NEXT GENERATION

Star Trek: Voyager is the only semi-hit on UPN, so it's no surprise the anemic new network has gone back to the sci-fi/fantasy well for two new series, NOWHERE MAN (UPN, Aug. 28, 9-10:30 p.m.; Mondays starting Sept. 4, 9-10 p.m.) and DEADLY GAMES (UPN, Tuesdays starting Sept. 5, 8-9 p.m.). The Leonard Nimoy-helmed Games has the Trek connection, yet No where has a more promising premise -- and a better time slot, following Voyager.

A paranoid serial in the Fugitive-Prisoner mold, Nowhere casts Bruce Greenwood (Exotica) as Thomas Veil, a photojournalist whose identity is expunged by a cabal that includes a cigar-chomping shrink (guest star Michael Tucker). With a solid lead in Greenwood and spooky direction from Poltergeist's Tobe Hooper, Nowhere could go somewhere.

Games is just deadly. Looking like Tom Wolfe's evil twin, Christopher Lloyd stars as Sebastian Jackal, a white-suited video-game villain brought to life by dweeby Dr. Gus Lloyd (James Calvert). Along with his shrill ex-wife (Madman of the People's Cynthia Gibb), Lloyd hunts Jackal and his cybercronies. The first two Games (directed by Nimoy) are packed with junky F/X and explosive stunts, but it's Nowhere that starts with a bang. Nowhere Man: B Deadly Games: D

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