DRAMA
CBS (Sun., Sept. 26, 8 p.m. ET)
[STARS 2]
This show isn't content just to reach base the first time up. It strains itself swinging for the fences.
In the premiere (airing two nights before the series steps into its Tuesday-at-9 lineup spot), 16-year-old Pete (Jeremy Sumpter from Peter Pan) starts work as a batboy for the big-league New York Empires without the permission of his no-nonsense single mom (Mare Winningham), who has no clue that he's on the field for the opening-day game. Hard to believe? Sure, but we're willing to play along because Pete seems like a nice kid and the show promises to be a wholesome diversion. The next day, though, Pete is caught holding an arrogant slugger's steroids, and suddenly the bases are loaded with scandal, moral crisis and melodrama.
Clubhouse may jell once Pete builds friendships with the Empires' sterling third baseman (Dean Cain) and crusty equipment manager (Christopher Lloyd). But credibility has to be part of the game plan.
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