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If Murder Victims Could Talk . . .

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Sunday, March 11, 2007

Raines

Thursdays at 10:01 p.m. on NBC; moves to Fridays at 9 p.m. starting March 30

The tagline you'll never see: More than meets the P.I.

The basics: Detective Michael Raines (Jeff Goldblum, below) could be crazy, actually talking to dead people or -- as his former partner (Malik Yoba) suggests -- using a very active imagination to see the victims in the murder cases he's trying to solve. It's a bit unsettling, Raines admits. These hallucinations apparently began a few months ago, after he and his then-partner were involved in a fatal shootout. In the pilot, he's just returning to his job with the Los Angeles police and struggling with his newfound "gift."

The lowdown: For two weeks, NBC is launching this series in the spot traditionally held by "ER." Then "Raines" switches to the Friday slot usually held by "Las Vegas." The network isn't giving the show much of a chance to snare an audience; only seven episodes got the green light.

Reality check: This series, by Emmy Award-winning writer-producer Graham Yost ("Band of Brothers," "Boomtown"), blends mystery with imagination, homage to film noir and a refreshing dose of snappy cynicism. Some beautiful camera work and top-notch production values create an artful feel. And Goldblum successfully walks a fine line in making his character believable. Viewers who want a fresh take on a psychological thriller should give "Raines" a look.

-- Judith S. Gillies