“Runaway,” a.k.a. “The Fugitive: Family Edition”
The CW has only two new shows (they’re busy enough cranking out all the bright green logo material); one drama, “Runaway,” and one comedy, “The Game.”

“Runaway,” slotted for Monday nights, has some promise: Think of it as “The Fugitive: Family Edition.” A family of five goes on the run when the dad is falsely (or so we believe) accused of murder. They’re changing names, changing cars, trying to live on cash-only, all while staying  a step ahead of the US Marshals. It’s hard to discount any show that involves Darren Star, since he was involved with “Sex and the City,” “Melrose Place” and “90210.” The cast includes Donnie Wahlberg, Leslie Hope (doomed wife Teri Bauer on “24”), and “American Dreams” fans will note the return of Sarah Ramos in another bratty little sister role. She played Patty Pryor on “Dreams” and plays a snarky sis again here.

Again, the show fits the serialized drama theme we’re seeing so much of this year.  But Star says “it’s definitely the kind of show you can come into and [just] watch an episode.” Chimed in exec producer Ed Zuckerman “You couldn’t make a worse mistake than to produce a show that people can’t jump into any time.”

Executive producer Chad Hodge promises a “family thriller,” telling stories of the character and their relationships as well as revealing a little piece of the murder mystery each week. And Star also promised that the mystery would be solved, mentioning that it wouldn’t be like “Lost,” which he said is “going into season 3 and nobody knows what’s going on yet.”

“Runaway” notes

• Leslie Hope’s character cuts her hair once she goes on the run. This allows Hope to display the most elegant neck this side of “Swan Lake.” Giraffes should be jealous of this woman.
• Sarah Hodges, on playing another bratty sis so soon after “American Dreams.”: “I guess I’m just good at being annoying.”
• Eight-year-old actor Nathan Gamble, on his role as the family’s youngest son in such a complex plot: “I really don’t know what’s going on.”
• Donnie Wahlberg’s biggest round of applause came when it was announced that he shot Bruce Willis’ character in “The Sixth Sense.” No fans for Bruno?