WASHINGTON, February 8, 2013 —Tonight, Touch, starring Kiefer Sutherland, finally launches its second season. Think the Nicolas cage film Knowing meets Sutherland’s past TV series 24, and you have a basic understanding of the storyline of Touch. Danny Glover is also in the show, playing a disgraced, reclusive, but seer-like scientist who steps in to connect the dots.
Sutherland plays the widowed father of his silent but gifted child Jake, (David Mazouz) who sees mathematical patterns in the world that allow him to predict the future. Jake’s ability to decipher global connectivity sends his father, Martin Bohm on weekly quests to correct rifts in the pattern. In the process of correcting these rifts, a seemingly disparate group of people gradually draws together, keeping the audience, and Sutherland’s character, guessing until the end.
There’s only so much the writers can glean from the interaction of a father and his vocally challenged son, so adding another adult into the storyline is a boost that can only enhance the story telling process. Enter Lucy (Maria Bello), who plays the mother of another child, Amelia (Saxon Sharbino), with abilities similar to Jake’s. The omnipotent and malicious corporation Aster has kidnapped her daughter, and the two parents join forces to try to find Amelia.
Before you dismiss Touch, first realize it is a drama that doesn’t take place in a courtroom, precinct, or hospital, the typical locales for TV dramas. Furthermore, any effort that employs TV as a means to tell a compelling story rather than dismiss that process to the low-brow lack of creativity in reality programming gets my attention, no contest.
Casting Kiefer Sutherland in a drama that doesn’t involve cops or doctors is also reason enough for me to give Touch a chance. They had me at Kiefer.
Tonight’s viewing:
All times are EST:
8 p.m.
ABC: Last Man Standing: (New) Mike is so impressed with Mandy’s new boyfriend that he offers him a job; Kristin navigates her relationship with Ryan.
CBS: The Job: (New) Candidates vie for positions at prominent companies in this reality series. In the opener, an assistant-manager gig at Palm Restaurant Group is up for grabs. Competing for the job are a vegan-restaurant manager from Brooklyn; a waiter from Moanalua, Hawaii; an unemployed former restaurant manager from Rigby, Idaho; a currently jobless woman from Chicago; and a mom from Mountain Brook, Ala., who owns a catering business.
FOX: Touch: (New) In the Season 2 premiere, Martin and Jake join Lucy’s search for her daughter, Amelia, in California. Meanwhile, Aster Corporation’s Calvin Norburg hopes to make a significant discovery; and religious zealot Guillermo Ortiz concentrates on his vision.
(Below: Preview trailer for tonight’s season opening episode.)
NBC: Dateline NBC: (New) Authorities put the focus on a pastor whose two wives died in suspicious accidents. Dennis Murphy reports.
CW: Nikita: (New) Michael (Shane West) gives up his role as a field agent and resumes his role inside Division running Operations. After learning key information from Birkhoff (Aaron Stanford), Nikita (Maggie Q) preps a secret mission that takes her into dangerous territory.
8:30 p.m.
ABC: Malibu Country: (New) Bad girl singer Shauna moves in with Reba and her family while they collaborate on a song.
9 p.m.
ABC: Shark Tank: (New) A successful entrepreneur returns with a new business idea; hand-held cooler; environmentally friendly dry cleaning bag; chewing tobacco alternative.
CBS: CSI: NY: (New) Mac and the team partner with D.B. Russell (Ted Danson) to outsmart Christine’s kidnappers before they run out of time to save her life, in the second part of a two-part crossover.
CW: The Carrie Diaries: (Repeat) Authorities put the focus on a pastor whose two wives died in suspicious accidents. Dennis Murphy reports.
PBS: Shakespeare Uncovered: (New) David Tennant, who starred in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of “Hamlet,” meets with other actors who’ve portrayed the Danish prince, including Jude Law. He also discusses the play’s meaning with Simon Russell Beale and Ben Whishaw.
10 p.m.
ABC: 20/20: (New) Investigative reporting, no description available.
CBS: Blue Bloods: (New) Before a Hasidic Grand Rebbe passes away, he chooses his youngest son to succeed him. But when the new appointee dies suddenly, Danny investigates the oldest son and others within the Hasidic community. Meanwhile, Henry reveals a family secret to Frank.
NBC: Rock Center with Brian Williams: (New) The story of Polish pilot Tad Wrona, who successfully landed a Boeing 767 without landing gear in Warsaw in November 2011; an interview with author Chrisanna Northrup (“The Normal Bar”) and her husband, Mark; a report on young sisters who are endurance runners.
PBS: Shakespeare Uncovered: (New) In the finale, director Trevor Nunn—who has helmed productions of 30 Shakespeare plays—examines the Bard’s final complete play, “The Tempest,” which he sees as Shakespeare’s farewell to the stage and inspired by issues drawn from the playwright’s life.
Basic cable:
New episodes of:
Four Weddings at 8 p.m. on TLC
King Tut and the Lost Dynasty at 8 p.m. on NGC
Gold Rush at 8 and 9 p.m. on DSC
Cool Pools at 9 p.m. on HGTV
King Tut’s Final Secrets at 9 p.m. on NGC
Ghost Adventures at 9 p.m. on Travel Channel
Say Yes to the Dress at 9 and 9:30 p.m. on TLC
Portlandia at 10 p.m. on IFC
The Dead Files at 10 p.m. on Travel Channel
Fatal Attractions at 10 p.m. on Animal Planet
Bering Sea Gold at 10 p.m. on DSC
Mystery Diners at 10 p.m. on Food Channel
House Hunters at 10 p.m. on HGTV
Something Borrowed, Something New at 10 and 10:30 p.m. on TLC
House Hunters International at 10:30 p.m. on HGTV
For movie lovers:
8 p.m.
Anaconda on AMC
North and South on ENC
Country Strong on FMC
Wrath of the Titans on HBO
Big Easy Express on SHO
The Big Kahuna on SUND
The Bourne Identity on TNT
9 p.m.
The Last Song on ABCFAM
Blazing Saddles on CMT
New Year’s Eve on HBO
Spartacus: War of the Damned on STARZ
Valentine’s Day on TBS
Later tonight:
Valkyrie at 9:35 p.m. on TMC
The Bourne Supremacy at 9:35 p.m. on ENC
Paul at 10 p.m. on HBO
Final Destination 5 on MOMAX
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