By Curt Schleier

There was a time when even I had potential. But suddenly (or so it seemed), I was no longer a wunderkind, and that Great American Novel had to wait. It’s the same with JOHN FROM CINCINNATI — except TV series get old a lot quicker. And, JOHN is aging rapidly. Very rapidly.
   
I enjoyed the first episode, if for no other reason than it was different; not typical TV pabulum. The series’ writers seemed to credit viewers with a modicum of intelligence and curiosity; a willingness to venture off into uncharted territory.
   
They provided just enough information to pique at least my curiosity — they got me eager to come back for more.  I wanted to find out why people were levitating and how a dead bird was brought back to life. I was interested in learning who the heck the very strange title character really is. But, after hour two we don’t know much more than we did after hour one. It’s hard to generate interest in a series based on unanswered questions and confusion. 
   
The surfing Yost family still seems cursed by ill-fortune, as the youngest, 13-year-old Shaun, gets seriously injured when an earthquake strikes in the middle of a competition.  That’s pretty much the whole hour.
   
The episode doesn’t provide answers to the myriad questions raised during the premiere — all it does is bring up more issues. How does a bird bring someone out of a coma? And, how come no one who meets John finds him a little strange? I don’t know about your circle, but in mine, if someone keeps saying the end is near, it will raise a couple of eyebrows.
   
John’s last name is Monad, although as near as I can tell, that hasn’t been mentioned on the show or in HBO’s promotional materials. I only found out when an HBO advertisement sent me to the show’s not-very-helpful website, johnmonad.com. So, I Googled it and found out that the word monad has religious significance, meaning The One, the essence of what you pray to.
   
Again, I like the idea that the show’s writers treat me as a functioning, intelligent adult. But, I must admit that that reference strikes me as being more than a little esoteric. Frankly, I’m not that thrilled with the idea of having to do homework to enjoy a show.
   
JOHN FROM CINCINNATI was supposed to be HBO’s Next Big Thing, the show that captured the imagination of the now SOPRANO-less masses. If it has any chance of doing that —  and I’m getting increasingly pessimistic about it — the show has to stop with its existential wanderings and provide answers. 
   
A little visceral excitement would help, too.