Just what the American tv viewing public has been in dire need of...another Saturday morning, teen-oriented "sitcom" from the master of the medium, Hollywood outcast extraordinaire, Peter Engel, creator of the "Saved By The Bell" series, a franchise that has no doubt made him richer than he ever imagined and spawned a collection of similar projects from his frighteningly unoriginal mind, the latest of which is this laughable effort, "One World". Once more, a cast of about seven or so well-groomed, well-mannered and extremely well dressed "teens" (I put the word in quotes because there are at least 3 cast members that look well over 20) who struggle with that pesky thing called a conscious as they get into such life-shaping and soul-searching situations like...finding the PERFECT gift for their foster dad, or...learning to live with the rebellious new girl, because she's rude with an AT-TI-TUDE, GIRLFRIEND!!! But the real kicker about this show is the overall premise...the teens are all orphans and/or troubled kids living in a huge three story house with their foster parents, who I suppose just woke up one day and said "Honey, let's forget about kids of our own! Let's just welcome in as many ethnically diverse juvinile delinquents and orphans the state has to offer!!" And thus this brilliant filler of a half hour was born, complete with the good ol' Engel touch of mixing in some adults to balance the viewing balance...and like past Engel triumphs, the adults here have been seemingly pulled at random out of crowds at shopping malls or movie theaters, because if they can be called actors, I have a pet parrot that can deliver embarrassingly awkward jokes more flatly. However, I get the feeling Mr. Engel's intentions are, in fact, good...after all, behind each storyline is a very thinly veiled morality message, and kids do need that. Its sort of a "Sesame Street" for teens, only without the Jim Henson wit...and creativity...and decent writing...mediorce lighting...I could go on...but I'm going to get work on making my own sitcom. Because apparently anyone who speaks the King's English can...
