Touch

A bit melodramatic, a bit manipulative, Touch is still one of the best pilots of the 2011-12 season to date.

Overall, the first episode delivers a suspenseful ride around the world, peppered with some tear-jerking moments.

The pilot for Touch is actually rather intriguing and well-executed. My problem with the show is projecting how well it will play a couple of months into its run.

It's an interesting, emotionally manipulative but still effective hour of television.

Its spirit is willing, but the construction has foundation problems.

Touch feels like yet another series--last week it was Alcatraz--that seemed like a better idea for a one-shot movie than a weekly TV series.

Ironically, given a show that so clearly wants to touch its audience--from that weighty one-word title on down--we have met, apart from Martin, hardly a single character who incorporates more than the hint of an actual person.