MORE THAN PERSONS MISSING FROM 'WITHOUT A TRACE'.Byline: David Kronke TV Critic IF A PERSON goes missing for more than 48 hours, ``Without a Trace'' tells us, the chances for finding him or her drop precipitously. This selnflicted ticking clock gives ``Without a Trace'' its only sense of urgency: Though you may not be consulting your watch to see how much longer you have to sit around until the show ends, you likewise won't be checking it to see if your pulse rate pulse rate n. The rate of the pulse as observed in an artery, expressed as beats per minute. has been elevated. Anthony LaPaglia Anthony LaPaglia (born 31 January, 1959) (pronounced IPA: /ləˈpɑːljə/) is an Australian actor, best known for his role as FBI agent Jack Malone on the American TV series Without a Trace (``Lantana lantana (lăntā`nə): see verbena. lantana Any of more than 150 shrubs that make up the genus Lantana in the verbena family, native to the New World and African tropics. ,'' Emmy winner for a recurring role in ``Frasier'') stars as Jack Malone, head of the FBI's Missing Persons Squad. In tonight's premiere, a young blond professional has disappeared just before she's due for a promotion. The usual suspects - a co-worker with whom she had an affair, her peculiarly affectionate father, her drug dealer, a globe-trotting former lover - emerge. The case is fairly efficiently, if protractedly pro·tract tr.v. pro·tract·ed, pro·tract·ing, pro·tracts 1. To draw out or lengthen in time; prolong: disputants who needlessly protracted the negotiations. 2. , resolved. Next week deals with what has become a distressing running theme among the fall's new series - a child whose disappearance may be tied to a sexual predator. The case is also fairly efficiently, if protractedly, resolved. Outside of LaPaglia's semi-gruff and only semi-interesting Malone, other characters - played by Poppy Montgomery (the CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. miniseries ``Blonde''), Eric Close (``Now and Again''), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (``Secrets and Lies'') and Enrique Merciano (``Traffic'') - seem to be around simply to provide narrative exposition. Hokey hok·ey adj. hok·i·er, hok·i·est Slang 1. Mawkishly sentimental; corny. 2. Noticeably contrived; artificial. hok special-effects scenes, in which the character simply disappears from his or her surroundings, and awkward flashbacks are a cheesy cheesy (che´ze) caseous. leitmotif leit·mo·tif also leit·mo·tiv n. 1. A melodic passage or phrase, especially in Wagnerian opera, associated with a specific character, situation, or element. 2. A dominant and recurring theme, as in a novel. of the series. As tonight's premiere comes to a satisfactory conclusion, Malone intones in semi-tough-guy fashion, ``It's our job - it's what we do.'' There are more interesting crime procedural programs out there, I must inform you. It's my job - it's what I do. WITHOUT A TRACE - Two stars What: Crime procedural focusing on an FBI missing-persons unit, starring Anthony LaPaglia. Where: CBS (Channel 2). When: 10 tonight. In a nutshell: Serviceable if unspectacular crime-procedural drama. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- 2) Anthony LaPaglia, left, leads the FBI's Missing Persons Squad, which includes Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Enrique Murciano, above, in CBS' new crime drama ``Without a Trace.'' |
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