Television Review : ‘Gideon Oliver’ Gets Off to a Ponderous Start

Gideon Oliver is a character for all seasons: a man of action and intellect, a teacher, a scholar, an athlete and--unofficially--a detective. He even dresses great.

An interesting presence. And he has to be to rise above the plot in the premiere of “Gideon Oliver” at 9 tonight on Channels 7, 3, 10 and 42.

This is the third rotating component of “The ABC Mystery Movie” series that recently opened with a resurrected “Columbo” starring Peter Falk, followed by “B. L. Stryker” starring Burt Reynolds.

Louis Gossett Jr. is Gideon, a brilliant anthropologist and charismatic college professor who tonight injects himself into an investigation of the murder of his former girlfriend. Elements of Satanism and kiddie porn surface in a laborious story that frequently tangles while seeming at least vaguely reminiscent of rumors that have shrouded the infamous McMartin case since its inception.

Gideon ends up teaming with a maverick police detective (Michael Rooker) whose unorthodox ideas about a Satanic link to some prominent murders places him in jeopardy.

“Gideon Oliver” has nice visual texture and a worthy star in Gossett, whose performance as Gideon intriguingly hints at layers yet to be explored and growth yet to occur. That’s promising.

Without Gossett’s intensity, the premiere would be a total loss. Even with it, the two hours pass slowly and are strangely unsuspenseful and uninvolving.