Allein gegen die Zukunft

Kyle Chandler's thick eyebrows look like they carry the weight of the world in Early Edition, the beloved show about a guy who gets the next day's paper delivered to him by an orange cat. But Gary Hobson (Chandler) doesn't use this insight into the future for personal gain; instead, driven by what must be the world's most overachieving superego, he runs all over town to help people who are about to die or suffer other disasters. He is aided (or sometimes hindered) by his best friend Chuck (Fisher Stevens), who desperately wants to abuse this mysterious gift for wealth and glory, and by Marissa (Shanesia Davis), who acts as Gary's self-appointed conscience, though Gary is so driven he hardly needs one. Marissa pretty much embodies all the cliches of the wise ethnic supporting character (and not only is she African-American, she's blind), but Davis is appealing enough that she somehow makes Marissa engaging. But Early Edition depends on Chandler's charisma, and he manages to enliven good intentions that would make a boy scout roll his eyes. Handsome but modest, Chandler has the combination of underplayed charm and acting chops that can make any show watchable. Though the show rarely lets Gary do more than chafe at the responsibility that's been thrust upon him, Chandler is never less than sincere and compassionate. At its best, Early Edition combines dramatic tension with quiet questions about moral responsibility; at its worst, it comes across like a bizarre fusion of Touched by an Angel and The X-Files, tossing around portentous implications about destiny and a mysterious but clumsy history. Guest stars abound--including Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives), Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City), Peri Gilpin (Frasier), Jane Krakowski (30 Rock), singer Lou Rawls, and Adrienne Shelly (Waitress)--but extras are disappointingly sparse. For fans of the show, however, this first-season DVD is long overdue. --Bret FetzerAll 23 episodes from the first season--including the "Pilot," "Thief Swipes Mayor's Dog," "Bat Masterson," "Phantom of the Opera," and "Love Is Blind"--are presented in a six-disc set. 17 1/4 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo Surround; TV spots. **23 episodes on 6 discs. 17 1/4 hrs.**