8-10 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 15
ABC

At 6:18 a.m. when Detective Brett Hopper wakes up, it's the start of a new day. Or, more precisely, it's the start of an old day all over again. In "Day Break," Hopper relives the same day over and over again until he figures out who is behind a conspiracy in which he is framed for the murder of an assistant district attorney.

Although it uses elements from "The Fugitive," "24" and "Groundhog Day," "Day Break" looks and feels like an original. Better than that, it's a one-of-a-kind thriller that rewards your attention with nonstop action, endless surprises, exciting cinematography and a great assortment of characters.

In the opener, Hopper (Taye Diggs), a undercover narcotics cop, discovers that an assistant district attorney has been killed. Soon thereafter, he is arrested for the murder. He knows he is being set up, but the conspirators are several steps ahead of him. At least, they are on that first day.

Each time he relives the day, though, he alters his behavior, evades the traps of the previous day and picks up a few more pieces of the puzzle. Each day makes him better able to anticipate what lies ahead. Everyone else has no recollection of what happened in earlier versions of the day. The one downside is that, in addition to carrying his new knowledge over from one day to the next, he also bears the wounds and bruises he acquires along the way.

There's another downside, too. In addition to his own predicament, he is aware of what's going to happen to others, including the woman who will get hit by a wayward bus unless he intervenes. So saving her also must be worked into the day's activities.

Like "24," the entire season (in this case, 13 episodes) covers a single day. When it's over and the show (hopefully) gets renewed, Hopper will have yet another day and another adventure.

In addition to Diggs, who gets a producer credit while he shows that his charismatic appeal in "Kevin Hill" was no fluke, there's Moon Bloodgood, who plays his girlfriend, Rita Shelten. Trust me. Watching them get out of bed doesn't get boring. Adam Baldwin plays her ex and Hopper's former partner; Victoria Pratt is Andrea, Hopper's current partner; Meta Golding is Jennifer Mathis, Hopper's sister; and Ramon Rodriguez is Damien Ortiz, a gang member-turned-dangerous informant.

This is the debut TV series for Paul Zbyszewski, and it's an auspicious start. He masters the rhythms of a thriller while weaving several intriguing stories. His efforts are supported by "X-Files" alumnus Rob Bowman, who directs five of the 13 episodes, including the premiere. Bowman fills up your senses and shows an unusually keen eye for detail, whether unraveling parts of the story or incorporating as background iconic sections of Los Angeles, where "Day Break" is set.

The series replaces "Lost," which goes on a midseason hiatus. It's a smart move. It keeps "Lost" fresh throughout the year while sowing the seeds for another potential action/mystery blockbuster.