9-11 p.m., Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 11-13
Sci Fi Channel

Laura Harkcom and Paul Workman had the kernel of an intriguing idea for a miniseries. Suppose there was a motel key that changed any door into the entrance to a Spartan motel room. And suppose further that, once inside, you could leave via the same door to any other doorway you choose.

Intriguing, right? OK, now suppose that the key was just one of nearly 100 items associated with this particular room and that each item had its own power, such as stopping time, preventing combustion or letting you send someone on a one-way trip to Gallup, N.M. (seriously).

It's starting to get complicated, but now suppose that there are quite a few other people who know about these items. Some want to collect them, some want to worship them, some want to keep others from finding them, some want to kill for them. All right, now this is starting to spin out of control.

Peter Krause heads an impressive cast that includes Julianna Margulies, Kevin Pollak, Roger Bart, Peter Jacobson, Margaret Cho and other solid talents. Krause plays Detective Joe Miller, a Pittsburgh cop who stumbles on a bizarre double homicide in a pawn shop.

That is when two things happen that really shouldn't because the character is too smart. But if they don't, there is no miniseries. First, Miller gets the motel key and, rather than put it in an evidence room or somewhere else for safekeeping, takes it home with him. Second, he leaves the key out where his young daughter can play with it and, of course, vanish into the mystery motel room or somewhere. (I'm saying "somewhere" because I've got to cover my bases. Sci Fi, perhaps worried that TV critics might say too much, provided only the first two nights of this three-night series. For all we know, the girl could be in Peoria.)

Maybe the best thing about this miniseries is the weird assortment of characters -- practically all of them everyday people with personalities altered by their new powers. Pollak plays the pawn shop owner whose reasons for wanting the motel items are complex. Bart plays the aptly named Weasel. Margulies stops just short of being a femme fatale for one of the collector groups, and Peter Jacobson plays a mild-mannered type who, with his new powers, eagerly bullies others for a change.

As for the motel items, their power might be exaggerated. Throughout the first two nights, many of them change hands at gunpoint. There might be some magic in those things, but it pales when compared to the persuasive power of a .38 automatic.

Production designer Keith Neely does a nice job of proving that it's possible to substitute Albuquerque for Pittsburgh. Directing credits are shared by Craig R. Baxley (Nights 1 and 3) and Michael Watkins (Night 2). They maintain a consistent tone and pace, creating a world that is more puzzling and fascinating than scary.

THE LOST ROOM
Sci Fi Channel
Lionsgate Television
Credits:
Executive producer: Richard Hatem
Co-executive producers: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom, Paul Workman
Producer: Paul Kurta
Co-producer: Bill Hill
Directors: Craig R. Baxley, Michael Watkins
Teleplay: Laura Harkcom, Christopher Leone
Director of photography: David Connell
Production designer: Keith Neely
Editors: Sonny Baskin, David Crabtree
Music: Robert J. Kral
Casting: Mary Jo Slater, Steve Brooksbank
Cast:
Detective Joe Miller: Peter Krause
Jennifer Bloom: Julianna Margulies
Kart Kreutzfeld: Kevin Pollak
Howard "The Weasel" Montague: Roger Bart
Anna Miller: Elle Fanning
Martin Ruber: Dennis Christopher
Wally Jabrowski: Peter Jacobson
Detective Lee Bridgewater: April Grace
Suzie Kang: Margaret Cho
Harold Stritzke: Ewen Bremner
Detective Lou Destafano: Christopher Bauer