“Miss Match,” NBC, Fridays at 8 p.m.

Telltale quote: “Do you honestly expect my client to roll over like this?”
  “No, but I do expect her to sit and stay.”

Overview: In the movie “Clueless,” Alicia Silverstone played the wealthy daughter of a powerful lawyer in Southern California who gives up her days shopping on Rodeo Drive to befriend a girl who wasn’t born with a platinum Visa in her wallet. Almost 10 years later, Alicia’s lucrative career prospects have been littered with such train wrecks as “Excess Baggage” and “Blast From the Past.” Now she’s back with the winning formula from “Clueless” to revitalize her resume in her television series debut.
  Once again, Silverstone plays the wealthy daughter of a lawyer in Southern California (played by Ryan O’Neal) whose romantic ideals prompt her to help others find happiness. This time, instead of making over the awkward new girl at school, she’s Kate Fox, a divorce lawyer with a knack for bringing couples together. Thanks to a local wedding announcement crediting her with the couple’s marriage, Kate soon finds herself inundated with requests for her matchmaking services.
  Executive produced by Darren Star (of “Sex and the City” fame), “Miss Match” is a light-hearted look at love and relationships. Eternally optimistic Kate is committed to finding romance and creating happy couples, even for her own divorce clients. In the process, she embarks on a personal quest for a love of her own.

Verdict: The fresh and entertaining “Miss Match” is perfectly timed for an early Friday night audience and is likely to dominate the 8 p.m. hour by capturing the heavy female viewership. Alicia Silverstone proves that very little has changed from her days as Cher – cute clothes and a silly grin will still apparently get you everywhere – and the upbeat tone of the show is a welcome end to a long week.

By John Rash

"Miss Match,” NBC, Fridays at 8 p.m. 

   “Legally Blonde” meets “The Love Boat” in this ode to escapism. “Miss Match” aptly appeals to viewers' romantic realities by traversing the minefields of dating and divorcing. And by not taking itself seriously – as well as casting the disarmingly charming Alicia Silverstone – “Miss Match” is well matched for work weary viewers looking to unwind.
   But the real star may be Darren Star, the executive producer/writer/director who created “Sex and the City” and “Melrose Place.” He has cleverly created multiple possible storylines with both the regular cast and the matchmaking clients. This makes the story episodic and not serialized, a freeing Friday formula for the targeted younger viewers who are occasionally out looking for their own perfect match.
    So NBC -- whose cancellation of “Providence” was far from divine, as substitute series under delivered -- may have finally found a franchise program to reestablish its Friday dominance.

For past Media Life reviews of the new fall shows, click below.

NBC's "Coupling"

CBS's "Brotherhood of Poland, N.H."

CBS's "Navy NCIS"

ABC's "I'm With Her"

WB's "One Tree Hill"

NBC's "Las Vegas"

CBS's "Two and a Half Men"

WB's "Like Family"

Fox's "Luis"

ABC's "Threat Matrix"

UPN's "All of Us," "Rock Me Baby"

UPN's "Eve"

WB's "All About the Andersons"

WB's "Steve Harvey's Big Time"
WB's "Run of the House"
UPN's "The Mullets"

UPN's "Jake 2.0"

NBC's "Whoopi"
NBC's "Happy Family"

A.J. Livsey's fall season overview