Yeah, sure. We've all been there.
We fall in love with that goddess of a co-worker and secretly worship her from afar for three years.
Then, when we think we'll be leaving for a job overseas, we drunkenly write a letter declaring our undying love.
Then that job in Italy falls through and we end up back in the same office with the same adorable co-worker.
Awk. Ward.
Yeah. Happens all the time.
That's the setup for a promising, witty new romantic comedy from ABC Family channel. Kevin From Work debuts at 7 p.m. Wednesday with back-to-back half-hour episodes.
The network is billing it as "an endearingly awkward love story -- this time from the guy's point of view."
The hapless and titular Kevin is played by 28-year-old Canadian actor Noah Reid, best known for his voice work on animated programs such as Pippi Longstocking and Jane and the Dragon, as Marshall Wheeler in the Canadian import Strange Days at Blake Holsey High (2002-2006) and for his web series Backpackers.
The object of Kevin's unrequited affection is the fetching, doe-eyed Audrey Piatigorsky played by 25-year-old TV newcomer Paige Spara. The Pennsylvania native's acting experience consists of several national TV commercials (Google, Volkswagen, Bose speakers, Forevermark jewelry) and a couple of movies you never heard of.
Audrey is so perfect that she frequently glides along in slow motion with the wind tousling her hair. Cartoon bluebirds land on her shoulders.
This heavenly creature works in the next cubicle a tantalizing five feet away and it's torturing Kevin. Audrey, you see, also has a hunky jock boyfriend she has been with since college.
Matters are further complicated when Kevin's boisterous, lascivious sister (to be kind, let's call her "free-spirited") Roxie (Jordan Hinson) hits Los Angeles and moves in with him. Fans will recognize Hinson from her five seasons as Jack Carter's rebellious teenage daughter Zoe on Syfy's Eureka.
Filling the obligatory sitcom best bud role is Matt Murray as Brian, a personal trainer at Kevin's gym. Viewers might know Murray from his two seasons on Rookie Blue.
Others on board are Punam Patel as Audrey's boisterous, lascivious roommate, Patti, and guest star Amy Sedaris (Strangers With Candy) as Kevin's boisterous, lascivious boss from hell, Julia.
The first two episodes were directed by A-list producer/director McG. That's the showbiz moniker of Joseph McGinty Nicol, director of Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and Terminator Salvation, and executive producer of The O.C., Chuck, Human Target, and Supernatural.
McG is also an executive producer of this series and will direct more of the 10 episodes down the line.
Of more importance, the single-camera series was written, created and executive produced by Barbie Adler, whose resume includes work on How I Met Your Mother, My Name Is Earl and Arrested Development. Those impressive credentials alone ought to be enough to recommend the series.
TV tidbit: A single-camera series looks more like a movie, has multiple locations and is more expensive to produce. Examples are The Andy Griffith Show, Modern Family, The Office and Veep.
Multiple-camera shows are like little plays and frequently are filmed in front of a studio audience. Cheers, Friends, Seinfeld and The Big Bang Theory are examples.
Kevin From Work is rated TV-14 for adult situations, language and the occasional boisterous and lascivious character. I, however, did not find the pilot at all off-putting or crass.
That's a fine line to walk and Adler has successfully introduced her characters without resorting to puerile crudity, as do many new comedies these days.
• Downton news. The Associated Press reports from the Television Critics Association summer press tour that there may be a little life left after Downton Abbey's forthcoming final season.
Producer Gareth Neame noted that the sixth and final season will end short of the 1929 stock market crash, leaving the possibility of a movie to mine that mother lode. Such a project is only speculation at the moment, but Neame said it would be "a wonderful thing."
The final season debuts in September in Britain, and on Jan. 3 in the United States. Neame said we'll see some familiar faces from past seasons, but the main focus will be to wrap up story lines for our favorites in the main cast.
The final curtain is almost upon us -- Downton ends production Saturday.
Bonus: Downton Abbey will have its own float in the New Year's Day Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif.
The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:
mstorey@arkansasonline.com
Style on 08/11/2015