I loved the "I missed orientation" line (because I so totally would), but I'm also harboring a secret dream that they told everyone that they just missed orientation, and they'll have to figure it out as they go.

I didn't notice the theme, but I did notice the use of music in general, and liked it. It reminds me a lot of how music was used (to good effect) in season one of Veronica Mars.

The soldier -- who is somehow AWOL without his own knowledge -- is he played by the same actor who played Kevin Girardi's friend on Joan of Arcadia (the guy who had the accident which crippled Kevin).

Is it just me or does JD Pardo (Sean Salazar) look like he could be a lost Menendez brother? I kept waiting for him to say, "Dad told me about Lyle and Eric, but I never heard of you."

And Oh! Charles Martin Smith plays Mr. Bright. Why was I thinking that was Clint Howard? The Ron Howard connection must have muddied my brain.

overall verdict: Watched it for the Tim-n-Kristen, staying for the LOVE!

I don't feel the love yet, but that's typical for me. I watched for the Tim, Kristen, and Nathan, but am staying for the like. I'm already invested in three characters (which is pretty good for such an enormous cast). I would have liked to see a little of Alex and Kathryn's homelife up front, so I'd have some emotion reaction to her kidnapping.

The soldier -- who is somehow AWOL without his own knowledge --

Okay, yeah, that was a little weird. Though amusing.

Now that I think about it, I could see it happening with someone who was in the National Guard or something (not that I know anything about how that actually works), but this guy is supposed to be actually *in* the Army, right?

I'm rooting for Wendy, although I love Alex. Wendy's delivery of one line did it for me: "Oh, I'm not a thief. I think I'm something much worse."

Amy Acker looks really good.

Now that I think about it, I could see it happening with someone who was in the National Guard or something (not that I know anything about how that actually works), but this guy is supposed to be actually *in* the Army, right?

I thought one of the messages said he had been called for another tour of duty and hadn't responded, but I could have gotten that wrong.

IIRC (which is no sure thing) they said his unit was getting shipped back out - but he was already pretty much AWOL anyway. The Iraq thing just upped the stakes on it, I guess.

Overnight Ratings for Sunday, April 15th

Metered Market Ratings

Household Rating/Share

CBS: 8.1/13

ABC: 7.4/12

NBC: 5.2/ 8

Fox: 3.7/ 6

CW: 1.5/ 2

In series-premiere news, the two-hour launch of Fox drama Drive was stuck in second gear, with a mere (and fourth-place) 3.8/ 6 from 8-10 p.m. Despite the massive promotional hype, Drive only built from week-ago repeats of The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Family Guy and American Dad (avg. 3.5/6 on April 8) by 9 percent. One year earlier, Fox’s combination of a repeat of The Simpsons, a repeat of Family Guy and two original episodes of The War at Home averaged a 4.0/ 7 in the overnights. Here is the half-hour breakdown for the disappointing Drive:

8:00 p.m. 4.0/ 6

8:30 p.m. 3.9/ 6

9:00 p.m. 3.6/ 5

9:30 p.m. 3.7/ 5

Wasn't he only AWOL because his girlfriend deleted the message from his phone saying his unit was being re-deployed and he had to report blah blah blah? He wasn't AWOL when the race began.

You've got to be kidding!

I'm kind of with Dana on being all set with car races, but I figure like the fights in Buffy, that's the part where I can pay less attention.

Yeah, Car Race Schmar Race. ITA that it's where I don't have to pay attention, or where I get to go to the bathroom.

Amy Acker playing the helpless victim and hostage. I hope she picks up some agency and works against her captors rather than just screaming "Help, save me!" from the train tracks she's tied to in every episode.

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if Kathryn is really in on it and working with the sponsors.

ARGH.

That's all I'm going to say.