Although it's not really a bad show, "Felicity" just doesn't seem to be holding up it's end of the bargain.

Tangi Miller and Scott Foley make the show worth the effort...

"Felicity" airs Tuesdays at 9 pm on the WB.

I regret to say that I'm going to have to take "Felicity" off the list. It's an historic event. I've never before kicked anything off the list. But, "Felicity" gets the unfortunate distinction of being the first. I was a big fan at the beginning. I held in there for quite a bit longer than most people I know. But, alas, "Felicity" has fallen prey to the dread "Dawson Disease": It has made it's main character not only someone for whom we don't have a whole lot of sympathy, but someone who seems to be unbelievably stupid.

Take last night's episode, for instance. It was devoted to Felicity trying to keep Ben from getting expelled because she rewrote his English paper without his knowledge. You see, Ben's spell check wasn't working, so pal Felicity offered to take it home and spell check for him (with no discussion about formats or system compatibility; that's why I love TV). Ben, trusting soul, hands over the disk. Felicity, World's Biggest Idiot that she is, spell checks, then decides to creatively edit the paper, just to "help" Ben out. Unfortunately, she doesn't tell him about it. The day the papers are handed back, the professor tells Ben he doesn't think Ben wrote the paper. Ben, of course, is confused. Compare Browning's "My Last Duchess" to Hamlet? Where did that come from? Well, Felicity, of course. By the end of the episode, Felicity has confessed to her crime in front of a board of English professors and Ben and Felicity both get off scott free. (Can't let things get too nasty for our heroine, can we?)

This isn't the first time, either. Our girl Felicity has also mistaken a simple invitation to a Halloween party as a declaration of love by Ben, sent Ben her application essay of which he is the subject, and .... Have you noticed how all of this stuff revolves around Ben?

"Felicity" started out as a really good show. I mean, the hype, at first, was warranted. It was sensitive and insightful and well-written, and basically all those things a great show should be. Sure, she did some painfully embarrassing things (like accusing Ben of making her fall in love with him when he'd never shown any real interest in the first place). At the age of eighteen, I know I hadn't fully mastered that "Don't blurt out every crackpot thing that comes into your head" part, especially with the opposite sex. Felicity Porter, however, has begun taking it to extremes. It's hard to believe someone who is supposed to be so smart can think it's okay to rewrite someone else's paper without their permission, or even their knowledge. How could she not know she would at least make Ben feel worthless and stupid?

... Scott Speedman and Keri Russell just don't.

More about the Dawson Disease. A side effect of this malady seems to be secondary characters that are far more sympathetic, smart, and downright fascinating than the main character. In "Dawson's" case, this side effect seems limited to Pacy. On "Felicity," the effect pertains to R.A. Noel Crane (Scott Foley); fellow pre-med student Elena (there's some discrepancy about this character's last name, but I'm going with Tyler) played by Tangi Miller, who is just so excellent; and occasionally, Felicity's friend Julie Emrick (Amy Jo Johnson, the former Pink Ranger). Julie's currently dating a film student named Zack, played by Devon Gummersall (Brian Krakow from "My So-Called Life"). He's pretty much always good. I don't dig Ben (Scott Speedman) as much. Something about his character just doesn't appeal to me. Producer J.J. Abrams says Ben "is going to show some sides of his character that'll put him in a bit of a bad light and make you see him differently." I hope the difference is an increase in my interest in the character.

Truth be told, I'll probably keep watching the show. I like the secondary characters, especially Noel and Elena. Scott Foley and Tangi Miller have unbelievable chemistry. And Scott Foley recently revealed that Noel's girlfriend, who's attending another college, will show up at some point around Thanksgiving (played by Jennifer Garner of "Significant Others") and that there will be more kissing with Felicity, which is good for Noel. All in all, the show still has its moments (like when Noel explains he kissed Felicity because he misses his girlfriend so much). But, even though I'll still watch "Felicity," it's definitely off the list. For now.

Date: November 3, 1998

Copyright © 1998 by Lisa McInnis