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Reviews: 'My Boys,' 'The Bill Engvall Show'

Verne Gay | Off Camera

June 12, 2008

MY BOYS

Season premiere tonight at 9:30 on TBS.

Reason for watching: The second season of one of commercial cable's best half hours begins tonight.

What it's about: The easiest way to describe "My Boys" is "Sex and the City" without the sex, or "Cheers" without Boston (it's set in Chicago). There are five buddies, including sportswriter PJ Franklin (the wonderful Jordana Spiro), who prefers the company of the guys. Hence, the title. They're under 30 and worry a little bit about growing up. They're also bound by love for one another, and avoid romantic entanglements for the most part, though not always. Also, PJ and Andy (Jim Gaffigan) are brother and sister.

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Tonight, PJ heads to Italy with Steph (Kellee Stewart), and Bobby (Kyle Howard) tags along. PJ wants a romantic getaway with the latter, but. ... Meanwhile, back at Crowley's, the guys are suddenly persona non grata after Mike (Jamie Kaler) hits on a waitress.

Bottom line: Besides Spiro - who really shines here - what works best with "My Boys" is an easygoing and absolutely ingratiating ordinariness. "My Boys" doesn't work its charms through power-hitting like most sitcoms ("quick ... we've gotta hit the viewers over the head with a bat") but with the bunt and squeeze play. Foremost, this show - with a marvelous cast - seems supremely comfortable in its own skin.

THE BILL ENGVALL SHOW

Season premiere, tonight at 9 on TBS.

Reason for watching: For Bill ("Blue Collar TV") Engvall fans only.

What it's about: The second season begins, which is the most astounding fact I can summon about this family sitcom, filled with laugh-track lines and jokes so fluffy (and predictable) the whole enterprise threatens to float away. Tonight, Bill's got problems! The three Pearson kids, Lauren (Jennifer Lawrence), Trent (Graham Patrick Martin) and Bryan (Skyler Gisondo) refuse to clean the garage, so Dad lays down the law - no cell phones and they're locked out of their bedrooms. Mom Susan ( Nancy Travis) backs him up. If you miss it tonight, no worries: CBS will air repeats (the second-most-astounding fact) on Monday nights.

Bottom line: The best way to approach "Engvall" is to pretend you're, oh, 10 years old. This by-the-book, bubbleheaded babblefest would work well on Nick's afternoon block. Appealing in its own simple-hearted, popcorn-headed way, "Engvall," nonetheless, is as ephemeral as a summer cloud.

WHO'S WHO ON 'MY BOYS'?

JORDANA SPIRO
Character PJ Franklin
Occupation Chicago Sun-Times sportswriter

REID SCOTT
Character Brendan Dorff
Occupation Hard rock DJ

MICHAEL BUNIN
Character Kenny Moritorri