It's not often that a television show can live up to its hype.
"Murder One" does.You may have heard or read that critics are calling this the best new show this fall.
It is.
This is Quality drama with a capital Q.
It's also a big risk. Not only is ABC planning to put "Murder One" opposite the megahit "ER" on Thursday nights - after a three-week run on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. (Ch. 4) - but the show will follow one murder case through an entire season's worth of episodes - 23 hours.
And that murder is sensational. A teenage girl is killed in some sort of a sex slaying. Turns out she's the sister of the mistress of a high-profile Los Angeles busi-ness-man/-philanthropist (Stanley Tucci) - and he turns out to be the prime suspect.
While it may seem a tall order to hold an audience's interest for an entire season, if anyone can do it it's executive producer Steven Bochco ("NYPD Blue," "L.A. Law") and his team. Tonight's premiere (9 p.m., Ch. 4) is riveting and full of early surprises.
"For the first time you're going to be able to tell a story like this with at least some degree of the complexity that really exists when you mount a major trial of this nature," Bochco said. "I think there are so many things that go on.
"If you'll recall a show like `L.A. Law,' where you would take a complicated case and sort of boil it down to two or three episodes, you just miss so much. And events become so predictable in a format like that. You just can't allow for the inevitable surprises and stra-te-giz-ing that go on in a situation like this."
"Murder One" plays like all the really interesting parts of the O.J. Simpson trial compressed into hourlong segments. But Bocho insists his show was not inspired by that sensational trial.
"The invention of this show had nothing to do with that trial," he said. "In fact, we had begun to think of doing something like this years ago on `L.A. Law.'
"I suppose you could argue, probably persuasively, that a series of cases over the last several years - including the Simpson case and the Menendez trial - has certainly educated audiences to the real complexity of a trial and everything that goes on below the waterline. And to the degree that people are more sophisticated about that stuff, it makes doing a show like this a lot more interesting."
The players in "Murder" include the police, the district attorneys, the media, the suspects and the witnesses. But towering over the others is defense attorney Theodore Hoffman (Daniel Benzali of "NYPD Blue") - sort of Johnny Cochran without the smugness.
You may not be sure you like Hoffman, but it's clear that you'd want him on your side.
And if you tune in to the first episode, chances are you'll find yourself swept into the case as quickly as the character. Even if you're a fan of "ER," you're going to want to have that VCR warmed up and ready to go so you can watch both shows.
QUOTABLE: Bochco, responding to a comparison between his murder mystery and the problems encountered with the continuing murder mystery on "Twin Peaks": "People did not get bored with one story. People got bored with no story," he said. "We have a story."
He was right on both counts.
DANZA REDUX: He's ba-aack!
Tony Danza, who seems to have spent the last generation starring in TV sitcoms, tries, tries again with ABC's new "Hudson Street" (7:30 p.m., Ch. 4).
Danza, who spent five years on "Taxi" (1978-83) and eight years on "Who's the Boss? (1984-92) still is no great actor. But he's likable - as is his new show.
And it's no "Who's the Boss?" "Hudson Street" is aimed more at the adult crowd.
Danza plays Tony Canetti, a crusty, conservative, opinionated New Jersey police detective and the divorced father of a 10-year-old boy. But, while family plays a part here, this is designed as a romantic comedy, matching Tony with Melanie Clifford (Lori Loughlin of "Full House") - a liberal, opinionated reporter.
It's a bit early to say if great chemistry will develop between the two, but the first episode isn't bad. There's some halfway decent writing - although the best lines seem to go to the waiter at a rather odd restaurant that Tony and Melanie go to on their first date.
It's a bit too silly at times - the supporting cast of cop characters includes nothing but caricatures at this point. But it has potential.
And sandwiched between "Rose-anne" and "Home Improvement," "Hudson Street" almost can't help but be a hit.
A TALE OF TWO SITCOMS: Two of television's most popular comedies return tonight to do battle once again. And while one has been winning the ratings battle, the other has won the war in terms of quality - and Emmys.
"Home Improvement" (8 p.m., Ch. 4) still has its funny moments. There are some good gags in tonight's season premiere, which involves some on-location antics in Michigan as Tim, Jill and the boys go off to attend a family wedding.
But some of that on-location stuff seems reminiscent of the Brady Bunch on trips to the Grand Canyon or Hawaii - it's stupid, hammy and unbelievable.
We're not talking witty writing or fine acting, we're talking slapstick. And one wonders how much longer familiar schtick and the same plotlines will hold up, despite the show's current high ratings.
On the other hand, "Frasier" proves it deserves all the Emmys it won - including two best comedy awards in a row, two best actor in a comedy in a row for star Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce's overdue Emmy as best supporting actor in a comedy, as well as writing and directing awards.
Tonight's season premiere (8 p.m., Ch. 5) is screamingly funny stuff without insulting your intelligence. Frasier's got a new boss (Mercedes Ruehl) down at the radio station, and she wants to make a few changes in his show.
Frasier, of course, overreacts, and we're off and running.
This is great stuff that will be remembered long after "Home Improvement" is forgotten.
ON THE OTHER HAND: The show that follows "Frasier" on NBC - "Pursuit of Happiness" - proves that lightning can't strike the same spot an indefinite number of times.
The is executive produced by the incredibly talented, successful team of David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee - whose credits include "Cheers," "Wings" and the aforementioned "Frasier." But while they've certainly got what it takes to make a great TV comedy, something falls flat here.
The premise behind "Pursuit" is that it follows a regular guy, Steve Rutledge (Tom Amandes) as he struggles through day-to-day life. And it hasn't been easy of late.
His ambitious wife (Melinda McGraw) is out of work. His idiot brother-in-law (Larry Miller) has moved in with him. His best friend and fellow lawyer (Brad Garrett) announces he's gay. His secretary (Meredith Scott Lynn) seems to be part pit-bull. And his grandmother (Maxine Stuart) isn't entirely lucid.
The roof it falling in on Steve - figuratively and literally.
Maybe the problem with tonight's pilot (8:30 p.m., Ch. 5) is that it's so episodic - it covers a year in the life of Steve Rutledge, while future episodes won't cover anywhere near that much time. But, whatever it is, it just doesn't work very well.
If anyone can fix "Pursuit of Happiness," it's Angell, Casey and Lee. But they've got a lot to fix.