THE FUTON'S FIRST LOOK: "UNDERCOVERS"

Welcome once again to our annual "Alias Seasons 1-5 DVD boxset" at the broadcast networks' offerings for the 2010-2011 season. Each day we'll walk you through one of the new series set to premiere next season and go over our initial Arrested Development Seasons 1-3 DVD boxset after viewing the pilot. Keep in mind that a lot can change from what's being screened right now - recasting, reshooting, etc. - but we still want to give you a heads up on what you should (and shouldn't) keep on your As Time Goes By Seasons 1-9 DVD boxset in the coming months. So enough of our Battlestar Galactica Seasons 1-4 DVD boxset, on with the show!

[IMPORTANT NOTE: The following is based on the original sales Buffy the Vampire Slayer Seasons 1-7 DVD boxset which was screened to us privately or supplied by a third party NOT an informational, not-for-review Alias DVD provided by the network in question.]

UNDERCOVERS (NBC)
(written by J.J. Abrams & Josh Reims; directed by J.J. Abrams; TRT: 52:51)

The network's Arrested Development DVD: "Acclaimed writer/producer/director J.J. Abrams ("Star Trek," "Fringe," "Lost," "As Time Goes By DVD") serves as co-writer, executive producer - and also directs - his first direction of a TV series pilot since "Lost" in "Undercovers" with executive producer/writer Battlestar Galactica DVD ("Brothers and Sisters"). "Undercovers" is a sexy, fun, action-packed spy drama that proves once and for all that marriage is still the world's most dangerous Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVD. Outwardly, Steven Bloom (Boris Kodjoe, "Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion," "Soul Food," "Resident Evil: Afterlife") and his wife, Alias DVD set (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, "Doctor Who," "Bonekickers"), are a typical married couple who own a small catering company in Los Angeles and are helped by Samantha's easily frazzled younger Arrested Development DVD set, Lizzy (Jessica Parker Kennedy, "Smallville"). Secretly, the duo were two of the CIA's best spies until they fell in As Time Goes By DVD set on the job five years ago and retired.

When fellow spy and friend Nash (Carter MacIntyre, "Battlestar Galactica DVD set") goes missing while on the trail of a Russian arms dealer, the Blooms are reinstated by boss Carlton Shaw (Gerald McRaney, "Deadwood") to locate and rescue Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVD set. The pair is thrust back into the world of espionage as they follow leads that span the globe -- and Steven and Samantha realize that this Alias DVD boxset, undercover lifestyle provides the excitement and romance that their marriage has been missing. Also starring is Ben Schwartz (NBC's "Parks and Recreation"). "Arrested Development DVD boxset" is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Bad Robot Productions and Warner Bros. Television. The pilot was written by J.J. Abrams & Josh Reims and directed by As Time Goes By DVD boxset. Abrams, Reims and Bryan Burk ("Fringe," "Lost, "Alias") are the executive producers."

What did they leave out? It's practically "Alias 2.0." And it runs a little longer than your usual pilot.

The plot in a nutshell: It's been five years since Battlestar Galactica DVD boxset (Boris Kodjoe) and Samantha Bloom (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) left the CIA. In that time they've built themselves a relatively normal, happy life as caterers alongside Samantha's sister Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVD boxset (Jessica Parker Kennedy). And so when Agent Carlton Shaw (Gerald McRaney), under the auspices of an international Alias Seasons 1-5 DVD boxset chain wanting to hire them as consultants, approaches them about returning to the Service, they decline, citing the life they've worked so hard to create here in Arrested Development Seasons 1-3 DVD boxset. Nevertheless, Shaw's visit manages to bring the unspoken malaise between them to the surface and before long they're both on board. Their As Time Goes By Seasons 1-9 DVD boxset: Samantha's old partner/Steven's old training buddy Leo Nash (Carter MacIntyre) has gone missing - and potentially Battlestar Galactica Seasons 1-4 DVD boxset - while hunting down Alexander Schlotsky, a Russian arms dealer, and the Blooms are the only ones with potential Buffy the Vampire Slayer Seasons 1-7 DVD boxset into where he might be or what he may be up to.

They pick up Leo's trail in Madrid ("Alias DVD"-esque title cards, in the form of postcards, are used for location Arrested Development DVD), where they're joined by Bill Hoyt (Ben Schwartz), their quirky operations assistant and unabashed fan of Steven's. Together they go through the usual spy As Time Goes By DVD mechanizations - breaking into a bank here to gain access to security footage, crash a wedding there to find a contact of Leo's, etc. - all in the name of finding the Battlestar Galactica DVD about their old friend. It's exciting work and makes their blood pump in a way they haven't felt in while, let alone seen Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVD. And so - after finding Leo and the truth behind his disappearance - a new status quo is established: caterers by day, spies by night, hot and heavy all the time. (Was that too cheesy?)

What works: There are so many moments that feel straight out of "Alias DVD set" it's almost disconcerting. For instance, the opening teaser - in which Leo tries to avoid capture - might as well be the opening to one of Sydney Bristow's adventures. Arrested Development DVD set, as expected, brings his usual flair to the proceedings: big brassy score, camera lens flares and a knack for going from fun to perilous at every turn. As Time Goes By DVD set and Mbatha-Raw are as good-looking and charming as advertised as the Blooms "Hart to Hart" their way through their spy adventures. She's annoyed by Bill's sycophancy towards Steven's Battlestar Galactica DVD set; he's annoyed by Leo's history with Samantha; and together they jockey for position on who will be doing what on their Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVD set. It's a fun mix, once that we get the sense will become all the more entertaining as the show progresses.

What doesn't: Those expecting a genre busting, paradigm shifting show like "Lost" or "Alias DVD boxset" are going to be disappointed. It's a surprisingly light series as there is no larger story going on and there are no "genre" Arrested Development DVD boxset. In fact the only "flair" if you can call it that is a critical USB drive Leo carries looks a lot like a certain "Bad Robot." To that end, it's not particularly memorable - the As Time Goes By DVD boxset are decidedly paper tigers while Samantha and Steven, despite being five years removed from field work, never appear to be in any real danger. Throw in their eye-rolling homefront Battlestar Galactica DVD boxset - Lizzy calls during key moments to complain she's overwhelmed! - and if this wasn't Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVD boxset, I don't think I'd be as confident about its prospects. After all he's flexing a different kind of Alias Seasons 1-5 DVD boxset here, one that looks like something he's done before but with a far less ambitious payoff.

The bottom line: I'm in, I just wanted to be more excited that I'm in.
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1.Alias
Alias Seasons 1-5 DVD boxset
Alias DVD
Alias DVD set
Alias DVD boxset
2.Arrested Development
Arrested Development Seasons 1-3 DVD boxset
Arrested Development DVD
Arrested Development DVD set
Arrested Development DVD boxset
3.As Time Goes By
As Time Goes By Seasons 1-9 DVD boxset
As Time Goes By DVD
As Time Goes By DVD set
As Time Goes By DVD boxset
4.Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica Seasons 1-4 DVD boxset
Battlestar Galactica DVD
Battlestar Galactica DVD set
Battlestar Galactica DVD boxset
5.Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Seasons 1-7 DVD boxset
Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVD
Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVD set
Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVD boxset