Talented director works to pull off ‘Now And Again’

One of TV’s most distinctive creators returns with an intriguing new program tonight. Glenn Gordon Caron, who revamped the detective show with “Moonlighting” in the ’80s, attempts to do the same to the government-conspiracy drama with “Now And Again,” debuting at 9 on CBS.

“Now And Again” is described as an action-comedy-drama-romance, a weighty cross for any show to bear. But if anyone can pull off such a combination, it’s the talented Caron.

The new CBS series tells the story of middle-aged insurance executive Michael Wiseman (played by John Goodman, gone far too soon). He dies a violent death, only to wake to discover that the government has “saved” his brain to put it in the body of a handsome 26-year-old man (played by Eric Close, “The Magnificent Seven”) they have manufactured in the laboratory.

Representing the government, Dr. Theodore Morris (Dennis Haysbert) makes the resurrected Wiseman an offer he can’t refuse: take on hazardous missions for the government if he wants to stay alive. The catch is that he can’t contact anyone from his past, including his wife Lisa (Margaret Colin) and his daughter Heather (Heather Matarazzo). By the end of the first show, Wiseman is already chafing under these restrictions.

“Now And Again” is definitely an “X-Files” clone, with a healthy dollop of comedy amidst the drama and suspense. It should attract those who find similar shows too grim or frightening, but “X-Files” creator Chris Carter’s new series “Harsh Realm” is competing for the same type of viewer in the same time slot, so “Now And Again” may remain a secret for many.

Also premiering tonight at 10 on NBC is “Cold Feet,” the latest in the unfortunately burgeoning genre of “relationship” shows. The formula for these programs is yak, yak, yak, hem and haw, cute, meaningful glances, and finally, consummation.

The three couples in “Cold Feet” are two commitment-phobic people who meet and fall in love, a pair expecting their first child, and a stay-at-home mom raising an infant son and her workaholic husband. They all interact, natch, in one way or another.

Now relationship shows only work if viewers care about the characters. Unfortunately, the characters in “Cold Feet” are universally annoying, and sitcom-thin. Viewers will wonder what the couples see in each other, and soon will ponder why they’re even watching.

And finally, at 9:30 on ABC, is “Odd Man Out,” an early front-runner in the race for lamest new sitcom, along with “The Mike O’Malley Show” and “Oh, Grow Up.” (And to think these are the shows that didn’t get pushed back to midseason.)

The premise: Pity poor 15-year-old Andrew, who is growing up the only male in a house with a mother, three sisters, and an aunt. Despite this, he still doesn’t understand women (proving he’s a slow study). So, each week, Andrew (Erik von Detten, with a Hanson haircut) will make some dunderheaded misstep in the battle of the sexes, and his wise mother (Markie Post, “Night Court”) will explain what he did wrong. Actually, it was ABC executives who did viewers wrong, wasting a half-hour of valuable airtime on “Odd Man Out.”