Chaos

It's "The A-Team" meets ... really good writing.

Chaos can be amusing in spots, although it's hard to envision it as a long-distance runner. It might be housing a breakout star, though [in James Murray].

It's a not always comfortable mix of action, drama and comedy, and if it's far from the worst new series to hit the airwaves this season, it's also not at the top of the list. It's a little too middle of the road for its own good.

Filled with familiar faces, from Eric Close to Tim Blake Nelson to Kurtwood Smith, the show aims for breezy fun, but to sell the premise of eccentric spooks tracking terrorists, the humor has to be better than the jabbering wisecracks and frenetic sight gags here.

This one pushes the zany aspects too hard, trivializing the missions while neglecting such elements as grit, wit and heart.

I didn't hate the pilot, though it veers from silly to serious so quickly a girl could get whiplash, but I didn't for a minute buy it as a serious contender for next fall on CBS, either.

The show's acting offers no respite. Scenes unfold very slowly, as characters talk quickly but pause at the end of each speech, often holding a self-satisfied smirk as if listening to an inaudible laugh track.