On Monday nights I watch another in the suite of Kelsey Grammer's CW programs (sidebar: what is it with the former star of Frasier/Cheers and Black-themed television programming?), "The Game."

What impresses me about this show, tonally, is the pervasive tension that runs through each episode. It's been billed as a sitcom, but it's actually a drama that's been compressed into a half-hour sitcom format. It's certainly ironic, and therefore comic, but the storylines and themes are ponderous and agitated. The cast has made some very interesting choices--they are playing their characters not as cariacatures (in less capable, subtle hands this show would be like any other serial comedy trying, by means of noise and pomp, to be endearing), but straight. There is an awareness, certainly, of the flaws of the principals, but they are each embodying their personas, not standing on the outskirts of the characters doing some version of the "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" brand of portrayal.