On a busy night of premieres, the best choice of the evening is not the much-ballyhooed sequel, but instead an under-the-radar surprise.

In case you’ve been living in a cave, CBS has spun off a second sequel from “CSI,” this time based in New York.

“CSI: NY,” debuting at 10, follows the ubersuccessful “CSI” formula. Take one slumming movie actor (in this case, Gary Sinise), add an attractive veteran TV actress (Melina Kanakaredes, “Providence”) and fill out the supporting cast with unknown pretty young things (Hill Harper, last on “The Handler,” is the most prominent). Also, there’s the obligatory Who song as its theme (this time “Baba O’Riley”), to appeal to the desired demographic.

This is Sinise’s show, for why else would he leave the big screen? His character, “Mac” Taylor, is (stop me if you’ve heard this before) a driven crime-scene investigator who is still recovering from a major trauma (it’s New York; see if you can solve this mystery).

Since it’s in the Big Apple, the series has a grittier palette than either “CSI” (neon) or “CSI: Miami” (flashy pastels). But the producers need to realize that it’s a short trip from atmospheric to muddy.

In summary, if you like the other “CSI” entries, you’ll enjoy this as well. If not, there’s always old dependable “Law & Order” on NBC (minus, alas, Jerry Orbach).

The gem of the evening is the drama “Lost,” debuting at 8 on ABC.

“Lost” tells the story of 14 survivors of a plane crash who band together (sort of) to battle the inhospitable island on which they find themselves (along with an unseen predator which lives there). Imagine, people on an island uniting to survive rather than back-stabbing each other for cash. What a wonderful world it would be.

The premiere of “Lost,” as structured by creator J.J. Abrams, shows how each of the main characters came to be on the island through a series of flashbacks to the fateful flight (is there such thing as a unfateful flight as a plot device?). The series also enjoys the frenetic pacing of Abrams’ best-known series, “Alias,” which doesn’t return until midseason to allow the writer-director to focus on “Lost.”

There’s a lot of the “you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me” moments for which Abrams has become known. But if you can suspend your disbelief (in a big way), “Lost,” shot on location in Oahu, is a fast-moving thrill ride. It’s certainly a marked improvement on its timeslot rival also filmed on the island, the lame buddy cop show “Hawaii.”

Also premiering tonight, but not reviewed, are “Veronica Mars,” a drama about a teen detective, at 9 on UPN and “The Mountain,” a drama about a family-owned ski resort, at 9 on The WB.

Dale McGarrigle can be reached at 990-8028 and @bangordailynews.net.