ABC-TV's press release/web site heralds a new show this fall: 666 Park Avenue, starring LOST alum Terry O'Quinn in a familiar LOST-like setting. The release states:
"What would you do to have everything you desire? Step inside 666 Park Avenue, New York’s most seductive address. We all have some burning needs, desires and ambitions. For the residents of The Drake, the premier apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, these will all be met – for a price – courtesy of the building’s mysterious owner, Gavin Doran (Terry O’Quinn). But be careful what you wish for, because the price you have to pay is your soul. ABC’s wickedly sensual, sexy and spine-tingling new drama about fulfilling our deepest desires, 666 Park Avenue, will air Sundays from 10:00-11:00 p.m., ET.
When Jane Van Veen (Rachael Taylor) and Henry Martin (Dave Annable), an idealistic young couple from the Midwest, arrive in New York City, the glamorous center of industry and media, they are offered the opportunity to manage the historic Drake. Jane, a small town girl with big ambitions, always knew she wanted to be an architect. Henry, a member of the Mayor’s staff, is grounded, intelligent and tenacious. They are lured by the intoxicating lifestyle of New York’s wealthy elite.
Gavin, who has many skeletons in his own closet, is at the height of his world and commands the dark power of The Drake. Olivia (Vanessa Williams), his beautiful but enigmatic, supportive wife, wears her elegance, wealth and position in society as armor… but cracks will slowly be revealed.
Jane and Henry not only fall prey to the machinations of Gavin and Olivia, but unwittingly live in the dark embrace of the building’s supernatural forces which endanger the lives of its residents. These include Brian Leonard (Robert Buckley), a young playwright pining for his early success and promise. Brian’s wife, Louise (Mercedes Masöhn), is a rising hot star in the world of fashion photography. Alexis Blume (Helena Mattsson) is a troubled young woman who is the picture of obsession -- what is her real connection to Gavin, and what part will she play in Brian and Louise’s life? Tony DeMeo (Erik Palladino), The Drake’s doorman, is the eyes and ears of the building. And then there is 14-year-old Nona Clark (Samantha Logan), who has a blossoming psychic ability, allowing her to look into the future of her fellow Drake occupants.
Sexy, enticing and captivating, home to an epic struggle of good versus evil, The Drake maintains a dark hold over all of its tenants in this new, chilling drama, tempting them through their ambitions and desires."
It appears ABC is setting up the premise of 666 as a micro-LOST: an ensemble cast "trapped" in a demonic building manipulated by Satan (O'Quinn).
From Comic-Con, observations seem to play on this free will trade off between mortals and immortality. O'Quinn's character is described as a person who plays hard with money and people's souls. He is willing to grant people their desires (cue, "magic box" from the Island) but for a price.
Like the Island, this apartment building is filled with odd mysteries and horror elements: the building itself, called The Drake, has a sinister past. It seems it has seen a lot of tragedy -- suicides, murders and even darker things. Show elements include a malevolent elevator, and a ghost-girl in the basement. - a mysterious group called the order of the dragon that has sealed off part of the basements for an unknown reason (sounds like The Hatch).
The premise to this series is more upfront than the LOST script. Viewers will know fairly quickly that there are dark elements of the building and its owners, through the eyes of the naive Midwestern couple who comes to the Big Apple and wind up in their own mini-Hell. It all depends on how the creators of the show want to develop the mysteries and horror elements into a reasonable story arcs.
For those who are looking to fill the LOST void, 666 Park Avenue may be the that diversion. Lost alums so far have not fared well in their action-adventure sequels, such as Alcatraz or Hawaii 5-0.
