Pilot Review: Eleventh Hour

Eleventh Hour (CBS)
Premiered October 9 at 10pm

Wouldn't you know it, this show is also based on another British show, which sounds super cool since it stars Patrick Stewart (Jean-Luc Picard of "Star Trek: The Next Generation") and Ashley Jensen ("Extras", "Ugly Betty"). I so have to watch that. This, not so much. It's so much bad as boring. I like the fact that instead of being an obnoxious hard-ass, Jacob Hood is just a nice enough guy without the gift of excessive social skills who ultimately gets the job done. And his guardian Rachel is rather funny with her attitude and relationship with Hood. Other than that, there's not much to praise. The plot is sort of thin and unexciting, and while the leads are far better than on "Fringe," I can't see what this show has to offer in the way of invigorating drama.

How will it work as a series? Science case to science case, should be fine. Whether it will be interesting is another question. It's "Fringe" and "The X-Files" but without as much of the sci-fi or the fast-pacedness. I don't believe that will ultimately work, especially because I believe the UK version was a mini-series.
How long will it last? It's well-positioned, right after another semi-scientific show, "CSI," and given the recent full-season pickups for "Fringe" and "The Mentalist," it appears that this may be just the show people want. Millions of people watch "NCIS" every week and this could be a well-seen show that flies similarly under the radar. I'm not sure it has enough power to get to season two, though.

Pilot grade: C