“Joan of Arcadia” Season 1 (2003-04, CBS), episodes 1-6 – Barbara Hall’s “Joan of Arcadia” (7 p.m. Fridays on CBS) chronicles teenager Joan Girardi (Amber Tamblyn), who sees God in the form of the average man or woman on the street. God metes out assignments that Joan embarks on after token whining: She gets a job, inspiring her wheelchair-bound brother (Jason Ritter) to get his hand-control driver’s license. She botches an attempt to build a boat, inspiring her brother and father (Joe Mantegna) to rebuild it and bond. She signs up for AP chemistry, where she meets new friends.
Aside from its sameness (any of the first three episodes could’ve been the pilot), “Joan” has appealing traits. The cinematography is warm, the pacing is soothing. Tamblyn is a perfect Everywoman. Ritter is outstanding as the recently handicapped Kevin.
But every time Will Girardi (Mantegna) is on screen, I’m out of the show. At first it was just my mind wandering to classic “Simpsons” episodes featuring Fat Tony. Now, I am wondering why “Joan of Arcadia” is constantly being pre-empted by “Police Chief of Arcadia.”
Joan sees God, her dad solves murders. This is where I’m supposed to tell you how these diverse story lines fit together. But they just don’t. Hall’s other show, “Judging Amy,” balances the courtroom and living room (and, of course, hospitals), and it generally works. However, “Judging Amy” has Tyne Daly, “Joan” doesn’t.
If you watch
Title: “Joan of Arcadia”
Air time: 7 p.m. Fridays on CBS
Starring: Joe Mantegna, Mary Steenburgen, Amber Tamblyn, Jason Ritter, Michael Welch
Created by: Barbara Hall
Grade: B-