You gotta have Faith . . . a look at 'Eli Stone'

Well I guess it would be nice if every new show were as good as Eli Stone. But, you know, not everybody can be like Greg Berlanti.

With Eli Stone (premiering Thursday at 10 p.m. on ABC), Berlanti continues his knack for creating engaging, instantly watchable shows with characters you want to spend some quality time with. This time the man behind Everwood and Dirty Sexy Money teams up with executive producer Marc Guggenheim (Law & Order) to bring us a series about a lawyer Eli Stone (Jonny Lee Miller) who starts to have visions encouraging him to be a better man. Miller is surrounded by a strong supporting cast including the always delightful Victor Garber as his boss, Loretta Devine as his assistant, Matt Letscher as his older brother and Natasha Henstridge as his fiancée.

For the first few episodes, Eli's visions are centered around George Michael. Michael appears as himself singing "Faith" in the pilot. In episode two, it's a real treat to watch Garber belt out a rendition of "Freedom." And ,as you can tell by my opening line, I've been humming the songs ever since watching the review DVDs.

With its singing, flights of fancy, and dramatic closing arguments, the show is reminiscent of a David Kelley series. But the characters have real, relatable moments. The dialogue is believable even when Eli's cases are a little hokey. So far the characters aren't cartoonish and that's important if the world around them is going to become increasingly fantastical.

And I've been thinking a lot about the concept of whimsy, which many of you wrote me about when I declared I didn't care for Pushing Daisies. Eli Stone is my kind of whimsy and was completely able to go along for the ride the show wanted to take me on.

I'm giving the show four stars and would love to know what you think after you watch it. Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com and let me know.

In Treatment

It is not your imagination.

Blair Underwood is everywhere. He's steaming up Dirty Sexy Money as the sexy, but perhaps devious Simon Elder. Next Monday he returns to The New Adventures of Old Christine as the sexy and charming Mr. Harris. But I'm most captivate by his turn as Navy pilot Alex in the new HBO series In Treatment (premiering Monday at 9:30 p.m.).

HBO has staked its reputation on having ground-breaking television and In Treatment fits the definition. In the half-hour series, therapist Paul Weston (Gabriel Byrne) sees a different patient every day. So on Monday you can see him treat the fragile Laura (Melissa George). Tuesdays belong to Alex. Wednesdays he's talking to teenage gymnast Sophie (Mia Wasikowska). And Thursdays he's trying to help couple Jake (Josh Charles) and Amy (Embeth Davidtz). By Friday, poor Paul can't take it anymore and sets off to see his own therapist Gina (Diane Wiest). The series has completed 43 episodes set to air over the next nine weeks.

I'm a big fan of live theater, which I think predisposed me to like In Treatment. The series feels very much like watching a play. It's extremely verbose. Each episode is just people sitting and talking to each other. It's the kind of series that's supposed to feel like its good for you.

In Treatment does an excellent job of dropping us into the middle of the story, instantly giving us hints about the dynamics of all the relationships involved and teasing us with just enough information that we'll want to come back to their appointment next week. George, who we probably best remember for playing Lauren on Alias, is so unrecognizable that I had to double check to the press notes to make sure it was her. At first I was very excited that Josh Charles was married to a character named Amy, until I realized they had a highly dysfunctional relationship.

But I was most drawn to Underwood as the cocky self-assured demanding Alex who is convinced that he's totally fine even though he's suffered a massive heart attack and bombed a grade school in Iraq because of erroneous information. It's a really different part for Underwood and the role showcases his range as an actor.

The series requires investment and patience but so far I'm curious enough to keep tuning in to at least a couple of episodes a week. Three and a half stars. I'm very interested to know what you think since In Treatment definitely falls under the definition of "not for everyone."

Highlights of the Week Ahead

All times listed are Eastern Standard Time for January 28 -- February 3

It's the first of the three remaining House episodes Tuesday at 9 p.m. on FOX. Sure it's a Christmas themed episode but who are we to quibble especially since Janel Moloney (Donna on The West Wing) is guest starring as Maggie, a patient who suffers sudden paralysis in her hands. This is the first episode since the cranky doc picked his team so this will be the first real test of how the original cast will be worked into the story line. And don't forget that the Super Bowl episode of House airs immediately following the big game on Sunday.

I'm going to write all about the fourth season premiere of Lost in my column on Wednesday but I wanted to make sure you knew the entire Lost schedule this week. On Wednesday, ABC is repeating last May's third season finale at 9 p.m. They're calling it a "special enhanced version" since it will feature text on the lower third of the screen to let viewers into the clues of the show. Sure it sounds a lot like Pop Up Lost but I'll be tuning in. Then on Thursday at 8 p.m., ABC is airing a one-hour special entitled Lost: Past, Present & Future which will be immediately followed by the fourth season premiere at 9 p.m.

This is the first of the four remaining new episodes of Supernatural (Thursday at 9 p.m. on the CW). They will air in consecutive weeks with the last episode airing on February 21. Smallville is also new this week and James Marsters returns as Brainiac. Marsters is another actor who is everywhere this season. We've watched him on Without a Trace and he has a recurring role on the BBC America series Torchwood (Saturdays at 9 p.m.).

The Celebrity Apprentice (Thursday, NBC, 9 p.m.) is getting boring with the women constantly losing. This Thursday the show expands to two-hours (which screams of we had nothing to air in the 10 p.m. hour) and features a showdown between Piers Morgan and Vincent Pastore. Yawn.

Jealously abounds on Friday Night Lights (Friday, NBC, 9 p.m.). Julie doesn't like all the attention her mother is giving Tyra, Tyra is jealous of Landry's new relationship and Tim's not all too thrilled that Lyla seems to be devoted to her new boyfriend. And Smash has a lot more troubles now that he's suspended for three games. You really should be watching this show, but you already know that.

That's all for today. I'm back on Wednesday with a preview of the fourth season of Lost and this week's familiar faces. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com.

Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal ®

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