Doubt

So far it’s strictly so-so on the storytelling front, but with some scenes that raise the bar beyond that. Those mostly involve Light, though. And she’s not the one who’s supposed to carry the load.

You don’t buy her boundary-crossing romance with Billy, because Heigl and the writing can’t you make you believe she’d ever be flawed enough to do that. You simply don’t doubt her enough for Doubt to work as well as it should.

After its overwrought pilot, Doubt could settle into being a perfectly watchable show for fans of the genre. The jury, however, remains out.

Sadie and Billy predictably debrief each other, supposedly complicating the ongoing case, but we’re more caught up in the weekly cases, especially when Cam Wirth is handling them. Cox sashays away with the show, which ends up being a feeble and not especially imaginative “The Good Wife” wannabe.

Doubt assembles such an impressive cast it's easy to wish they had more ambitious material with which to play. As is, this CBS legal drama delivers a steady dose of "The Good Wife"-lite-type banter, without presenting much of an argument to keep watching.

The pilot feels more focused on introducing names and faces than actual characters worthy of our investment. The cases feel like standard “Law & Order” fare, which is fine on “Law & Order” but less compelling here. There is promise in the ensemble cast.

Comfort food appeal to some viewers who could certainly do worse than this series that tends to be more lighthearted (listen for the bouncy music soundtrack), with enjoyably quirky supporting characters. It’s just unfortunate the show’s primary story is often overwrought and obvious.

It’s a courtroom drama that happens to be fine enough for viewers willing to follow the twists and turns of legal jargon that is remarked upon and divined by the writers, rather than delivered through investigative drama.

It’s very clear from the dialogue, pacing, and tone that Doubt would really like to remind you of still another CBS show--The Good Wife--but, sorry, it’s nowhere in the same league.

Doubt does win some points back for stacking its talent roster so deep that it can afford to keep people like Judith Light and Becky Ann Baker around just for minor roles. But even given the talent of the cast and what seems like a surprisingly strong push for diversity, even for Heigl fans there’s nothing about Doubt that makes it close to appointment television.