Back when ABC Family was the dead zone for repeats of mediocre family friendly sitcoms, I would never have thought I would watch their original programming. The re-airing of the entire run of Everwood is what got me to the channel. Sandwiched in between 7th Heaven and Gilmore Girls, I was fortunate enough to get a second chance to watch Ephram woo Amy through four seasons, and I was able to forgive the channel for airing the 700 Club.
Now, ABC Family has a slate of original shows that are a sound alternative to the lazy programming on the major networks. Previously, I wrote about Kyle XY which also airs on ABC Family. The writing is witty (fitting in well with Gilmore Girls reruns). The cute casts are mostly unknowns who hold their own among the older recognizable face or two filling the "adult" roles. The original made for tv movies are less than stellar, but I recognize that I'm not the target audience. (Cutting Edge 2 and Cutting Edge 3? Way to tarnish one of my favorite movies.)
The show I most looked forward to watching this spring was Greek. The premise of the show is a coming of age comedy set within the confines of three Greek houses at a small state school. I was reluctant to watch at first. Irresponsible frat boys? Keg parties? Ridiculous pass the candle rituals? None of this sounded like something for me. (I had roommates in college who were in sororities. That was as close as I wanted to be to the Greek system.)
Flying to somewhere (Kansas City?) I sat beside a girl who's laptop was playing the pilot episode. I couldn't hear a thing, but I was intrigued from the moment Spitter got his nickname. It only took one episode to get me hooked.
The setting may be the Greek system at CRU, but the story of the two siblings becoming reacquainted as adults is the source of much humour and the most heartfelt moments. Rusty is coming of age and figuring out who he wants to be. His older sister, Casey, is the "it" sorority girl, to Rusty's engineering major. (The running joke through the pilot is that Casey never told anyone she had a brother.)
Two love triangles fight for the affections of both Casey and Rusty. Rusty trying to decide between the party fraternity Kappa Tau led by the charming Cappie, or the polo shirts of Omega Chi. Omega Chi's Evan and Cappie just happen to be the current and former loves of Casey respectively, and both boys want to be a part of her life.
One of the minor plots revolves around Calvin, who is gay, and his acceptance as a member of Omega Chi. Deputy Leo plays Calvin's love interest, and it's nice to see Max Greenfield again. The spoiled daughter of a Senator, Rebecca, is Casey's nemesis who fights for the attention of everyone in Casey's circle. Rusty clashes with his roommate, Dale, who fronts a Christian rock band and starts a group (USAG) whose sole purpose is to eliminate the Greek system. Dale is the source of many laughs in every episode he's in.
There are two episodes left this season, but you can catch up at abcfamily.com.