The cast of "Mixology"

Every popular sitcom seems to boast its local hangout. Think Central Perk on "Friends," Monk's on "Seinfeld" and, of course, Cheers on "Cheers." The oft-frequented location is a means of getting the main characters together in one place, while serving as an initial meeting place for potential love interests and new characters.

ABC's freshman comedy is taking a leaf out of "Cheers'" book and centering the whole show around a bar and its patrons. "Mixology" takes place entirely within Mix: a chic Manhattan bar that serves as a meeting place for 10 singles looking for love ... or at least the physical act of love. "Mixology" premieres Wednesday, Feb. 26, on ABC.

Where "Mixology's" format sets itself apart from that of "Cheers" – and any other show for that matter – is that it not only takes place all in one location, but all in one night as well. The entire first season will follow the exploits of the main characters over the course of a single evening in the bar. Each episode will focus on different characters, putting the spotlight on one couple in the large ensemble cast. We won't get to last call until the season finale, which will divulge how the night's various meetings and pickup lines pan out for everyone and who ends up with whom.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

One might wonder how one night can be drawn out for an entire season and how we'll get to know the characters in such a limited setting. While it's true that all of the current action takes place over a matter of hours, a good deal of each storyline will be driven via flashbacks. Think of the ABC drama "Lost." While viewers witnessed the characters' daily goings-on on the island, we were also made privy to their back stories through flashbacks that gradually shed light on their lives, personalities and motivations. "In our minds this is like ‘Lost' in a bar," creator and executive producer Jon Lucas explains to "The Hollywood Reporter." "We have the story going on in real time, then flashback to learn more about these characters."

With Lucas and co-creator and executive producer Scott Moore at the helm, "Mixology" promises a lot more humor than "Lost," too. They were the writing team behind the 2009 blockbuster "The Hangover," which won a Golden Globe for Best Comedy and grossed $277 million domestically. As "The Hangover" did, "Mixology" will display smatterings of genuine feeling and the desire to find love amidst all that trying to get laid. "There's a lot of raunchy jokes and a lot of comedy," says Moore of "Mixology" in an interview for "USA Today," "but at the end of the day, people are trying to find the right person."

Moore also pointed out in "The Hollywood Reporter" piece that the series' concept "broke a lot of rules" with such a large lead cast and one-night setting. "It's a romantic comedy every week and that hasn't been done," he says. Indeed, most shows with ensemble casts typically follow a bit of every character's storyline in each episode, following the course of relationships through beginning to middle to end. "Mixology," on the other hand, focuses on getting to the very start of a relationship. Each episode will be a magnifying glass that reveals one or two characters' backgrounds, past relationships and family experiences, which tell us why they are the way they are, as well as what they're looking for on this particular night and why.

Ginger Gonzaga stars in "Mixology"

In terms of having enough material to span an entire season, the larger-than-usual cast should give the writers plenty to work with, and the characters come with a wide range of different stories and personal experiences to move things along. Tom (Blake Lee, "The Pig People," (2009)) has recently been dumped by his fiancée and is being dragged out for a night on the town for the first time in a decade. His two best friends are the ones doing the dragging: confident and attractive Cal (Craig Frank, "A Good Knight's Quest") and smart aleck Bruce (Andrew Santino, "Crafty"). Tom is soon brought to tears by Maya (Ginger Gonzaga, "In Gayle We Trust"), a beautiful and merciless attorney and his first encounter in Mix. Then there's Maya's engaged (for now) friend Liv (Kate Simses, "What's Your Number?" (2011)), hot single mom Jessica (Alexis Carra, "Convincing Clooney," (2011)), her catty frenemy Fabienne (Frances Shaw, "Blue Mountain State") and failed entrepreneur Ron (Adam Campbell, "Harper's Island"). The bar patrons won't be the only ones getting the spotlight, either. Rounding out the cast are perky waitress Kacey (Vanessa Lengies, "Glee") and handsome, enigmatic bartender Dominic (Adan Canto, "The Following").

Got all that? Now you have a whole season to suss out who will end up with whom at the end of the night. And be warned, you won't always be rooting for any given couple. Like in any good romcom – and frankly, any night out at the bar – there will be certain cringe-worthy scenarios you'll be praying won't come to fruition.

ABC's new sitcom is bringing a unique format to prime time. With the large ensemble cast and one-night setting, "Mixology" is sure to have people talking. You won't want to miss the premiere, airing Wednesday, Feb. 26, on ABC.