QUITE a number of TV series have been launched this month, indicating the continuing popularity of the format. Topping the list is the Judy Ann Santos-Ryan Agoncillo sitcom, ?George and Cecil,? which is clicking with viewers due to its ?role-reversal? twist: Judy Ann plays a no-nonsense cop, while Ryan is cast as a mild-mannered teacher.

Despite their unconventional pairing, the guy still wears the pants in this household, and there?s no doubt that they love each other to bits. So, what?s their problem? Their respective families simply can?t get along, and their endless game of one-upmanship periodically threatens to wreck the couple?s otherwise happy union.

?So Pinoy?

That?s ?so Pinoy,? of course, and in the hands of writer-director Joey Reyes, the two families? ?giyera-patani? can be depended on for some humorous broadsides.

The last time we looked in on the show, the big to-do was over George?s upcoming birthday, which was being upstaged by the bigger celebration for Cecil?s mom. Naturally, George?s parents were appalled: Why should their beloved daughter pinch pennies just so her mother-in-law can splurge on her own bash, with Cecil footing half of the bill? Why, indeed.

Judy Ann and Ryan?s believable and comfortable portrayals add to the show?s likability. Since their characters love each other, they don?t resort to the usual screaming and mugging that passes for sitcom acting in these parts, and that?s such a relief.

On the debit side, the sitcom sometimes feels ?overpopulated,? with some regular characters doing little to rationalize their presence in the show. And the ?problem-solution? format can get to feel dated after a while.

On the whole, however, ?George and Cecil? is a viewer-pleaser. But, let?s hope that, sooner rather than later, it touches more often on gender issues, rather than the usual ?family-feud? stuff. That, after all, is its unique edge over the competition.

For its part, ?Tayong Dalawa? is about to wrap up its action-drama story about feuding half-siblings. Just before the show peaks, let?s evaluate its effectivity as a star-making vehicle for its young leads, Kim Chui, Jake Cuenca and Gerald Anderson.

All told, despite Kim?s best efforts, we feel that the drama series has been too much of a strain for her. Since its two male leads are fighting for her character?s love, she needs to deal with difficult dramatic-romantic issues?but fails to adequately vivify them.

Is she simply too young and raw for the rigorous task? If so, her handlers can be faulted for not being astute enough in their evaluation of her capabilities at this stage of her career.

Cuenca?s work in the series is also deficient because it?s too dramatically unctuous and strident, and done for effect. Yes, his character has a lot of demons to exorcise, but his portrayal?s histrionics do little to clarify those issues.

Believable motivation

If the young actor really wants to do well, he should focus more on believable motivation rather than in-your-face emotional display.

All told, it?s Anderson who benefits most from his exposure in ?Tayong Dalawa.? As the story?s more mild-mannered half-sibling, his character initially has a hard time getting his dramatic engine going?but he eventually fares better than Cuenca because his preparation runs deeper.

Also impressive was his change of temperament later in the story, from dutiful son to rebel. Even his physical appearance changed and that was all to the good, because it revealed new facets to his character. It also hinted at a nascent versatility that he can put to purposeful use in the course of his career.