New dramas hope viewers are willing to commit

‘Smith’
Bobby Stevens (Ray Liotta) is a seemingly regular-Joe salesman and family guy from the suburbs. He also happens to be the mastermind behind a band of seasoned criminals pulling off elaborate multi-million dollar jobs.

Make no mistake; Stevens and his crew are real villains — murderers, con artists, and even a cat-kicker. There’s not a redeeming quality to be had between them, and they don’t need one. “Smith” (CBS, Tuesdays, 10 p.m. ET) doesn’t rely on the likeability of the characters, but rather intense storytelling, tight editing, and the superb performances of the cast.

Falling somewhere between “The Sopranos” and “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Smith” doesn’t feel like network TV. Its dark, fast-paced action plays out more like a night at the movies. Even with much of the first episode dedicated to introducing the hefty cast, it never bogs down in backstory. Showing moments of each individual’s criminal life before the big heist keeps those introductions as intriguing as the well-orchestrated art theft at the center of the plot.

Expect “Smith” not only to survive its freshman season but to give NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU” a run for the ratings on Tuesday nights.    —Ree Hines

‘Jericho’
It’s got nuclear explosions, panic, loss, cool emergency medical procedures, and Major Dad. What else could you ask for? “Jericho” (CBS, Wednesdays, 8 p.m. ET) does a fine job of weaving all of those elements together in a compelling package without resorting to maudlin melodrama. And Skeet Ulrich (“Scream”) is effective as the prodigal son who returns home to small-town Jericho, Kansas, where he struggles with his disappointed mayor dad, Gerald McRaney.

FREE VIDEO 'Jericho' Is the world ending? On 'Jericho,' no one knows for sure. MSNBC

Just 10 minutes into the pilot, the drama takes a sharp turn when a mushroom cloud erupts on the horizon, throwing the lives of all the folks in town into a nuclear-fueled frenzy. Potential heroes and villains surface. New dangers that are sure to play a role in future episodes emerge. At the same time, relationships start to spark.

Can Skeet find love while he’s rescuing a busload of kids? Can he prove himself to Major-turned-Mayor Dad? More importantly, will audiences want to watch people dealing with the aftermath of what appears to be a nuclear war every week?

We’re not sure about Skeet’s romantic and family prospects, but “Jericho” is a TiVo-worthy addition to the fall lineup. It starts with a bang, but it’s the resulting fallout that will keep audiences tuning in.    —Brian Bellmont