E-Ring

Besides its surefire pacing and startling moments, "Invasion" features a promising cast.

"E-Ring" is sometimes kind of silly, sometimes tightly drawn, and sometimes it's fun.

It pulsates with the requisite flash and dash we've come to expect of a Bruckheimer outing, in this case rather like "JAG" on steroids. But at the end of the day it rings emotionally hollow.

Remember those scenes on "The West Wing" when the Joint Chiefs assemble in the "situation room" to tackle some faraway threat? Reprise the tension with none of the intelligence, inject flag-waving machismo and high-tech imagery, and what's left is this Jerry Bruckheimer drama.

The network may feel that Bratt could stand there, read the phone book and attract millions of adoring female fans. Starring in "E-Ring" may be the closest thing to finding out whether that's true.

Overcooked and preposterous to the point of being laughable.

[A] surprisingly brain-dead series.