Sorbo Ventures Into Space in the Pedestrian ‘Andromeda’

Kevin Sorbo hops from Hercules to hokum with the debut of “Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda,” a been-there, zapped-that science-fiction show premiering today on KTLA-TV.

Don’t expect much excitement at the outset of this interstellar adventure based on notes by Roddenberry, the late creator and guiding force of “Star Trek,” and developed by Robert Hewitt Wolfe (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”).

Sorbo stars as Dylan Hunt, the stalwart captain of Andromeda Ascendant, a star ship controlled by an artificial intelligence visualized on screen in the form of a fetching brunet (Lexa Doig).

In the opener offering standard-issue special effects, Hunt orders his crew to abandon ship after an unexpected attack by former allies. Attempting to conceal Andromeda in a black hole, the harried Hunt ends up frozen in time before being located by the mercenaries aboard a salvage ship intent on selling its parts.

Oh, and one other teensy problem. Three centuries pass while our hero is immobilized in the outer regions of space.

Actually, it only seems like 300 years slip away while we meet the ragtag scavengers who will become Hunt’s crew in a subsequent episode. Wisecracking engineer Harper (Gordon Michael Woolvett) serves as ostensible comic relief. At the very least, he gets the hour’s best line, referring to Sorbo’s rugged character as “some kind of Greek god.” Get it?

“Andromeda” isn’t intended to be taken too seriously, but that doesn’t excuse its penchant for dopey dialogue. At one point, a former friend on the verge of vanquishing Hunt summons all his strength to proclaim: “You have sown the wind. You shall now reap the whirlwind.”

We don’t know what that means, but it demonstrates how this corny entry sometimes floats along on hot air.

* “Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda” can be seen today at 5 p.m. on KTLA. It is rated TV-G (suitable for all ages).