January 26th, 2012
12:07 PM ET
'Touch' a demanding show with great potentialIt's almost difficult to believe that a show like "Touch" actually got greenlit for broadcast television. That's a compliment, by the way. It's not a show that you can watch passively, and it's demanding to the point that it seems like it might be more at home on cable. One has to wonder if it would have gotten made if not for Kiefer Sutherland taking a starring role. It's not easy to categorize, but is also unmistakably the work of Tim Kring, the creator of "Heroes." Here we have many different people, on different parts of the globe, interconnected through extraordinary circumstances. Sound familiar?
Not only is Sutherland in the lead (in a quite impressive performance, I might add), but Danny Glover shows up as a man who seems to understand what is really going on here. Sutherland plays Martin, whose mute son Jake supposedly has autism. Instead, it seems that he's some sort of super-psychic, who communicates in numbers (okay, there's a little bit of "Lost" there, too – yes, the numbers also work on the lottery). The wheels are already in motion before we meet Jake, when Martin – who works in an airport and collects lost cell phones – absentmindedly sends a phone with luggage overseas, while being called to an emergency involving his son. This phone will eventually stop a boy from committing an act of terrorism. Another phone makes a wannabe pop star in Ireland a YouTube sensation. Another will bring a husband and wife back together. And Martin's decision to "follow the numbers" will lead to a bunch of students in a school bus being saved (in another interesting turn, by "Lost's" Titus Welliver as their rescuer). It's an interesting premise, no doubt, and just like the pilot of "Heroes," it's hard not to get hooked right away. But the long-term potential for this series is difficult to discern. We'll have a better idea on March 19 what this will look like as a series. Were you interested enough that you plan on tuning in to this show again in two months time? Share your thoughts on iReport (iReporter Kathi Cordsen is hooked) or comment below.
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This is amazing for me! I am at the edge of my seat some weeks, and many times I have to remind myself it's only a tv series! I am totally entertained and hooked. I am hooked with "Touch"
Thank you for a different view of our mind.
now go bj your boyfriend tonight kay?
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I absolutely LOVED this show. I hope Fox is smart enough to keep it around. It was great. And I love seeing Kiefer back.
I was really excited for this show as I am a pretty big fan of Kiefer Sutherland. I have to say, though, that I wasn't that excited about it. It was a bit slow moving, and it felt like Kiefer was overworking it a little. I will tune in again to see it, but it remains to be seen if I will watch it again. I am having a hard time seeing how this show can work out to be a weekly series without becoming completely corny.
I will definitely be tuning in again...I loved this show! And there were not several phones...they were all the same phone. From the man who lost it at Heathrow, to the airport in New York where Martin sent it by accident to Ireland to film the singer, to Tokyo to be downloaded to the Jumbotron, to Kuwait into the hands of the boy trying to buy his parents an oven, where it is called by the girl from Ireland while the man who the phone belonged to is watching photos of his dead daughter on the Jumbotron...
Caught the first episode on FOX On Demand! It is amazing! Very, very smart! Looking forward to it.
Hooked for sure! Loved 24, loved lost love Keifer! The story line is fantastic and the twists are totally great. I want a tv show to chanllege my mind (unlike some 'reality' shows that are flooding the screen). For those of us who do not 'pay' for tv, THANK YOU FOX!!!
I loved it and even got teary eyed when the young dads photos were all over the screens. I am a big Keifer fan and he will absolutely have a hit with Touch.
I saw the pilot and I have to say I was disappointed. The plot was basically a series of quick cuts to make it seem livelier than it was. A couple of convenient "Deus ex machina" moments went entirely unexplained.
Kiefer was great, as usual, but his talent is being wasted in this vehicle.
This show will become all too much like "Heroes" – a series of unending tangential side stories with no organizing central plot. I cannot say I will watch again in March, as the pilot simply did not seem to have enough to offer.
To the guy who made the comment about this series not flying or anyone else who makes this comment.I wish to say that I have only watched two episodes and I absolutely fell in love with this new role for keifer Sutherland...Its about time television connected emotionally with peoples feelings rather than the crap reality shows people waste their time on because they have no life of their own..Maybe if more people actually took the time to connect with their own families instead of avoiding each other the world would be a better place...A good cry and a smile go a long way..Come on people I challenge you to take a look at this series and tell me it didn't TOUCH you on some level,cause if it doesn't quite frankly your not human...
Terrific show. I came across it while channel surfing, but will anxiously await its return.
My wife and I enjoyed it. Started slow, but it built a great foundation for what could be a great series. We thought Keifer was very good. It has a lot of promise so we certainly will watch it in March and give it a go.
What do you mean "another" phone? It was the SAME phone!
Great show! I was pleasantly surprised at how brilliantly the story was presented and dramatically tied together at the end. I hope it lives up to its potential! We shall see in March! I have to say that I am also surprised at the lack of intelligence demonstrated by a number of the posters to this forum. Sadly, the content of some of the posts here only confirms the fact that despite our blind belief to the contrary, this country and indeed the entire world is still rife with ignorance, hatred and bigotry.
I will watch. seems like a lot of you are "deficient", learn to expand your horizon, it is just a tv show, after all, if you don't like it-
use your remote.
This program has great potential but the writting will have to sharpen up a bit. I like it.
I thought that it was a great pilot. I loved the concept of people being connected, all over the world. The acting was first rate.
Intriguing, I loved it, but concerned how it can be carried forward into more episodes. Small events connected would have been good enough, or will the world be saved every week? Might get old.
The world needs saving...Look around at the mess humanity has made of it...Time to get back to basics and say hi to your neighbor and lend a helping hand once in awhile instead of wondering what everyone else can do for ME.ME.ME
I loved the pilot show too! I was a huge Heroes fan and was so sorry to see the show canceled. I actually didn't know Tim Kring was involved in Touch until now–which makes sense since it definitely has a "Heroes" feel to it. I agree with the above post–I'm a fan of the movie "I am" which talks about how we are interconnected. I will definitely be tuning in come March!!
All of the "another" phones you talked about were the same exact phone. Clearly, you didn't get the episode.
I loved the pilot show. I will definitely watch the series in March. Yes you must have a some intelligence to keep up. this is not some easy to follow sit com. You must pay attention to the characters but I assure you this will be a series worth watching. It is all too true how this is a small world afterall. we all can affect others we do not even know.
I will be watching!–it will be so intersting to see where it goes and how it all fits. So glad KS is back!
A show about a mute kid who predicts the future. Think: The Psychic Twins meet Helen Keller.
This show is one of the smartest I have seen. The premise is fresh, it makes you think and it has great potential. I hope to see many more episodes. I am glad to have something more than the same old ho hum, wasting time, sitting in front of the television fare.
I don't watch much television, but I will watch this show. I was amazed how the story was tied together. Not a fan of Glover however because of his political views. Sutherland was great as always.
I found this show to be extremely "touching" and entertaining. Wth all the stupid reality shows on TV, this was refreshing. Keifer is an excellent actor and of course drew me to this after the incredible run of "24". I have high hopes and expecations from this one. The different scenarios and characters was very good. We are all connected.
LOVED it... But sorry to say I would LOVE any show with Keifer Sutherland!
heard an ad on the radio, just sounds like an imitation of the show about corky- life goes on or some such nonsense.
Great so, definitly tell Tim Kring was involved. But I still like Keifer better as Jack Bauer. Everytime he got mad, or threw that guy to the ground. I went yeah, Jack Bauer, Kill em.
I wonder what planet some of you are from?
I'm hesitant to watch a show called Touch about a grown man & a young boy. Sounds rather Michael Jacksonish.
I really enjoyed Touch. Kiefer Sutherland is great as the father of an autistic child and the child portraying his son is eerily talented when it comes to interpreting an autistic child's "look." I'm looking forward to more episodes. Thanks Mr. Sutherland for your intensity.
Does anyone know the significance of the orange soda?
Not yet. But as the mother of an Autistic child, I know that they often have favorite treats that calm them. Rydon's are peanuts... He would walk through fire for the good planters honey roasted ones. : )
Loved it! Will definitely watch in March!
Actually, it is the SAME phone, not different phones. I would say this is being nit-picky, but it's a pretty essential aspect of the show. This phone is being "globe-skipped" or some other vocab that means randomly sending the phone to strangers around the world. In a not so subtle way, it reinforced the "everyone is connected theme."
I loved the show! Gave me chills and tears in my eyes when the boy hugged his dad. Looking forward to more!
Actually, this whole blog are trolls.
They always feed the trolls. They'll never learn.lol
Me Too ! I would have liked it better if they had been able to come back through the stargate and get that last romulan though. It would have been more convincing.
I found it to be tuuuuurdtastic !
Naaaaaah. Just kind of bland.
I just didnt like it so much myself.
Kinda reminded me of an imbicillic version of GLEE but with more of the short bus mongolloids.
Ohhh I see what you're trying to do there. I think you were trying to be funny? In reality you just illustrated your ignorance. Comedy is supposed to be offensive, but that wasn't funny, just stupid. Better luck next time with the whole joke thing.
DAN, it was a time vortex. NOT a time portal. And yes, that is the way they actually look in real life. When Keefer and the tard went through it to rescue the doctor, it was exactly correct.
I really liked the show. I have always liked Kiefer Sutherland as an actor. I loved him in 24. I think this show has great potential. I will be watching it when the new season starts.
One of the best shows I've seen in a long time. The people not happy with the show seem very immature by there writing and name calling. Well written and it's one show I'll look forward to watching.
Absolutely the fakest time portal I have ever seen. Why dont they take some of Kiefers exhorbitant salary and spend it on some realistic special effects.
Mentionin the good Pabst. . . . .I hope my food stamps will come in soon. We are just about o beers. Gotta mak a run to the Piggly Wiggly sooooon.
If my my girl got ran over by a car Id be real sad. She couldnt go huntin with me or anything. I guess she could still take care of our dogs, but it just wouldnt be the same. Usually we will go deer huntin and squirrel huntin together. To be 7 years old you should see her drink ! She can drink more Pabst Blue Ribbon than 12 grown men put together ! So nope. I woulbnt want her to be gettin run over and ending up retardedfied like. But thats just me.
Great show! It is now on my list of must-sees. Just wish we didn't have to wait so long for the next episode.
I thought it was amazing! Maybe too deep for some of the haters that posted? I will be watching for sure! How could you not feel uplifted, excited, stunned, and entertained? Loved it!
Ditto.
please people, stop using the word "retarded" what if you had a child with disabilities, or your perfectly "normal" child got hit by a car and couldnt walk anymore; would you call him "retarded" that word should be taken out of the english language. please stop the bullying and name calling and help improve this world.
You go Chrissy!
The only reason words are offensive is because people like chrissy have a hissy fit over them. How about if I just call you mentally defective, is that better than RETARDED? Open up a dictionary and learn what the word means you...moron.
Reminded me of a pile of fresh warm do do with green flies buzzing around it. Just needs a little voommitt to liven it up.
awesome show – keifer will be getting an emmy – brilliant writing – boy is terrific – im hooked
Potentially the worst show on tv. Should have been filmed in smellavision. A real stinker.
Why none of us African Americans on this show? I think it is prejudiced. PS Danny Glover isnt a real black. He is o reo.
Just another low budget remake of the old Laverne&Shirley series, minus the cool special effects.
It really was pretty lame.
I saw it and it stank. It is about some retarded boy and Kiefer takes care of him. How many times during each episode does it have to show him feeding the trado kid or changing his diaper? Truly a miserably bad show.
Another cretin. 🙁
Dislike the show all you want but your ignorant remarks about those with disabilities is unbelievably offensive and absolutely unacceptable.
No way am I going to watch this show or let my family. We also plan on boycotting anyone who purchases ads on it. Having an entire cast made up of gay people is not only offensive but it is also unfair to us normal types. Gayfer makes me puuuke.
Are you insane? Your comments don't even make sense.
Wow you need yo get out if the dark ages hon. Who made you queen s#*t of turd mountain?
*to
Wow!!! What shw were you watching. It sure was not Touch. Please get off the drugs.
Guys, guys....Michelle is a troll. Ignore her (or him).
Ignore attention seeking behavior.
I guess no one told Michelle that having one surviving brain cell doesn't make him/her/it "normal".
Liked it, agree that it has potential, but concerned about Tim Kring and Heroes-syndrome (epic start...colossal mismanagement). It's a bit too precious at times, as well, but I'm happy that it's taking a risk.
Our take here: http://wp.me/p1VQBq-mI
Definitely am going to tune in to "TOUCH" episodes. A very positive series story line with enough plausible, true " Rain Man" and sci-fi teasers to draw a wide audience.
This was a ver yinteresting show. I will definately watch it in March. I loved it!!
love keifer sutherland so knew this was gonna be a great show. can't wait until March!
Keifer was great! I will watch in March.