This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
ABC seems to like serialized crime dramas, and "The Family" (8 p.m., Ch. 4) is joining a list that includes everything from "How to Get Away with Murder" to "Secrets & Lies" to "Quantico."
The latest entry is about kidnapping, not murder or terrorism, but it is the same sort of mystery and even includes the same sort of flashbacks that have proven so popular in those other shows.
"The Family" in question is the Warrens. Claire Warren (Joan Allen), a mayor who's about to declare her candidacy for governor, is haunted by the disappearance of her 9-year-old son, Adam, a decade earlier. What voters don't see behind the facade is that Claire's husband, John (Rupert Graves) is having an affair; her older son, Danny (Zach Gilford), has turned to drugs to deal with his guilt — he was supposed to be watching Adam; and her daughter, Willa (Allison Pill) is hiding something.
A young man claiming to be Adam (Liam James) suddenly reappears, startling everyone. Including the Warrens' former neighbor, Hank Asher (Andrew McCarthy), who was convicted of abducting and murdering Adam and has long been imprisoned.
He's released when Adam reappears, and he is not happy.
The big question, of course, is whether that's really Adam who's come back. And that's unclear.
(Yes, there's a DNA test … and why that doesn't clear things up is explained.)
There is, of course, a police detective Nina Meyer (Margot Bingham) who's determined to get to the bottom of all of this.
"The Family" gets off to a good enough start that I'll tune in to watch another episode or two, at least. Whether this is worth sticking with remains to be seen.
(After tonight's premiere, "The Family" moves to its regular time slot on Sunday at 8 p.m.)
Elsewhere on TV ...
• Women's college basketball (12:30 p.m., P12N): Utah vs. Cal in the Pac-12 tournament.
• "Grey's Anatomy" (7 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): Meredith's first surgical patient returns with a new aneurysm, and Amelia takes on the case
• "You, Me and the Apocalypse" (7 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Scotty tries to make amends; Jamie's life is shaken up by a sudden tragedy.
• "American Idol" (7 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): The final eight singers are revealed.
• "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" (7 p.m., CW/Ch. 30): The team is lured into a trap and has to battle time pirates.
• "Project Runway: All-Stars" (7 and 9 p.m., Lifetime): An unconventional-materials challenge forces designers to transform New York City emergency-services materials into fashion.
• "Life In Pieces" (7:30 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): John and Joan get into a dispute with neighbors; Matt and Colleen try to be friends.
• "Mom" (8 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Christy tries to be supportive when Bonnie has a health scare.
• "The 100" (8 p.m., CW/Ch. 30): Lexa tries to keep peace within the clans; and Clarke uncovers a dark truth.
• "Portlandia" (8 p.m., IFC): Louis CK has to cancel a Portland show because of a family problem.
• "2 Broke Girls" (8:30 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Caroline is torn when she learns that a movie about her life would not include Max.
• "Elementary" (9 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Watson discovers that Captain Gregson has a secret relationship with a former NYPD officer.
• "How to Get Away with Murder" (9 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): Annalise considers taking a risk to shield the team from Philip; Wes gathers information about his mother's death.
• "Shades of Blue" (9 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Harlee and Stahl learn of Wozniak's relationship with Donnie.
• "Prey" (11 p.m., BBC America): The manhunt for Farrow escalates while he hunts for the real killer.
• "Workaholics" (11 p..m., Comedy Central): A visit from Alice's sister shakes up the office.
• "Baskets" (11 p.m., FX): Eddie drags Chip and Martha along on a road trip.
• "Colony" (11 p.m., USA): A high-ranking Resistance member is ready to cut a deal; Katie gets a second chance.
• "Idiotsitter" (11:30 p.m., Comedy Central): Billie accidentally gets Joy fired.