Feeling “Paranoid?”

Noted producer/screenwriter Jim Uhls (”Jumper,” “Fight Club”) and his producer wife Yalda will be bringing their new spy thriller “Paranoid” to the small screen in series format for the FX Channel. There is no word yet where on the schedule the show will go, but some are speculating it may end up in the Tuesday night slot held by the award winning show “The Shield.” That cop drama starring “Fantastic Four” actor Michael Chiklis is currently shooting its seventh and final season. “Paranoid” could easily fit that slot as viewers are already geared for gripping high drama at that time.

“Paranoid” is one of those shows that has been under consideration for quite some time, but until recently was felt far too dark for a weekly television venue. After 9/11, and the legislative events that have followed it, that view has changed and it looks like it may now get a shot. “Paranoid” has been compared somewhat to an updated “Parallax View,” the 1970’s Warren Beatty film about government conspiracy and political assassination. “Paranoid” will mostly deal with today’s concerns over government surveillance under the U.S. Patriot Act as it follows the day to day life of an agent who himself is being spied upon.

FX practically owns Tuesday nights with “The Shield” running during the fall and winter months and the Glenn Close legal nail-biter “Damages” capturing a majority of the ratings during the summer months. FX needs a winner to replace “The Shield” when it closes out its final episode next year and “Paranoid” may fill that gap perfectly.

Tuesday is a night of quality television for sci-fi and genre-related fans with “Eureka” airing at 8PM ET on the SCI FI Channel, followed by gripping, high suspense viewing on the FX Channel.

[Jim Uhls is on the board of advisors and a content producer for SciFi Studios -- A Slice of SciFi partner]