The Event
This intriguing new thriller series begins when a young man on a romantic cruise with his fiancée is thrust into the intrigue surrounding a secret government detainment camp in Alaska. The premiere, a cleverly constructed puzzle
that plays on a number of contemporary fears, delivers suspense and surprises. Newcomer Jason Ritter leads the cast, which includes Laura Innes (ER) and Blair Underwood. Monday, Sept. 20, at 9 p.m., NBC
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Hawaii Five-0
The campy ’70s police drama has been reinvented as a buddy-cop action series, with Alex O’Loughlin as an officer in an elite state police unit who’s as athletic (the actor performs some of his own stunts) as he is strict. Scott Caan proves an adept comic sidekick as his none-too-enthusiastic partner Danno, while the supporting cast features Daniel Dae Kim (Lost) and Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica). Hawaiian backgrounds and the classic theme music enhance the well-produced premiere. Monday, Sept. 20, at 10 p.m., CBS
Undercovers
This lighthearted new series about a husband-and-wife espionage team relies heavily on the attractiveness of its stars, Boris Kodjoe (a former model) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (MI-5). Reminiscent of Alias, an earlier show from creator J.J. Abrams, Undercovers makes the most of its European locations. Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 8 p.m., NBC
The Defenders
In this new series, Jerry O’Connell and Jim Belushi straddle comedy and drama as a pair of Las Vegas lawyers—one a playboy, the other a dad trying to repair his fractured marriage. Belushi supplies most of the juice in the premiere, as his character resorts to unconventional courtroom tactics to clear a young client of a murder charge. Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 10 p.m., CBS
Blue Bloods
Authentic New York atmosphere and a fine ensemble are strong points of this new drama about a fractious but close-knit clan with many members in law enforcement. The premiere sets up tension among a police detective (Donnie Wahlberg) who bends the law; his sister (Bridget Moynahan), who defends it as an assistant D.A.; and the family’s golden boy (Will Estes), a Harvard Law grad turned cop. Their father (Tom Selleck) heads the police force as well as the family. Friday, Sept. 24, at 10 p.m., CBS
Other highlights
Lonestar
In this offbeat new drama, James Wolk stars as a con man living two lives with two different women in Texas towns that are 400 miles apart. Monday, Sept. 20, at 9 p.m., Fox
Detroit 1-8-7
Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos) portrays a Detroit police detective in this new drama. Tuesday, Sept. 21, at 10 p.m., ABC
The Whole Truth
Rob Morrow and Maura Tierney star in this new legal drama, which portrays cases from the vantages of both defense and prosecution. Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 10 p.m., ABC
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