New 2008 show: ELEVENTH HOUR, Moody

Rufus Sewell usually promises more brood than he delivers. While very good in the movie DARK CITY, he had a very ordinary persona when something more offbeat would have served better (that doesn't keep DARK CITY from being a great film, tho).

Here, little enuf of his character is revealed so that he keeps some of the mystery about him. He plays a consulting scientist to the FBI who is typically called in at the eleventh hour. Neat premise, but what was eleventh hourish about this story?

He is guarded by a sexy but tough young FBI agent, played by saucer-eyed Marley Shelton. The two of them make a good team. Too bad they didn't have a story to match.

In the series premiere, they come to Seattle (those who watch GREYS ANATOMY will recognize the cityscape) to solve the bizarre case of fetuses in jars. However, the clever scientist, Jacob Hood, winds up using more emotion than science. Even on a possible suspect, a bespectacled Seattle billionaire (I suppose Seattleites can't help thnking of our most famous billionaire with glasses, Microsoft's Bill Gates).

End result, disappointing -- except for Sewell and Shelton.

Marc Blucas has a guest role as a Seattle cop. Does pretty good but I thought he overdid the pursed lips.

It`s based on a British series with Patrick Stewart and Ashley Jensen.

It was cancelled after 4 eps here; I think that actors were the best things in it.

I'll have to keep an eye for the DVD of the original. At least I'm familiar with both actors.

I'll have to keep an eye for the DVD of the original. At least I'm familiar with both actors.

DVD trailer here

I didn't predict the identity of Ep 2's killer. That's usually a good sign. But the journey to that point wasn't interesting. And they cheated a bit -- hiding vital information from the audience. This had a favorite actress of mine, Jessica Hecht, and one probably-genuine Southern accent (it's set in Georgia) but otherwise it was like being in the doldrums for 1 hour.

I still ilke Sewell and Shelton. But, I doubt that I'll tune in to any more episodes.

scifiwire

I'm becoming a regular viewer of this show -- in large part cuz there isn't competition to draw me away -- but, additionally, cuz I like the teaming of these two actors, Sewell and Shelton. And cuz the plots usually have a scientific or medical twist.

The original British series is available at my favorite video rental place but I haven't rented it yet. It should be interesting since, thanks to UGLY BETTY, I'm now familiar with Ashley Jensen, too.

I wonder how Patrick Stewart will compare to Rufus Sewell. Stewart has a commanding presence that's suited for any captain's seat while Sewell has the diffidence that I would expect in scientific types.

One interesting difference is that the premise of the British version, as inferred from the blurb on the cover and internet research, as a battle against science gone bad. That isn't explicit in the American version, altho the story's motive is usually something technological or scientific -- but with evil or careless people behind things.

There's no preachiness to speak of. Morality lessons need to be pulled straight from the plot by each viewer. The gleanings I've picked up have never bothered me.

The maverick crusader of the British show is replaced in the American by an investigator working cooperatively under the auspices of the FBI (as represented by a cute blonde ).

Could that explain the difference between the short-lived British version and the American version that, after a dozen episodes, finds itself in the top 20? (Only its cousin, THE MENTALIST, has done better in its rookie season.)

Ep 12 was very interesting. It involved placental cord stem cells (where a baby's umbilical cord is frozen for its use later in life). This was a warning. Those cells could become a big deal in the cometics business. Which puts it in competition with its other role, curing health problems. While the plot was formulaic -- the content wasn't. I loved the "I'm not McGyver" moment.

Plus it was nice to look at with some rich colors and dramatic lighting. Also nice to look at was a pretty young Bulgarian-born Canadian actress named Nina Dobrev. (Funny how Sewell does so much better at hiding his origins in his American accent than so many Canadians.)

CBS has yet to decide on the future of the science-fiction series Eleventh Hour, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer is waiting for the official word to plan for a second season or close up shop, he told SCI FI Wire: "You never know. It's performing quite well. It's done really well, so we'll see."

Renewal shouldn't be a problem. It's highly successful -- in the top 20s ratingswise.

There would have to be an extracurricular problem for it not to go on -- such as an actor being too demanding, the deal with the British copyright holder, etc.

Note (post-cancellation): This is why I don't call myself "prophecy boy".

I quite liked the Patrick Stewart version.

digitalspy

Hurray ! A new show for us !

Entertainment Weekly columnist Michael Ausiello reports that CBS has canceled its sci-fi series Eleventh Hour and that sister network The CW has picked up Vampire Diaries, as expected.

Eleventh Hour, starring Rufus Sewell and Marley Shelton, was based on a British series of the same name and focused on a scientist and his FBI handler who investigated mysteries of science.