FlashForward

By now you've heard of ABC's FlashForward.  Hell, by now your dog has heard of ABC's FlashForward.  ABC has been relentlessly saturating the air, print, and web waves with word of the new show, and for good reason. Like LOST before it, FlashForward promises to put ABC the front of the pack when it comes to embracing original 'big mythos' styled epics. Every season the nets parade the latest gaggle of industrial prime-time fodder, fresh from the cookie-cutter assembly lines.  Amongst the softball pitches there is always a small number of shows that steer clear of the beaten paths of formula and aspire to be something more: blockbusters.  Most wind up the elite kibble of internet fan-folk, destined for the Nielsen-governed trash heap while dedicated viewers scream indignation at how nobody 'gets' it.

With LOST coming to an end, it is no surprise that ABC is getting behind FlashForward - a show that very well could become the new roost for fans of the island mystery. FlashForward's concept certainly puts the series well outside of the formulaic safe-bets of the season. Here's a description of what the series is all about from ABC, along with a new Sneak Preview released earlier today.

What would you do if you were given a glimpse of the future? Would you accept what you saw and live life to its fullest, or would you do everything in your power to change your destiny? When the world's population is given a glimpse of their future, it forces everyone to come to grips with whether their destinies can be fulfilled or avoided, in ABC's exciting new drama, "FlashForward."

It's just another normal day in Los Angeles. FBI agent Mark Benford (Joseph Fiennes, "Shakespeare in Love") and his partner, Demetri Noh (John Cho, "Star Trek," the "Harold & Kumar" film series), are in the midst of a car chase monitored by their boss, Stanford Wedeck (Courtney B. Vance, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent") and colleague Janis Hawk (Christine Woods); Mark's wife, Dr. Olivia Benford (Sonya Walger, "Lost"), is in the middle of surgery; Dr. Bryce Varley (Zachary Knighton) is weighing a potentially life-ending decision; Mark's friend, Aaron Stark (Brían F. O'Byrne, "The International"), is working high above the ground on power lines; and Nicole (Peyton List) -- baby-sitter to Mark and Olivia's daughter, Charlie -- is in the throes of passion with her boyfriend when suddenly and without warning, every person on Earth blacks out for two minutes and seventeen seconds and sees a series of events from their own future, taking place on April 29, 2010 at 10:00 p.m., Pacific Time. For some the future will be joyous and hopeful; for others, shockingly unexpected; and for a few, it simply doesn't seem to exist.