by Deborah Harter Williams

February sees the premieres of several more new TV shows with mystery and supernatural twists, and the season premieres of others.

Zero Hour–Thursday February 14–ABC/8 PM

Anthony Edwards (ER) stars in this drama about the publisher of the paranormal magazine, Modern Skeptic, who becomes involved in a centuries-old conspiracy when his wife is kidnapped from her antique clock shop. He finds a map in one of her clocks that sets him off and running with the help of two young associates and FBI agent Beck Riley played by Carmen Ejogo (who dazzled as “Sister” in Sparkle and starred as Sally Hemmings in the 2000 miniseries).

Creators of the show include Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Transformers/Man on a Ledge) and Paul T. Scheuring (Prison Break)–so look for plenty of sci-fi touches and tension–and Dan McDermott (Human Target).

Pilot shot in Montreal and environs to take advantage of the snowfields. Compared to DaVinci Code.

Cult–Tuesday February 19–CW/9 PM

An eerie new series about a journalist who goes in search of his missing brother after he expressed concerns about his favorite television show called The Cult. Nate Sefton becomes obsessed with a strange TV series and is convinced it is trying to hurt him. His brother Jeff, an investigative journalist, launches an investigation after Nate disappears. Jeff, along with a research assistant for the series and a LAPD detective, head down a very dangerous path.
This is a series within a series–thriller/horror.

Matthew “Matt” W. Davis (The Vampire Diaries/What About Brian) is cast as the lead role, Jeff Sefton. Jessica Lucas (Cloverfield) is cast as his assistant. Davis is possibly best known for having played Warner Huntington III, boyfriend of Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) in the hit movie Legally Blonde (2001). More recently, he played the recurring role of Alaric Salzman in the CW series The Vampire Diaries.

This show was originally supposed to star Matt Bomer.

Produced by Fake Empire Productions–Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (The O.C./Gossip Girl), and created by Rockne O’Bannion (SeaquestDSV/Farscape).

Golden Boy–February 26–CBS/10 PM

A new crime drama about a cop who rises up through the ranks of officer to detective to police commissioner at an unprecedented rate, makes its first appearance on February 26 and then March 6 before settling in to its regular time slot on Fridays at 9 p.m. ET. It stars Theo James (Bedlam/Red Tails) as Walter William Clark, Jr. Chi McBride (Boston Public) plays his partner-mentor. Also stars Bonnie Somerville (Friends/NYPD Blue), Holt McCallany (Gangster Squad), Kevin Alejandro and Stella Maeve. Written by Nicolas Wootten and directed by Richard Shepard.

A Few Happy Returns:

Touch--Friday, February 1–Fox
Looks like Kiefer Sutherland has a hit on Fox. This season starts out with Martin and his son on the run

Body of Proof-Tuesday, February 5–ABC
After firing half the cast, ABC’s medical crime drama returns with will a new love interest for Megan Hunt to spark things up. Personally, I have found this show hard to watch with the dialog between the women hard to swallow. There are new writers this season.

Smash-Tuesday, February 5–NBC
This musical drama returns for season two. The show is expensive and risky and hard for audiences to categorize. Many who like musicals are bored with the soap opera in between numbers. Maybe guest stars like can pick up the ratings.

Red Widow-Sunday March 3–ABC
After the brutal death of her husband, a woman must delve into the dangerous world of organized crime in order to keep herself and children alive.

Deborah Harter Williams works as a mystery scout, seeking novels that could be made into television. She blogs at Clue Sisters and was formerly a mystery bookstore owner.

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