I previewed the pilot episode of “Zero Hour“ last week on Hulu. Here’s a show I heard no buzz about, nothing in the press saying “ER’s” Anthony Edwards finally returns to TV after a decade in this Dan Brown-esque thriller-drama.
Perhaps there was no buzz because it didn’t need a desperate marketing push like NBC’s “1600 Penn.” The show is intriguing yet not so complicated that viewers get mired in its conspiracy theories and backstory.
Anthony Edwards stars as Hank Galliston, the editor of “Modern Skeptic” Magazine, a conspiracy theory tabloid a la “The Quibbler” in the “Harry Potter” series. For the past 20 years, Hank has been in the thick of conspiracy theories, debunking myths and adding his own ideas to the web of schemes and lies that appear on the web.
It’s only when his wife Laila (Jacinda Barrett) is suddenly kidnapped that all of his unique knowledge is put to the test. There seems to be no reason why Laila, who restores antique clocks, would have been kidnapped except upon further examination, Hank discovers a treasure map of sorts amongst an antique clock she recently purchased at an open-air market. This sends Hank on a worldwide treasure hunt in search of whatever is at the end and save his wife.
“Zero Hour” also stars Carmen Ejogo (“Sparkle”) as Rebecca “Beck” Riley, Scott Michael Foster (“Californication”) as Arron Martin, Addison Timlin (“Californication”) as Rachel Lewis, and Michael Nyqvist (“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”) as White Vincent.
The show was created and written by Paul Scheuring (“Prison Break”), who is also an executive producer along with Zack Estrin, Lorenzo di Bonaventura (“Salt”) and Dan McDermott (“Human Target”). The pilot for “Zero Hour” was directed and executive-produced by Pierre Morel.
“Zero Hour,” which premieres Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, is very promising. It’s “National Treasure” meets “The DaVinci Code.”
Are you watching “Zero Hour”? What do you think? Something you can sink your teeth into for several seasons?
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