Kevin Hill - NY Daily News Review - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

vashti1999 · 09-29-2004, 03:26 PM

New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
On 'Hill,' a baby boon

Wednesday, September 29th, 2004

3 stars out of 4

"Kevin Hill" didn't have me at hello - but got me during a quiet moment that was pure beauty.

This series, premiering tonight at 9 on UPN, is a double miracle for network television.

It's a dramatic series with an African-American in the lead that should finally, irrevocably, bury the insulting but persistent common wisdom in Hollywood (common stupidity is more like it) that viewers nationwide will reject such shows.

And "Kevin Hill," created by Jorge A. Reyes, is a mature, intelligent, charming drama on UPN, home of such tasteful offerings as "WWE Smackdown."

Taye Diggs is the star here, and he's relentlessly charming. Three years ago, he caught Ally's eye, and everyone else's, on "Ally McBeal."

Here, he's the star of the show that should appeal to much the same audience. He plays Kevin Hill, a confident attorney and impeccably dressed ladies' man (he would have walked away with a slam-dunk win on "The Player," one of UPN's typically tasteless reality shows), who inherits the infant daughter of a suddenly deceased cousin.

It's "One Man and a Baby," and it's got the aroma of chick flick all over it. Especially when Hill's formerly alpha-male existence is turned upside down.

His commitment to his 10-month-old girl - a grudging commitment at first, but not for long - soon has Kevin quitting one job and finding another, where he works at a boutique law firm for a female attorney.

She's played very winningly, and playfully, by Michael Michele, who adds another impressive role to her "ER" and "Homicide: Life on the Street" resume.

The demands of sudden fatherhood also have Kevin hiring a nanny - who's a man and gay, and who's played by Patrick Breen with such deadpan insubordination and superiority, yet with such dignity that he all but steals the show.

Not since Mr. French tended to Uncle Bill on "Family Affair" has macho met fastidiousness in such charmingly comic fashion.

Neither Diggs nor Breen, though, has a chance of stealing the show while there's that baby on board. And that's the scene that got me: Kevin, after an especially trying day, is shown slumped on the couch, sitting up just enough so that the baby can sleep peacefully on his chest.

That's no CGI special effect; it's an actual baby, actually sleeping on Diggs as Kevin Hill - and any father who ever did that with his son or daughter will be just as smitten by these characters and this show.

Chick flick? Yeah, maybe. But any chick who gets her guy to start watching "Kevin Hill" probably won't have any problem keeping him in the room.

09-29-2004, 03:26 PM	#1
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	Kevin Hill - NY Daily News Review New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com On 'Hill,' a baby boon Wednesday, September 29th, 2004 3 stars out of 4 "Kevin Hill" didn't have me at hello - but got me during a quiet moment that was pure beauty. This series, premiering tonight at 9 on UPN, is a double miracle for network television. It's a dramatic series with an African-American in the lead that should finally, irrevocably, bury the insulting but persistent common wisdom in Hollywood (common stupidity is more like it) that viewers nationwide will reject such shows. And "Kevin Hill," created by Jorge A. Reyes, is a mature, intelligent, charming drama on UPN, home of such tasteful offerings as "WWE Smackdown." Taye Diggs is the star here, and he's relentlessly charming. Three years ago, he caught Ally's eye, and everyone else's, on "Ally McBeal." Here, he's the star of the show that should appeal to much the same audience. He plays Kevin Hill, a confident attorney and impeccably dressed ladies' man (he would have walked away with a slam-dunk win on "The Player," one of UPN's typically tasteless reality shows), who inherits the infant daughter of a suddenly deceased cousin. It's "One Man and a Baby," and it's got the aroma of chick flick all over it. Especially when Hill's formerly alpha-male existence is turned upside down. His commitment to his 10-month-old girl - a grudging commitment at first, but not for long - soon has Kevin quitting one job and finding another, where he works at a boutique law firm for a female attorney. She's played very winningly, and playfully, by Michael Michele, who adds another impressive role to her "ER" and "Homicide: Life on the Street" resume. The demands of sudden fatherhood also have Kevin hiring a nanny - who's a man and gay, and who's played by Patrick Breen with such deadpan insubordination and superiority, yet with such dignity that he all but steals the show. Not since Mr. French tended to Uncle Bill on "Family Affair" has macho met fastidiousness in such charmingly comic fashion. Neither Diggs nor Breen, though, has a chance of stealing the show while there's that baby on board. And that's the scene that got me: Kevin, after an especially trying day, is shown slumped on the couch, sitting up just enough so that the baby can sleep peacefully on his chest. That's no CGI special effect; it's an actual baby, actually sleeping on Diggs as Kevin Hill - and any father who ever did that with his son or daughter will be just as smitten by these characters and this show. Chick flick? Yeah, maybe. But any chick who gets her guy to start watching "Kevin Hill" probably won't have any problem keeping him in the room.
	__________________ .