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The new NBC program 鈥淭his Is Us,鈥� which centers on seemingly ordinary people facing everyday problems, debuted on Sept. 20 after winning over many potential viewers with a trailer that may have lacked big names and had a quiet premise but still found a huge fan base online.

鈥淯s鈥� stars Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, and Sterling K. Brown, among others, and includes the stories of a husband (Mr. Ventimiglia) and wife (Ms. Moore) who are expecting triplets; an actor (Justin Hartley) who is frustrated with his career; his sister (Chrissy Metz), who is attempting to lose weight; and a man (Mr. Brown) who meets his birth father for the first time. Most appear to be linked by sharing the same birthday.聽

(Spoilers for the premiere follow鈥�)聽

At the end of the series premiere, it is revealed that the story of the married couple who are about to have children is, in fact, taking place decades before, and the actor, Kevin, and his sister, Kate, are the children of Ventimiglia鈥檚 character, Jack, and Moore鈥檚 character, Rebecca. Brown鈥檚 character, Randall, was adopted by Jack and Rebecca.聽

But before 鈥淯s鈥� got attention during the fall TV season for its premiere twist, the show was already winning over potential viewers with a trailer. The trailer鈥檚 success surprised many industry watchers.聽

In reporting the numbers for the 鈥淯s鈥� trailer, Deadline writer Nellie Andreeva noted that the almost 70 million views for the clip through YouTube, Facebook, and other platforms as of late May 鈥渁re staggering totals that not only dwarf any new series trailer, they put the low-key ensemble dramedy with no famous title, mega stars or special effects into blockbuster movie territory.鈥澛�

What drew viewers to this clip and so perhaps to the recent premiere?

Creator Dan Fogelman said he wanted to make a show that was positive and inspiring in an entertainment business that often has tougher themes.聽

鈥淭he world has grown more cynical," Mr. Fogelman said during this past summer鈥檚 Television Critics Association press tour. "I watch movie screeners at the end of every year and it's become a slog for me sometimes. It's all so dark and cynical 鈥� maybe it's the right time for a show with hope and optimism that will make you cry and make you feel good. I didn't get into this business to make something that makes people feel worse.鈥澛�

And Los Angeles Times writer Mary McNamara called the series鈥� first episode 鈥渁 lovely and lyrical premiere, studded with everyday detail 鈥� If creator Dan Fogelman 鈥� 聽seems addicted to turning-point sentiment, the performances and the pacing keep each story from getting stuck in the stickiness 鈥� 鈥楾his Is Us鈥� appears to be full of appealing characters.鈥�