New UPN drama ‘Jake 2.0’ makes for fun sci-fi escapism

Be thankful for niche programming.

Without it, science fiction just wouldn’t find a home on network TV.

With the conclusion of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” last season, UPN, which so far has been the little network that couldn’t, has only one program remaining with any cachet, “Enterprise,” the latest (and some fear last) in the venerable “Star Trek” franchise.

“Enterprise” has been revamped this season, with the addition of more action and machismo.

But still, there’s the matter of finding the right series to pair with “Enterprise.” Last year’s reincarnation of “The Twilight Zone,” with its been-there-done-that feel, didn’t pan out, and the last thing UPN execs wanted was viewers being reminded of the good old days of any program (i.e., comparing “Enterprise” with its predecessors).

So instead, UPN has taken a different tack with “Jake 2.0,” an uncredited updating of “The Six Million Dollar Man,” premiering at 9 tonight. Sure, boomers may be nostalgic for that Lee Majors starrer, but no one is ever going to rank it as a classic.

Actually, “Jake 2.0” is more akin in spirit to the short-lived “Now & Again,” another series about a reluctant superagent. But it lacks the piquant dialogue of that Glenn Gordon Caron show, unmercifully snuffed by CBS in 2000.

“Jake 2.0” tells the story of Jake Foley, a computer technician at the National Security Agency. One day, Jake (played by Christopher Gorham) is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He gets caught in the middle of an industrial theft, and becomes infected with nanites during a shootout. These microscopic computers give him superpowers: superhuman strength, lightning speed, heightened hearing and vision and the ability to interface remotely with computers.

Before you can say, “Holy plot twist, Batman!” Jake finds himself at the center for a new Special Ops division, and he can’t tell his family or friends about it.

Gorham was a strong member of ensemble casts on “Popular” and “Odyssey 5,” and he’s up to the challenge of moving into a starring role. He’s quite believable as the computer nerd who is thrust into becoming a secret agent, without the benefit of training or experience. The rest of the cast is rather one-dimensional in the premiere, but hopefully they’ll be fleshed out in time.

“Jake 2.0” is a tasty bite of escapist fluff. Still, it faces an uphill battle against such quality programming as “The West Wing” (even with its new administration) and WB’s “Angel” (a supernatural drama with bite). Ratings could soon prove to be this superman’s kryptonite.