TV PREMIERE REVIEW: "Privileged"

OK, so here was the plan for last night: my Girlfriend was going to stop by my house and we were going to watch "90210" and the series debut of another CW show "Privileged" and then we were going to watch the series debut of the highly-touted "Fringe" on the DVR.

We got through the two CW shows and were ready to start "Fringe" but then a buddy of mine called and wanted to play some Madden '09 so I was off like a prom dress.

So here's the new plan: I'm going to watch "Fringe" this afternoon before we record the radio show and then I will post an all Fox Premiere Review tomorrow covering "Fringe" and the new Jerry O'Connell comedy "Do Not Disturb" (which debuts tonight at 9:30PM).

So there you go.

Before I get to "Privileged" (PS. It might just be me but the word "privileged" seems randomly difficult to type out), I have to make one note on "90210": it's been waaaay too nice these first two weeks. I think I was just expecting something different but all the characters seem to care about each other, there's no real backstabbing, and the main plot from last night's ep was a family bowling night.

FAMILY BOWLING NIGHT!!

Like I've said before, it's already hard enough sitting through these teeny-bopper CW shows; the only thing that makes them worth while is the backstabbing bitchiness. I'm definitely impressed that such a high profile show seems intent on involving morals and values (never a bad thing) but I guess I just had the wrong expectations for a series set in Beverly Hills.

One more random tangent: If we are seeing some kind of Anakin Skywalker-to-Darth Vader origin story evolving with Naomi, then this might be the greatest show of all time. Right now she's kind of sweet and genuinely caring and really concerned about her family, but there was a look in her eye when her mom was totally OK with her dad having an affair that leads me to believe something dark might be brewing underneath. If we actually get to witness her rise to Queen Mean Girl, that would be totally fresh and new and I'd actually really respect the show's writers for taking the time to build the character.

Uh oh, it would appear that I'm starting to care about this show. Let me move on before I bludgeon myself with a stapler.

After this recent overdose of CW shows, I had no interest in sitting through the series debut of "Privileged" (IT SERIOUSLY TAKES ME A MINUTE TO TYPE THAT WORD CORRECTLY). But a promise is a promise, so I buckled down and prepared for another hour of self-centered, teen-angst and drama.

And it was by no means a "good" TV show, but for what it is and for who it's aimed at, it's the best that I've seen so far.

I'm not going to bore you with the plot of the show (click here for that info) but Joanna Garcia - the actress who plays the main character Megan - is really, REALLY good (she's the one to the far left in the picture above).

She's just naturally funny in her expressions, she's got a great sense of timing, and she's cute too - the perfect combination for a female lead. She might even be the find of this TV season the way Jim Parsons (Sheldon from "The Big Bang Theory") was last year.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if we start seeing her pop up in a romantic comedies; she has a very Amy Adams/Meg Ryan-esque appeal.

Beyond Garcia, what makes the show fun is that the girls that she's been hired to tutor are actual jerks (Yay!). You already know there's going to be plenty of cruel shenanigans for them to get Megan mixed up in and at the end of the day, that's all we really want from a show like this.

Again, I'm never going to plan my week around this show but in all seriousness, in the great relationship TV trade-off that every couple has to work through, I'd take this one over any of the other CW shows or even a "Grey's Anatomy".

If only it were that easy...

- Josh Mahler