Two Serial Dramas Head To Airwaves

Written by: Michael Hickerson (SoSF Journalist)

When the fall 2006 TV season began, serialized dramas were the new red-hot flavor of the day.

Then the series debuted and while there were a few hits such as “Heroes” and “Ugly Betty,” a large number of these shows failed to generate the audience support they needed to run all their created episodes, much less get a full-season run.

Now in 2007, hopes are high that two late-season additions can revive the ailing serialized drama genre.

One of those shows is the much-anticipated launch of Tim Minear’s “Drive” this week on FOX. The new series focuses on a group of people caught up in an illegal cross-country race. Each person has his or her own reasons for being part of the race, all of which will be revealed over the course of the pilot and the series run.

“Drive” is getting a big push from FOX in the promotional department and will launch in a three-hour, two-night premiere, similar to how the hit series “24” is launched each season.

The other serial show on the horizon is ABC’s “Traveler,” which begins on May 30. Traveller centers around two grad students who are looking for their friend, Will Traveller, who has been accused of a terrorist act.

Both shows are heavy on the action-adventure aspect which producers hope will draw in viewers, especially during the summer movie blockbuster season.

‘Traveler’ has a summer-popcorn-movie vibe to it, with intriguing action and characters,” says creator David DiGilio, who knows a thing or two about hit movies, having written the crowd-pleaser “Eight Below.”

Both shows have a limited run–“Traveler” has been picked up eight episodes and “Drive” for 13. Btoh DiGilio and MInear acknowledge that while this limited run isn’t enough to wrap-up their long term story arcs, both shows will end their (hopefully) first seasons with some sense of resolution.

“Drive” will cut off “at a logical place in the race,” Minear says.

“We’re very conscious about making sure we don’t frustrate the audience too much,” DiGilio says.