Here’s today’s dispatch from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.

UP TV promos its first scripted series. Above is the trailer for Ties That Bind. The hybrid cop-family drama will debut Wednesday, August 12 @ 9:00 PM (ET).

Premise (from UP’s press release): Allison McLean (Kelli Williams) (is) a tough and experienced police detective in suburban Seattle.  Like most working women, her hands are already full, balancing a demanding and dangerous job and a family — husband Matt (Jonathan Scarfe), and teenagers Jeff (Mitchell Kummen) and Rachel (Natasha Calis).  But when she and her partner, Devin (Dion Johnstone), must arrest her brother, Tim (Luke Perry), for aggravated assault, her world drastically changes as Tim is convicted and sent to prison leaving his two teenagers Cameron (Rhys Matthew Bond) and Mariah (Matreya Scarrwener) teetering on the brink of foster care.  Having done the right thing as an officer of the law, Allison now feels compelled to do the right thing as a sister and aunt; she brings Tim’s two very unhappy teens into her home.  Squeezing four teenagers under one roof proves to be an additional test of Allison’s strength and patience.  It won’t be easy for her husband, her children or Tim’s kids either.  In addition to investigating local crimes, the series will also focus on the joys and struggles of the teens as they adjust to their new home, their new high school, make new friends and experience love, romance, anger and jealousy.

IMHO: I see a lot of potential here. There hasn’t been a good family drama series on television for quite some time. There was, of course, Parenthood but there was something about the tone of that show that I couldn’t quite get into. Anyway, Ties has a strong cast and an original premise that offers opportunity for heartfelt drama. Hopefully, the drama will be balanced with a dose of occasional humor.  I’m really rooting for this show to deliver on its promise.

Encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11