Don't Fear CW's Reaper: New Sitcom Proves to Be a Devil of a Good Time

Maybe the Devil is behind my recent addiction to Reaper, the CW's new dramedy about a slacker who becomes a bounty hunter for hell.

After a critically-acclaimed first season, the witty, action-packed show is set to air 13 more episodes in 2008-2009.

Reaper tells the story Sam Oliver (played by Bret Harrison), a college dropout who works a dead-end job at a department store. For some strange reason, Sam's parents have gone easy on him all his life, allowing him to coast through school and spend most of his time with buds Sock (Tyler Labine) and Ben (Rick Gonzalez). But on his 21^st birthday, Sam discovers the truth behind his parents' lax nature.

Before Sam was born, his parents sold their son's soul to the Devil (Ray Wise) to get out of a bind. The Devil promised them that when Sam was old enough, he'd come back to collect.

Driving to work on the morning of his birthday, Sam is freaked out by the appearance of a dark, handsome man in the back seat of his station wagon. The man reveals himself to be Satan, Sam's new boss.

According to the Devil, damned souls are constantly escaping from hell and causing trouble on Earth. He needs somebody to send these souls back, and that somebody is Sam Oliver.

Relying on clues, wits, and a lot of luck, Sam and his best friends embark on a season-long journey to capture escaped souls and return them to eternal damnation.

The show's first season follows a basic formula as Sam captures a different soul each week. The writers add some drama by introducing the character of Andi (played by Missy Peregrym), Sam's co-worker and life-long crush. Both characters have feelings for each other, but their pre-established friendship keeps them in limbo, wondering whether they'll ever get together as a couple.

The writing in Reaper is sharp, clever, and fast. The characters are well-established and easily differentiable, especially in the case of Sam, Sock, and the Devil.

Brett Harrison does a fine job as Sam, the most-relatable character on the show. Harrison portrays Sam as a kind, easygoing guy who matures with every new challenge the Devil throws his way.

Tyler Labine shines in his role as Sock, the wise-cracking sidekick with impeccable comedic timing. Labine, who could be described as an up-and-coming Jack Black, truly is the comedic heart of the show, using anything from sarcasm to physicality to deliver the laughs.

Ray Wise is brilliant in his portrayal of Satan, the smooth, charismatic tempter who makes the dark side look so fun. In fact, the actor is so convincing as a master deceiver that we often second-guess the Devil's evil ways to think he might be a friendly guy.

While the supporting cast is strong and entertaining, it's these three actors-Harrison, Labine, and Wise-that standout and make the show a joy to watch.

While season 2 is scheduled to be a mid-season replacement, the show's caliber is high enough to make it a potential hit for the CW. Let's face it, shows such as Seinfeld and The Office never started out as hits, but rather attracted enough devoted fans to convince the networks they could be successful.

If the CW is wise, they'll give Reaper a chance to break out and earn a strong following. I just hope it doesn't take a deal with the Devil to keep it around.