Tubegazing: 'The Evidence'

March 17, 2006

The Evidence (premières Wednesday March 22, 10 p.m. EST on ABC): The first images of ABC's new crime drama are grisly, seemingly disconnected bits of information about a crime that hasn't yet happened - a severed finger, a bloody cellphone, a locket with one of two photos scratched out. As the crime unfolds, each bit slips into place. The "hook" here is to set the audience up to solve the crime alongside the cops, but all that really seems to happen is you watch and wait for each shoe - or in this case, clue - to drop. Knowing that it will doesn't really help solve the case. Otherwise, the show is another urban crime procedural peopled with hip, conflicted detectives. Still, good casting and well-paced writing give hope. Grade: B