Preview Clip for NBC’s The Listener

In NBC’s new show The Listener, a young paramedic discovers he has telepathic powers, and instead of using it to easedrop on his neighbors or hit on that very hot blonde woman at the bar, he decides to use his powers for good and, one presumes, solve crimes and what have you. I would have used it to pick up the hot blonde at the bar first, then solve crimes, but that’s just me.

“The Listener” centers on Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik, “The Timekeeper”), a 25-year-old paramedic who has a big secret — he’s a telepath. Until now, Toby kept his ability hidden, exploring its possibilities only with his long time mentor and confidant, Dr. Ray Mercer (Colm Feore, “24: Redemption”). As he makes the rounds with his energetic paramedic partner — “Oz” Bey (Ennis Esmer, “Young People F*#king”), “The Listener” follows Toby as he tries to help people in crisis, and in the process, unravel the truth about his past. While his professional life is in check, Toby’s personal life could use its own rescue. And with the help of Detective Charlie Marks (Lisa Marcos, “Diary of a Mad Black Woman”) and his E.R. doctor/ex-girlfriend Olivia Fawcett (Mylène Dinh-Robic, “Da Vinci’s City Hall”), Toby realizes his gift can help others.

I would have gone with a more action-sounding title. Maybe, The Listen and Ass Kicker, or The Telepath Badass, etc. The Listener just sounds so … Doctor Phil-ish. And who needs another one of that on the air?

The Listener makes its debut on June 4 on NBC.