Christian Slater is trying his hand again at episodic TV with the premiere of MIND GAMES on ABC (tonight, 10/9c, moved up a week after KILLER WOMEN bowed out ungracefully).  The show follows two brothers, Ross (Slater) and Clark (Steve Zahn, who does the majority of the yelling), partners at Edwards and Associates, an unusual business “based on the belief that people’s decisions are influenced by their environment in ways they are not aware.”  For those following along at home, it comes from the mind of Kyle Killen, late of AWAKE and LONESTAR.

Ross is a bit of a liar (fresh out of prison for fraud) who doesn’t really care about people and Clark, who suffers from bipolar disorder, lost his academic career when it was found out that he was having an affair with a 22 year old undergrad.  They fill out their team with gypsies, tramps, and thieves (but really, some business people, an actor, and an ex-con), and set out to change the world through your basic manipulation practices.

It took me three tries to get through the pilot, not for lack of trying or even lack of interest.  The story was just a touch too confusing, and there was an overabundance of enthusiasm misplaced as yelling at each other about what they were doing or attempting.  After making it all the way through, I was left feeling a bit cold about the series, and while I’ll try a second episode to see what I can make of it, I’m not sold like I’ve been on Killen shows before.