NBC’S money on new drama

$3M-per-episode ‘Revolution’ key to network’s hopes.

NBC’s lineup needs some extra voltage. But can “Revolution” be the show that will give primetime dramas a muchneeded jolt?

Electricity-related puns aside, this costly, afterthe-lights-go-out drama is probably NBC’s biggest bet this year, not to mention the most-anticipated new fall show, according to Facebook and Twitter data. “Revolution” is so key to the beleaguered network’s hopes that executives are plugging it into the high-visibility 10 p.m. (ET/ PT) Monday spot opposite a pair of popular-but-somewhatvulnerable crime shows, CBS’ “Hawaii Five-0” and ABC’s “Castle.”

“Revolution” has the high-concept premise of a potential blockbuster. Among the most costly new shows, with an estimated per-episode price tag of approximately $3 million, “Revolution” revolves around a farfetched setup: 15 years after a mysterious blackout, America has been transformed into an overgrown, feudal MiddleEarth where good but mostly powerless people struggle against evil warlords. It’s a cautionary tale for technology-obsessed 21st century Americans addicted to everything from smartphones to, well, appliance-generated ice.

“Everyone knows how frustrating it is to be in a blackout,” Eric Kripke, the show’s creator and a writer-producer best known for CW’s “Supernatural,” said in a recent interview. “I think everyone senses somewhere deep in their animal instinct that we’re overextended.”

But just in case a warning about over-reliance on Androids and iPhones might not be enough to push viewers to watch, “Revolution” has a secret weapon.

“Revolution” enjoys the distinction of being a J.J. Abrams show. And that means a lot. He was the mastermind behind “Lost” and “Alias,” two influential TV dramas in recent years.