Premise
When only-child Tom marries Susan Kelly, he quickly learns that Susan’s family is not only larger than life, it’s larger than most

Familiar Faces
Breckin Meyer (Rat Race/Road Trip),
Meredith Monroe (Dawson’s Creek)

Our Take
ABC is once again trying to return with TGIF. Unfortunately, this did not work last time thanks to WB’s already established franchise of Friday night sitcoms. However, the fragmented nature of the myriad of new Friday night entries could work to ABC’s benefit (even with Breckin Meyer in the cast)

Expect to Hear

"Golf is a hobby. Bugs are part of a serial killer profile."

- Tom (concerned about
his brother-in-law’s
bug collecting hobby)

Premise
Hope (played by ‘Faith’ Ford) is a stay-at-home mom, while her sister Faith lives the high life in Hollywood as a daytime soap opera diva. However, when Faith’s character is suddenly killed off, she is forced to seek refuge in suburbia with Hope

Familiar Faces
Kelly Ripa (All My Children/Live with Regis and…), Faith Ford (Murphy Brown)

Our Take
To the show’s benefit, Kelly Ripa has a strong following and this is probably the better of the two new ABC sitcoms. However, this program is facing two veteran dramas (albeit in unproven time slots)

Expect to Hear

"They didn’t even have the decency to give me brain cancer."

- Faith (complaining how her soap
opera character was killed)

Premise
Joan is just a typical teenager leading a somewhat normal life. However, all of that changes when she finds herself visited by the Almighty and charged with performing different errands and tasks

Familiar Faces
Joe Mategna (First Monday), Amber Tamblyn (General Hospital), Mary Steenburgen (Back to the Future III)

Our Take
Except for The X-Files, high concept shows have not really worked on Friday night. Additionally, NBC has a bigger name in Alicia Silverstone. However, the pilot is quite likeable and may very well appeal to CBS’s older demos

Expect to Hear

"Everybody is good with computers and digital cameras and cell phones and TiVo, but no one can form an objective thought to save their lives."

- Bookstore Owner

Premise
Joe Renato is what is known as a handler, an FBI agent responsible with training and supervising undercover operatives

Familiar Faces
Joe Pantoliano (The Sopranos)

Our Take
With NBC moving Law & Order: SVU out of Friday, The Handler does have a chance to succeed, especially considering that new competitor Boomtown has been struggling. Of course, 20/20 will present some challenges

Expect to Hear

"Never make a move without talking to your handler first. Never enter a location without knowing you have backup."

- Joe Renato

Premise
Luis follows the lives of the proud owner of a Spanish Harlem donut shop who must deal with a cast of eccentric characters

Familiar Faces
Luis Guzman (The Count of Monte Cristo)

Our Take
In entering the Friday night sitcom battle, FOX will have to compete with the already developed WB franchise as well as ABC’s historical TGIF pedigree. However, it does have the advantage of airing next to the already established (albeit relocated) Wanda at Large

Expect to Hear

"I don’t think it’s fair I gotta pay for something I don’t see."

- Luis (regarding an unpaid gas bill)

Premise
Lawyer by day and matchmaker by night --- Kate Fox, an associate divorce lawyer in her father’s Los Angeles law office, discovers that she has an unlikely talent for matchmaking. Accordingly, she must juggle the conflicting worlds of divorce and true love

Familiar Faces
Alicia Silverstone (Clueless),
Ryan O’Neal (Paper Moon)

Our Take
NBC does have a history of success with female-skewing audiences on Friday night (i.e., Providence). On the other hand, George Lopez, Wanda at Large and Reba all have established audiences

Expect to Hear

"Few years under your belt you’ll realize marriage is a transaction like anything else. When I go to a wedding I don’t see a bride. I see a future client."

- Divorce Attorney Nick Paine

Premise
Anthony is a struggling actor who moves back home, trying to provide a stable environment for his eight-year-old son

Familiar Faces
Anthony Anderson (Me, Myself & Irene),
John Amos (Good Times/The West Wing)

Our Take
All About the Andersons is probably the weakest of the four WB Friday night sitcoms. And, as noted in our Like Family ‘take,’ WB holds these shows to very high standards and will not hesitate to cut the lower rated ones

Expect to Hear

"You left me sitting in a cell for six hours. Look at this face. How long do you think I was going to stay single?."

- Anthony