TV Jots

Modern-Day Mad Men?

TNT’s latest original series, Trust Me, hits the tube tonight at 10pm EST with a cast led by Will & Grace vet Eric McCormack and Ed vet Tom Cavanagh. Whether or not the dramedy turns out to be another basic-cable hit, that match-up is pretty darn nice.

Produced by the same folks responsible for Nip/Tuck and The Closer, Trust Me revolves around two “ad men” who work at Rothman Greene & Mohr Advertising Agency in Chicago: married, responsible art director Mason (McCormack) and single, adolescent copywriter Conner (Cavanagh). The guys’ relationship as best friends is moseying along more or less happily, until Mason is promoted and becomes Conner’s boss. Clearly, that’s not an ideal situation, especially in a competitive industry like the advertising world.

Rounding out the regular cast are Boston Legal’s Monica Potter as newbie copywriter Sarah, Law & Order: Criminal Intent’s Griffin Dunne as bossman Tony, 24’s Sarah Clarke as Mason’s wife Erin, and Lost in Yonkers‘ Mike Damus and Garden State’s Geoffrey Arend as overly confident creative team Tom and Hector.

While the series’ premise sounds promising and the cast’s talent is undeniable, some critics have started grumbling already. One is the New York Post’s resident reviewer Linda Stasi, whose article is titled “‘Trust’ Issues: Show Doesn’t Ad Up.” She ultimately gives the show just two of four possible stars.

If you intend to watch and make up your mind for yourself, though, first sneak a peek at Trust Me’s series premiere, “Before and After,” in the video clip below. The Closer’s first new episode of 2009 airs immediately before at 9pm.