DMV

Despite being generic and middling at first, as the series settles into itself, the potential of what it could be begins to shine through.

Its perfect averageness makes it easy to dismiss, but it’s a painless, pleasant half-hour, with a smattering of genuine laughs. And like every such show, it can be expected to ripen with age, if age comes.

DMV is only okay most of the time. But should it settle into a more comfortable groove over its journey, it has the potential to turn, eventually, into a fun ride.

“DMV” also recycles too many jokes within the same 20-minute arc. (I’m hesitant to identify them as “callbacks” — a new comedy should be eager to show off new jokes, and the adhesive maxi-pad bit just isn’t funny enough for a running gag.) At least we know Dyer is playing in a familiar sandbox, so it’s safe to assume she’ll start building better castles in time.

As with most work-related premises, there’s undoubtedly a good sitcom lurking at the DMV. .... But the glimmers of invention (the driving testers keep track of the number of days since they were almost killed on a whiteboard) are so meager here that this DMV feels as perfunctory and forgettable as re-registering your car.