Television’s shortage of sitcoms that portray black characters as well educated, well spoken, positive role models is over. The new UPN sitcom “Kevin Hill,” starring Taye Diggs, proved to be worth the wait, although it was not as good as it was hyped up to be.
In this premiere episode, Diggs plays a bachelor who just inherited a baby [Sara] from his cousin who died. Throughout the episode, he struggled with the decision of putting Sara up for adoption or keeping her.
The show starts off with Hill in a club with his co-worker and friend, Dame [John Seda]. Dame instigates an interaction between Hill and a woman in the club that Hill has been eyeing for months.
One of the downfalls of the show is that Hill is a bachelor who has frequent meaningless one-night stands.
After giving his number and address to the female he met in the club, Hill is interrupted by a phone call from his aunt letting him know his male cousin has died. He immediately flies to his aunt’s side and finds out that his cousin left him Sara.
Hill decides to keep the baby because of an incident that happened between him and his cousin years ago.
The two were driving a borrowed car and were pulled over by a cop. The officer found a gun in the car and gave them a choice to decide whose gun it was.
His cousin took the blame and did two years in prison. Although in reality that story seems unlikely, it was a good addition to the story line.
Hill hires a gay nanny who helps him figure out that Sara needs to be the most important thing to him.
At work, Hill and Dame are battling a sexual assault case between an athlete and a female fan.
When things become too tough to balance, Hill must quit his job at one of the most prominent law firms in New York, and find another job. After countless efforts, he lands a job at a law firm run by Jesse Grey [Michael Michele] and runs into one of his one-night stands.
Hill finds himself arguing the other side of the case he was working on at his previous employment against his friend and former co-worker, Dame.
In between arguing a case and managing his private life, Hill realizes that he has to make a choice about Sara. At first it seemed as though Hill was going to give the baby up for adoption. After setting her on the couch and getting distracted by the phone and cooking, he realizes that he cares too much to give her up. Cliche, she fell off the couch and on her head.
Hill is terrified and decides something has got to give – him.
This sitcom is sure to be around for a while and it doesn’t hurt that Diggs is one handsome man to look at either.
In the end: Kevin Hill is a must watch. It will be interesting to see how the story line develops throughout the season. Kevin Hill airs at 9 p.m.
Grade: B
Contact Crystal Mitchell at famuanlifestyles@hotmail.com