TV: Just Legal

I will say this for Just Legal: it's the best magazine for naked slutty teen crack addicts out there. No, wait, I'm thinking of something with a slightly similar title. Newsweek, maybe.

This show stars Jay Baruchel of the late and much-lamented Undeclared as Doogie Howser, Esq. -- a whiz kid who graduated law school at 18. He caddies for Don Johnson, the seediest D.A. in Southern California, who hires Baruchel on when no other law firm will. Hilarity ensues!

Both actors are appealing, and the show mostly works in its lighter moments. It's when things take a serious turn that the show is out of its depth. Johnson's closing argument to their first case together is so hammy and obvious (could it be he's not just talking about the case -- he's also talking about himself??) that it drags a mildly enjoyable show down to simply irritating.

Just Legal exists on almost exactly the same level as Johnson's previous series, Nash Bridges -- an inoffensive diversion, something that'll keep you amused if you need to kill an hour and everything else is a rerun. I imagine the show might actually improve from its so-so pilot -- certainly the two lead actors have the charisma and humor to elevate things -- but I've got enough on my plate that I don't feel the need to check back in again.