Years ago, networks would debut their cheesiest programs now, throwing on seriously flawed shows to fill time between important ratings periods in February and May. But now, towards the end of the TV season, networks are rolling out their riskiest and most distinctive series ideas – outside the stampede of new shows that typically start in the fall.
Consider NBC’s “Awake,” which takes a risk by being complex. “Harry Potter” alum Jason Isaacs plays a police detective who wakes after a car crash to find he’s moving between two different realities….
[ERIC] DEGGANS: This might be the most ambitious attempt to reinvent the cop drama yet. It keeps viewers guessing by sprinkling clues across two different worlds.