everyman character trying to make up for past sins. His wife is played by Sonya Walger (Penny from "Lost") who is trying to figure out who the man was she envisioned during her time out that was definitely not her husband. Also in the mix is John Cho as Benford's partner, Demetri, who is wondering why he saw nothing when everyone else saw the future. Does this mean he isn't even around in six months?

All of this has a great "Lost" feel to it. It establishes a crazy concept and then executes it expertly and with suspense, paranoia, action and interesting characters. It sells the concept and once you buy into it, well, dear fish, the hook is set and you have the makings of another interesting and well-written series.

Here is hoping that "FlashForward" learns from the mistakes of a "Lost" or "Heroes." Even "Lost" made some serous missteps along the way that made it lose so many of its viewers. If it can keep its concept in sight and its plots moving the story forward, it has great potential of being a truly remarkable, exciting and fun series.