New dramas hope viewers are willing to commit

‘Runaway’
When FOX’s “Prison Break” was a hit last season, networks likely tried to figure out how to capitalize on the “wrongly-accused fugitive” theme. What about a whole family on the run? In “Runaway” (CW, Mondays, 9 PM ET), Donny Wahlberg plays Paul Rader, a lawyer who apparently was framed for murder. When Rader starts digging to identify the real killer, his family receives death threats. So Rader jumps bail and hits the road with his family to buy time to clear his name.

The tone of the series is uneven, sometimes jarringly so. When Paul’s wife is pulled over and must fabricate a cover story on the spot, it’s quite suspenseful. But the dramatic tension is undercut by the constant ribbing between the two adolescent siblings and the budding romance between Rader’s teen daughter and her neighbor. In another weird transition, a wholesome family scene is interrupted by a particularly gory flashback to Paul at the murder scene.

Plausibility is a factor as well. Could the couple's 8-year-old son really keep up with their ever-changing identities? The acting is promising, but the far-fetched premise and challenging tone are off-putting.    —K.R.

‘Men in Trees’
“Northern Exposure” having taken its final bows over a decade ago, the producers of “Men In Trees” (ABC, Fridays, 9 PM) probably feel it’s safe to present their Alaskan-set show to viewers without them remembering all the ways “Trees” has ripped off “Exposure.” And they’re probably right.

FREE VIDEO 'Men in Trees' 'Northern Exposure' for a new generation? MSNBC

Despite any prejudices one may have against Anne Heche after reading her spacey autobiography, she is a pretty good actor; the appealing lack of artifice she brought to her role as Amanda on “Everwood” is also on display here in Marin, a relationship coach navigating a major life change. Somehow, even her chirpy voice-over is understated and winning as opposed to imbecilic and grating (“Ally McBeal,” “Grey’s Anatomy”).

As on “Exposure,” the locals in the small Alaska town where Marin finds herself marooned have some hickish qualities. But considering that the dudes of Elmo have a 10:1 advantage over the ladies, they are earnest and sweet; the crowd of workingmen who pack in to hear Marin lecture about dating might just break your heart. For a pilot, the first episode is not too clumsily expository, though Marin’s choice to stay in Alaska is hardly a surprise. “Men In Trees” is charming and low-key, which is all one may require of a Friday-night show.    —Tara Ariano