BEVERLY HILLS

After a major bummer of a season that featured a divisive writers strike and saggy ratings, television really could use a hit. A big, noisy, attention-grabbing, mind-blowing, eye-boggling hit.

The folks at Fox think they've got one in "Fringe," a spooky, sci-fi-tinged drama from celebrated producer J.J. Abrams that is already generating big buzz on the Internet and ranks as one of fall's most anticipated shows.

There is hopeful talk that "Fringe" could be the next "Lost," which seems fitting because Abrams co-created the plane-crash thriller. Now he has teamed with writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, his partners on next year's big-screen Star Trek movie, to concoct something that mixes elements of "The X-Files" and "Altered States," along with a touch of "The Twilight Zone."

And Fox entertainment chief Kevin Reilly smells a winner.

"This show just feels right," he told reporters gathered here for the TV critics summer press tour. "Sometimes with these big show runners, it's all hype and no delivery. I actually am very happy to say that this one is going to deliver the goods."

Of course, that's what Reilly is supposed to say. But Fox has put its money where its mouth is, reportedly lavishing more than $10 million on the two-hour "Fringe" pilot. The show also has been rewarded with a plum time slot, right after the highly rated "House," which moves to 8 p.m.

Moreover, Fox is deploying an interesting strategy with "Fringe," reducing the amount of network commercial breaks to just five minutes per hour — or about half the usual. Clearly, the network believes it has the makings of something special.

"Fringe" takes its name from the term "fringe science," or cutting-edge research that defies mainstream conventions. The pilot episode, made available to critics this week, starts off with a creepy incident aboard a commercial jet that lands in Boston with every passenger dead on arrival. And, as it turns out, they've perished in an inexplicably gruesome manner.

Special FBI agent Olivia Dunham (newcomer Anna Torv) is called in to investigate and eventually discovers that she may be onto a sinister conspiracy. Her probe brings her into contact with a brilliant scientist (John Noble), who has been institutionalized for the past 17 years, and his estranged —- and also brilliant — son Peter (Joshua Jackson of "Dawson Creek"). Together, they attempt to chase down the truth, which, as we all know, is out there.

The high-octane pilot, which, much to Abrams' chagrin, has been leaked in rough form online, is gripping from start to finish. It contains strong performances not only from the leads, but the supporting actors (including Lance Reddick of "The Wire"). And it earns major points for offsetting the bleakness with a sharp sense of humor.

"Fringe" will be under the industry microscope when it debuts on Sept. 9. Thanks to the writers strike, which played havoc with television's production process, fewer big-ticket series will make it on to the air this fall. Thus, "Fringe" figures to be regarded and a potential "savior" of the season.

Don't think that doesn't at least slightly worry Abrams, who co-wrote the script on spec with Kurtzman and Orci. Over the years, he has seen highly hyped shows crash and burn.

"Ultimately, pressure or expectations could ruin a show," Abrams says. "It's like, if you expect something that's going to change your life, you know, no matter what it is, it's almost invariably going to be disappointing. "..."

On the other hand, Orci says the "Fringe" team has no excuses if it fails.

"(With) the attention the show is getting, we can't hide behind, 'Oh, (Fox) didn't promote it. Nobody knew about it.'" he says. "It's no one but us. It's our fault if it doesn't work."

If it does work, one reason might be that Abrams, known for shows featuring dense, complicated plots ("Alias"; "Lost"), plans to rein things in this time around. Yes, "Fringe" will be tied to an ongoing mythology, but it will also have self-contained mysteries of the paranormal, theoretically making it easier to follow.

"We're trying very diligently to do a show that doesn't require the kind of insane, absolute dedication to a series that, if you miss an episode, you truly have no idea what's going on," he said.

TV critic Chuck Barney can be reached at cbarney@bayareanewsgroup.com. Also check out his "TV Freak" blog at www.ibabuzz.com/tvfreak.