'Mike & Molly' fat jokes are slim pickin's

Chicago beat cop Billy Gardell ("Yes, Dear") meets grade-school teacher Melissa McCarthy ("Gilmore Girls"), and finds they have more in common than Overeaters Anonymous.

They not only fancy each other, but share an abundance of annoying friends and family members - her sweet-eating mom (Swoosie Kurtz) and stoned sexpot sister (Katy Mixon), and his punch line-factory partner (Reno Wilson) and African immigrant diner guy (Nyambi Nyambi).

MY SAY

Gardell and McCarthy are two of the more realistic-feeling, instantly appealing sitcom personalities in ages. They're enough to make it worth drudging through the sludge tonight's pilot considers comedy writing.

The jokes range from cheesy to offensive. They're more like show runner Chuck Lorre's "Two and a Half Men" than his sweet "Big Bang Theory."

REASON TO WATCH

Lovable characters tiptoeing toward sweet romance.

REASON NOT TO

A jumbo supply of fat jokes. References to "the chub club" are considered hilarious here.

BOTTOM LINE

"Mike & Molly" deserves every chance CBS is giving it in its Monday comedy lineup.

GRADE

B