It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. “Smith,” with an impressive pedigree that included executive producer John Wells and actors Liotta and Virginia Madsen, was supposed to evoke comparisons to the stellar 1995 De Niro/Pacino heist flick “Heat.” But viewers were not impressed, despite its strong pacing and fine acting, and the show was canceled after just three episodes.

If early buzz on "3 Lbs." is any indication, Tucci shouldn’t get too comfy. He soon may be following Liotta out the door. Though he's certainly a fine actor, and an original, "3 Lbs.," a medical drama, is being dismissed as a knockoff of the two hits shows that dominate that genre, "House" and "Grey's Anatomy."

There's not much to wonder about knockoffs. They're common in any industry. The wonder is why an actor of Tucci’s caliber would sign up for a drama that has so little that's original.

The series is set in the world of top-tier brain surgeons (thus the title, which refers to the weight of a human brain). Tucci is Dr. Doug Hanson, the brilliant but troubled neurosurgeon whose arrogance is both off-putting and intriguing, a role already mastered by Hugh Laurie on "House."

Mark Feuerstein is Dr. Jonathan Seger, the idealistic newcomer to the New York hospital where Hanson rules. Seger’s more contemplative, emotional manner naturally clashes with the brusque Hanson.

Conflict ensues--and in theory a new series as the two doctors work out their differences and become better men, or at least better doctors, for it.

Tucci is best known for his work in film (“Big Night”). But he did make an impressive showing during the first season of the bold 1995 series “Murder One.” Maybe he only accepts offers to star in series with numbers in the title.

Feuerstein has made a career out of playing blandly likable guys in blandly unlikable shows like “Conrad Bloom” and the truly awful “Good Morning, Miami.” He has done quality work (“In Her Shoes”) but his appearance in any television series is a warning sign. Overall, his track record doesn’t inspire confidence. He may not be television's angel of death, but he's one of them.

As it turns out, the reviews of “3 Lbs.” seem to justify those apprehensions. The almost universal criticism is that it’s an unimpressive knockoff.

Entertainment Weekly’s Gillian Flynn calls it a “House” wannabe. USA Today’s Robert Bianco tags it a ripoff. The Fort-Worth Star Telegram’s Robert Philpot dismisses it by saying, “It’s like ‘House’ without the zippy sarcasm (there’s sarcasm, but there isn’t zip).”

Critics who don't trash "3 Lbs." still largely dismiss it as mediocre and uninspired. People's Tom Gliatto calls it a routine medical drama that offers viewers little that's new. The Chicago Sun-Times’ Doug Elfman quips: "There are about 9 ounces more sentimental schmaltz in ‘3 Lbs.’ than in ‘House.’”

The Washington Post's Judith S. Gillies isn't wowed by the acting, writing, “Hanson seems too stern and Seger too eager.”

None of this should be surprising. While CBS is doing its best to promote "3 Lbs." as an engaging new drama, the series has actually been kicking around for some time. The show was originally created for the 2005-06 season but wasn’t picked up. It was then recast and retooled as a mid-season replacement for this year.

Then “Smith” tanked, leaving the network little choice but to march out "3 Lbs." as a quickie replacement. Whatever the network’s earlier misgivings, they quickly gave way to the need to fill a hole. The CBS buzz machine then kicked in to portray "3 Lbs." as having more weight than it actually has.