New TV Takes on Relationships: NBC's Perfect Couples Fox's Traffic Light

New TV Takes on Relationships: NBC's Perfect Couples Fox's Traffic Light

NBC's latest offering covering the vagaries of romance and love in the lives of six twenty-somethings.

Including its pre-Christmas preview, "Perfect Couples" has offered up some genuinely funny moments, despite the fact that it has some very broad moments. It's stars are vaguely familiar, but not so much identifiable from previous acting endeavors. The show stars Kyle Bornheimer (who starred in the U.S. remake of the British series "Worst Week," as well as the ill-fated Alyssa Milano series, "Romantically Challenged;" he also has frequently appeared as a guest star on television series) as solid Dave, who is married to the hyper-capable Julia; they represent the "everyday couple." Julia is played by Christine Woods, who also had a short-lived stint on a recent series, "FlashForward," and also was popular TV guest star.

"The Daily Show With John Stewart's" gorgeous and goofy Olivia Munn plays Leigh, who was the officious wedding planner at Dave's and Julia's wedding, and is married to Rex. Rising star Munn has a role in the in-production Sarah Jessica Parker film, "I Don't Know How She Does It." Leigh quickly married (Rex Hayes MacArthur), whom she met at Dave's and Julia's wedding. MacArthur also starred in "Worst Week," alongside Bornheimer and in the feature films "The Game Plan," "Life as We Know It," and "She's Out of My League." The ebullient Leigh and Rex represent the "perfect" couple.

The final set in the trio of couples are Amy ("It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's" Mary Elizabeth Ellis) and Vance (David Walton), engaged but volatile.

"Perfect Couples" may not have the fine-turned timing of, say, a "Will & Grace," but it could be on its way. Even if the dialog is too snappy to seem genuine, the situations are credible and easy to relate to.

Meanwhile, Fox has it's "Traffic Light," which now follows the quirky descent-of "My Name is Earl," "Raising Hope" (a consistently funny series starring Garret Dillahunt, Martha Plimpton and Chloris Leachman), chronicles the adventures of three long-time male friends, each at a different crossroad and point in their lives. David Denman, who may best be recognized as Pam's hapless fianc on NBC's "The Office," plays Mike, is married to Lisa (Liza Lapira), with whom he has a baby son. Adam (Nelson Franklin, preternaturally tall) has just moved in with his serious girlfriend Callie (pretty Aya Cash) and is negotiating the nuances of a new life. The final guy in the trio is uber-bachelor Ethan, played by Kris Marshall, a prolific British actor, who may best be known for playing irresponsible Nick in the U.K.'s "My Family."

"Traffic Light's" conceit is one of them is a "red light," another is "yellow' (proceed with caution) and the other is "green" (all systems go). It a fine enough base, and each of the characters are likable and the storylines have potential

Whether you watch one or the other, or both, you can get your friendly fix of TV's rom com world with "Perfect Couples" and "Traffic Light"

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