VANISHED - Let's Hope Not

VANISHED (Mondays at 9/8c on FOX) premiered to mixed reviews from the TV critics. It's been called a cut and paste job, a hodge podge effort, this year's REUNION.

I'm here to tell you the critics are wrong.

Two episodes into the season and I am officially all in.

VANISHED looks to be a perfect companion piece to PRISON BREAK. It's as deliciously convoluted, twisting and surprising as its sophomore lead-in and it shows in the ratings. It's keeping a very healthy percentage of the PRISON BREAK audience.

It didn't take me long to accept John Allen Nelson as Senator Collins. I was afraid it might be tough for the actor to shed 24's Walt Cummings.

It's the lead FBI investigator I'm finding most enjoyable. He is a compelling mix of Nathon Fillion and Ashton Kutcher. Ming-Na is his touchstone of a partner, who is burdened with a good deal of exposition and technobabble - can't wait to see her kick some bad guy butt down the line.

VANISHED is not "IMPORTANT TELEVISION." It's not groundbreaking like 24 or LOST. But it is tasty escapist fare, like a big juicy hot dog at the ballpark.

If we're lucky, come January, VANISHED will still be appearing weekly.