NEW YORK -- The new NBC fall season brings a new twist on the 1980s "Hart to Hart" with a drama about the capers of a spy couple who are coaxed out of retirement to find a friend who has gone missing. The lineup also serves up a comedy that uses the trend of outsourcing jobs to foreign countries as its story line, making light of the culture clash between a U.S. executive and local employees.
"Undercovers," Wednesdays, 8-9 p.m, premiered Sept. 22
Spy drama chronicling the exploits of married CIA operatives Steven (Boris Kodjoe) and Samantha Bloom (Gugu Mbatha-Raw). Now the owners of a small Los Angeles catering company, they were two of the best snoops the agency ever had until they fell for each other and chose to retire to live a quiet, normal married life. But when fellow agent and friend Leo Nash (Carter MacIntyre) goes missing, the Blooms are reinstated by agency liaison Carlton Shaw (Gerald McRaney) and willingly return to service. The series also features Mekia Cox as Samantha's flaky sister Lizzy, and Ben Schwartz as CIA field agent Bill Hoyt.
The Score: A fun mix of adventure and romance, reminiscent of the early 1980s series "Hart to Hart."
The Lowdown: Some action violence and a scene of the leads kissing in bed.
"Outsourced," Thursdays 9:30-10 p.m., premiered Sept. 23
Culture clash comedy about business executive Todd Dempsy (Ben Rappaport) who relocates to India to manage a new call center for an America novelties manufacturer. The mostly harmless humor sends up U.S. and Indian customs in equal measure as Todd tries to communicate with his new team of employees, including Rajiiv (Rizwan Manji), Manmeet (Sacha Dhawan), Gupta (Parvesh Cheena) and Asha (Rebecca Hazlewood).
The Score: Often silly, but sometimes amusing material bolstered by a likeable cast.
The Lowdown: Some slightly sexual joking.
"Chase," Mondays 10-11 p.m., premiered Sept. 20
Drama from executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer (the "CSI" franchise) about a team of U.S. Marshals -- Annie Frost (Kelli Giddish), Jimmy Godfrey (Cole Hauser), Marco Martinez (Amaury Nolasco), Daisy Ogbaa (Rose Rollins) and Luke Watson (Jesse Metcalfe) -- whose task is to hunt down the nation's most dangerous fugitives.
The Score: A few glimpses into Frost's childhood and insights into her sense of vocation aside, this is largely a routine police procedural.
The Lowdown: Adult situations and language. Nongraphic but potentially disturbing crime stories.
"The Event," Mondays 9-10 p.m., premiered Sept. 20
Twisty thriller about an eclectic group of strangers and the series of inexplicable events that alter their lives. The pilot charts Sean Walker's (Jason Ritter) search for his girlfriend Leila (Sarah Roemer) who has mysteriously disappeared. Among the chaotic and confusing circumstances Sean stumbles across is a plot on the life of newly elected U.S. President Elias Martinez (Blair Underwood). Also entangled in the puzzling developments are Sophia Maguire (Laura Innes) -- the leader of a shadowy collection of recently released government detainees -- and Leila's father (Scott Patterson), who only appears to be an average family man.
The Score: Fans of shows like "Lost" may enjoy trying to unravel it all.
The Lowdown: Adult situations and language, including an implied premarital relationship, minimal violence.
Macina is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service. A former producer in the television and radio department of the Christophers, her work for network TV has garnered her multiple Daytime Emmy nominations.
