Fall TV Preview: Numb3rs Adds Up

The CBS crime drama Numb3rs is back in its Friday timeslot. The series centers on the lives and jobs of two very different brothers. Charlie Eppes (David Krumholz) is the genius of the family. All things mathematical, and that covers a lot of other disciplines, comes easy to the mop-haired intellectual. Last season he finally got the girl, too. Amita (the lovely and talented Navi Rawat), once his student is now officially his girlfriend.

Don Eppes (Rob Morrow) is a FBI agent in charge of a squad that hunts all sorts of bad guys. Troubled by the stresses of the job and conflicts with his brother Don started therapy last season that will have positive effects on the upcoming shows. Acting as family mediator and wise man is their father Alan. Played by Judd Hirsh (Taxi) he brings subtle humor and not a little irony to the role.

Don makes use of his little brother's intellect and mathematical skills to solve crimes. Charlie is more than willing to help, sometimes stealing the limelight. In season four, Charlie will be awarded an honor for something outside the math field. It could spark new jealousies in Don.

Last season one of the FBI team members, Colby, was revealed as a spy for the Chinese. The realization that a man they had all trusted was a traitor could cause tension within the ranks. The early episodes of the new season will tie all these loose ends.

Val Kilmer takes the role of the new bad guy for season four, Mason Lancer. Whether he will be a serial killer, foreign spy, or terrorist hasnêt been revealed.

Every episode of Numb3rs brings up scientific or mathematical questions for the viewers. Fields as diverse as cosmology and census theory have been used to solve the crime and catch the criminal. It has shown the value of higher mathematics outside research and theory.

One aspect of the show is confusing. A viewer can end up wondering just what kind of FBI Squad is it? Are they specialists in terrorists, serial killers, pedophiles or forgery? In the first season it seemed they were unofficially part of Homeland Defense, then they began taking on cases that had tenuous connections, at best, with terrorism.

Executive Producers Cheryl Heuton and Tony Scott are bringing a new look to season four. Heuton said, "The cuts will be faster." Quickly snapping the view from scene to scene has worked for other shows, 24 comes to mind.

Numb3rs shares the Friday timeslot with Men in Trees and Las Vegas. Will the numb3rs of views add up to numb3rs in ratings? See the season premiere September 28th on CBS.