Sunday, September 17, 2006

The CW: Stepping Out With a Bit Of Drama

The CW is a semi-new network formed by the merger of the now-defunct UPN and the WB -- "weblets" in industry parlance. The bill of fare mostly includes such returning shows as "7th Heaven," saved from cancellation by the merger, but there are two new dramas:

'Runaway'

"Runaway" stars Donnie Wahlberg as Paul Rader, a husband and father of three who sinks his Volvo in an early scene before gathering up the family and running away (hence the title) to Bridgewater, Iowa, population 23,827, plus five. Rader was wrongfully convicted of committing what CW publicity calls "a terrible and violent crime." So his wife, two teenagers and cute little boy must assume new identities and be suspicious of every knock at the door. A suspenseful drama, "Runaway" bears a superficial resemblance to "Running on Empty," an underrated Sidney Lumet movie about a family of hippies in the same predicament as the Raders. (Mondays, 9 p.m.; premieres Sept. 25.)

'The Game'

"The Game" is football, but the series is not so much about the players of the game as their wives, girlfriends and groupies. Not likely to be as racy as "Footballers' Wives," the British import playing on BBC America, this grown-up soap -- co-produced by Kelsey Grammer -- stars Tia Mowry as Melanie (girlfriend of the team's new wide receiver), who's headed for a crash course in the politics of pro sports. (Sundays, 8:30 p.m.; premieres Oct. 1.)

"Runaway" stars Donnie Wahlberg as Paul Rader, a husband and father of three who sinks his Volvo in an early scene before gathering up the family and running away (hence the title) to Bridgewater, Iowa, population 23,827, plus five. Rader was wrongfully convicted of committing what CW publicity calls "a terrible and violent crime." So his wife, two teenagers and cute little boy must assume new identities and be suspicious of every knock at the door. A suspenseful drama, "Runaway" bears a superficial resemblance to "Running on Empty," an underrated

Sidney Lumet movie about a family of

hippies in the same predicament as the Raders. (Mondays, 9 p.m.; premieres Sept. 25.)