Nathan Fillion

The promos for FOX’s new series "Drive" are all over choice primetime ad space on the network’s best shows. The premise of the show is simple enough. Think cross-country "Fast and the Furious" with a twist of a multi-million dollar prize where every racer has something to win and/or lose. The clandestine players, the underlying rules and high stakes of the race are what liken it to "24" in an action thriller fast-paced action story that should be layered with tension from week to week as the audience will undoubtedly have favorites to win.

So far it looks like "Prison Break" and talks like "Prison Break" as far as long-term serial television concepts go. Then again, set in a short and limited amount of time, the "24" similarities come up again, and "24" and "Prison Break" might be good models for the formula for this new show, but really, this is an idea that could go either way. It’s either the fast track to the winner’s circle or a crash and burn. Here’s the good news; Nathan Fillion stars in this new drama thriller.

After FOX cancelled "Firefly," its star Fillion was left floating like an object in space. Recently, Fillion starred in "Slither" and had a one-episode role on "Lost" as Kate’s unsuspecting cop husband. Now with "Firefly" and "Angel" producer/writer/director Tim Minear on board with "Drive" as a creator and executive producer, Fillion’s got himself a spot in the driver’s seat for a lead role as "a man thrust into The Race in an effort to find his missing wife" according to the show’s official pre-site homepage about the series on FOX’s website. Hopefully, Fillion will find himself at the head of a hit. Of course, if it is a hit, it’s not clear whether a second season would carry the same cast or new drivers for a new race.

Details are slowly coming to light and the ad campaign has just begun. What we do know about the series right now is this; it will be a 2-night 3-hour premiere (akin to "24" with its 2-night 4-hour premiere) coming to its starting line on Sunday, April 15th at 8PM Eastern Time, and it will continue the next night, Monday, April 16th, at 8PM. The second night seems like it will only be one hour, so that "24" can continue its nonstop season uninterrupted on its regular night after the conclusion of the "Drive" premiere.