My friends at FOX all seem to be very excited about their new big-action drama series, Human Target. Most of the people that I’ve talked to who have seen the early episodes tell me that it’s quality TV in the tradition of 24.

Based on a DC Comics property, Human Target stars Mark Valley (Fringe, Boston Legal) as a high-level bodyguard who willingly becomes a target to protect his clients.

FOX is so high on the new show that they’re giving their audience a couple of cracks at it this week. First up, there’s the always-exciting Series Preview (that would be the pilot) airing this Sunday, January 17 at 9pm, followed by the big Series Premiere (or, in non-network-promo-speak, the second episode) on Wednesday, January 20, following American Idol.  The week after, Human Target airs in its regular timeslot of 8pm on Wednesdays.

FOX’s new series is actually the second attempt to take Christopher Chance: The Human Target from the comic book page to the television screen.

Back in 1992, ABC gave Rick Springfield a seven-episode run at playing the “unique bodyguard/detective who protects his clients from murder by impersonating them to draw the killer’s fire.” That series was written and produced by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo who had previously done the same for another DC Comics series, The Flash on CBS in 1990.

For whatever reason, FOX execs thought the time (17 years later) was right to try the concept again (if, in fact, if they actually knew about the previous ABC version).

So, the big question is this: Will this new FOX Human Target succeed where the ABC Human Target failed and actually draw an audience? Who knows? Certainly the possibility exists that Human Target could be terrific. The talent behind this new version is impressive, with its All-Star Squad of Executive Producers, consisting of Jon Steinberg (Jericho), Simon West (Keen Eddie), McG (Chuck), Brad Kern (Charmed) and Peter Johnson (Supernatural), all riding shotgun. I plan to punch Human Target into the DVR to see what the few first episodes bring.

In the meantime, I know you want a look at Rick Springfield ABC’s 1992 version of Human Target. Here’s some of it, right here…