letterten 2003-04 fall preview

debuts Tuesday, Sep 23, 8:30pm

premise from	Based on writer Chris Henchy's real-life marriage to Brooke Shields, this comedy chronicles a high school teacher who falls in love with a movie star and is completely unprepared for all that comes with it. [ABC link]
stars	Teri Polo ("Meet the Parents," "Sports Night"), Rhea Seehorn, Danny Comden, David Sutcliffe ("Gilmore Girls")
producers	Chris Henchy, Marco Pennette, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola
studio	Tollin-Robbins Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television

opinions
	Definitely an idea we've all thought about: could an "regular" person live happily ever after with a celebrity? I'm a little biased 'cause I've loved Teri Polo ever since "Mystery Date," but I think this, with Chris Henchy's probable foot locker full of stories, has got some legs.
	"Notting Hill," the sitcom. The regular-guy-dates-a-movie-star premise is a little narrow, so much will depend on the on-screen chemistry of Sutcliffe and Polo, who looks like she enjoys a leading role after a string of girlfriend-of-the-lead parts. The overall tone feels pretty good, although the writers might need to take the sidekick characters -- his best friend, living vicariously through him, and her overprotective sister -- down a notch.

my thoughts on "I'm With Her"
	Full season. It was in one of the best hammocks on any net, any night, even if the competition is stiff. If it does well here, there could be a switch with one of the TGIF comedies if one needs a boost. (Like a good portion of the ABC sked, things are up in the air until a decision is made on "8 Simple Rules...")