Is first season last for ‘New Amsterdam’?

When it debuted in March, the crime show New Amsterdam seemed like it might offer some fresh twists in a now stale genre.

Its premise about a New York City homicide detective named John Amsterdam (Nikolaj Coster Waldau) that is blessed (cursed?) with immortality was at least conceptually different.

Amsterdam could only die if he met his true love, and in the opening episode a situation developed where it seemed like Dr. Sara Dillane (Alexie Gilmore) might be that person.

Instead, as the show concludes its first — and possibly only — season at 8 p.m. tonight (WZTV-17) it has gotten bogged down in standard case-of-the-week action. The sole imaginative plot device has been giving audiences weekly glimpses of Amsterdam’s past. Tonight he’s shown operating as a thief and grifter during the ‘20s.

If the program does return, the producers should either accelerate the character interaction or make it a straight procedural. The attempt at blending these two styles has thus far mostly failed.

Also back on the schedule is the CW’s One Tree Hill, the nighttime soap opera that seems oblivious to time shifts and meager ratings. Tonight’s latest episode at 8 p.m. (CW-58) examines the aftermath of a disastrous wedding that ended with the bride leaving the groom at the altar.

A secondary storyline has frantic parents trying to find their kidnapped child, who was grabbed by a lunatic former nanny (that’s really the plot).

New CMT shows

Country Music Television (CMT) begins the week with two big events tonight. First comes the 2008 CMT Music Awards with co-hosts Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus, which airs live at 7 p.m. tonight from the Curb Events Center.

That’s followed at 9:30 p.m. by the debut of Can You Duet, another program from the producers of American Idol. It pairs aspiring singers in a search to find country’s next great duo.

TVision appears Monday, Wednesday and Thursday in The City Paper. Contact Wynn at rwynn@nashvillecitypaper.com