Cast: Skeet Ulrich (Scream), Gerald McRaney (Ike: Countdown to D-Day), Ashley Scott (Dark Angel), Pamela Reed (Proof of Life), Kenneth Mitchell (The Recruit), Lennie James (Sahara), Sprague Grayden (Six Feet Under), Michael Gaston (Prison Break), Erik Knudsen (Saw II)
Airs: Wednesdays at 8pm on CBS
Timeslot competition: Dancing With The Stars (ABC), 30 Rock / 20 Good Years (CBS), Bones (FOX), America's Next Top Model (The CW)
UK pickup? Hallmark first, with ITV following
Plot in a nutshell: A small Kansas town is thrown into disarray after a nuclear explosion.
What's it all about? After an absence of several years, Jake (Ulrich) returns to the small town of Jericho, Kansas for a brief visit to see his family and one-time friends. When a mushroom cloud is visible on the horizon, and all means of power and communication are cut off, Jericho is thrown into a state of panic.
Does it work? It depends what you're after. If you're looking for the next Lost, you'll be disappointed. This show puts the small town inter-personal politics ahead of the "mythology" - thin on the ground as that may be - meaning you could well be left frustrated if slow-paced, highly-emotive dramas aren't your bag. And like all dramas of this sort, the quality is largely dependent on the casting: although Pamela Reed is a reassuring presence as the mother of Jake and Ashley Scott puts in a good turn as his ex, Ulrich is an uncomfortable - and largely unbelievable - lead throughout. One area where the show deserves nothing but praise lies with its soundtrack - The Killers' anthemic 'All These Things That I've Done' opens proceedings while Snow Patrol's 'Run' accompanies a poignant sweeping shot ending.
You'll like this if you liked... Everwood
Chances of success: CBS audiences love plodding - sometimes borderline monotonous - dramas so this could well establish itself as a wholesome hit.
