Hearts Afire

Ritter and Post are skilled, likable actors, but neither of them radiates heat. What I liked best about the premiere, in fact, had nothing to do with romance: It was the opening scenes between John and his young children, Ben (Justin Burnette) and Elliot (Clark Duke)—funny, affectionate moments that carry the ring of complicated truth: family values redeemed.

This program is a little more loopy and labored than Bloodworth-Thomason's other shows and has to forage around longer to uncover its punch lines. But the leads are very adept at playing up what humor there is.