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Fall TV Preview: Project Pilot

'The Event': NBC wants to hook you with a new thriller

By Rick Porter

    

July 22, 2010 6:37 PM ET

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jason-ritter-the-event-320.jpg"The Event" has been getting pretty strong buzz since NBC previewed it in May, and it will get its first wide screening Saturday (July 24) at Comic-Con. Read on for what details on you'll see Saturday (or in September, if you're not at Comic-Con).

Disclaimer: These posts are not reviews -- shows often make tweaks to their pilot episodes between filming in the spring and their fall debuts. Full reviews will come closer to the premiere date.

What it is: A fast-moving thriller involving a guy (Jason Ritter, "Parenthood") who's about to propose to his girlfriend (Sarah Roemer, "Disturbia"), the president of the United States (Blair Underwood, "In Treatment"), a secret detention facility in Alaska, the leader of the detainees (Laura Innes, "ER") and one great big coverup.

Who's making it: Nick Wauters, who's penned episodes of "The 4400" and "Eureka," wrote the pilot and is executive producing with "24" veteran Evan Katz, Steve Stark ("Medium") and Jeffrey Reiner ("Friday Night Lights"), who also directed.

What to look for: The pilot pings back and forth in time, mostly within a period of a couple weeks but also flashing back more than a year. You'll find out fairly quickly how -- if not why -- a couple of the plot's multiple threads converge, while also getting a little bit of back story on several of the key players.

What pops: Flashing back and forth in time is a pretty standard TV trope these days (thanks, "Lost"!), but Wauters and Reiner handle it quite well. The pace rarely lets up, but there are also enough smaller moments to give the audience a sense of the characters. The cast -- which also includes Zeljko Ivanek ("Heroes," "Damages"), Lisa Vidal ("The Division"), Scott Patterson ("Gilmore Girls") and Bill Smitrovich ("The Practice") -- is strong top to bottom.

What doesn't: The pilot is pretty much all questions and no answers, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But if it continues for too long like that, it will definitely try the audience's patience.

Reminiscent of: "Lost" for the way it plays with flashbacks and for its teasing nature, "24" for its pacing -- but neither one for the story it's telling.

Here's a preview of "The Event":



Read Zap2it's other Project Pilot breakdowns.

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Photo credit: NBC
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 |  Comments (12)

I haven't heard much about this show but the trailer certainly garnered my interest. Dare I think that there may indeed be a replacement for LOST come this fall? At any rate, I will definitely watch the Pilot.

Amy Lynne | July 22, 2010 8:19 PM

Looks good. I gave up on Lost end of second season and never looked back. Never understand the hype for it. If they don't stuff out like they did on Lost, might be good.

Kate | July 22, 2010 10:50 PM

Looking forward to this. Dare I say NBC actually has a hit on it's hands? Not exactly holding my breath on that, but it still has me interested from what I've seen so far.

who wants to know | July 23, 2010 12:16 AM

Looks like NBC is picking up what ABC seems to have abandoned -- television for people with brains who actually like to be challenged by what they watch.

ABC's fall lineup looks so sad; it might be time to give NBC a chance. CHCUK is the only real "series" I've watched on NBC for years...

(Although I'll admit to loving PERSONS UNKNOWN.)

Dave again | July 23, 2010 12:44 AM

This is the series I'm most looking forward to because the cast is impressive and it seems to have an interesting story arc. There are too few shows like that now that LOST has ended. I hate random case of the week shows.

Mia | July 23, 2010 8:04 AM

Hooks are okay, but these series programs seem to leave the mystery much to long, and viewers lose interest.

From what I've read, this series will talk around The Event, but not reveal what The Event actually was/is.

That might hold interest. I doubt it.

Tomguy | July 23, 2010 11:12 AM

I'm a little leery of getting into an arc-show, given that networks seem to be getting more and more trigger-happy with cancellation.

Arc-shows need to have a planned, 13- or 24-episode initial story arc, with a guarantee that at least that will finish, come hell or high water.

GamerFromJump | July 23, 2010 1:16 PM

IF this series survives one whole season, I might be interested in renting the DVDs, IF AND ONLY IF, there is a season 2.

I am just sick and tired of getting hooked up in good series just to have the network cancel them halfway, without providing answers or finishing the story line.

NBC execs, try reading a book and stop right before the two last chapters to understand how fans feel with your moves.

mrp | July 23, 2010 2:07 PM

The sets for this show look huge

I don't know, we've had a couple of these "big event" type Lost replacements now and most of them have failed miserably; it was a gamble to produce this

George | July 23, 2010 7:35 PM

It will be nice if this show takes the place where 24, left off. Can anything ever be as good as Jack Bauer. Cause right know I'm bored with television.

Do your best to empress me. I dare you.

ANGELA ZEILER | July 28, 2010 10:09 PM

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