• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, October 3, 2017

Taking on themes of God and righteousness is a pretty tall order for a TV series.

But it is also true that it is difficult for a TV critic to come down hard on any show that attempts this -- particularly when it is attempted with such sweetness and warmth.

These two characteristics are generally missing from prime-time TV on our major networks, but they are not missing from this new drama premiering Tuesday night on ABC called “Kevin (Probably) Saves the World.”

In the show, Jason Ritter (photo above) plays Kevin, a regular guy with various problems who learns in the premiere episode that God has designated him as a “righteous” man (one of only 36 such “righteous” people in the whole wide world).

Having been so designated, he then learns he is now supposed to go forth into the world and “anoint” other righteous people -- a process that will require him to confront strangers, make nutty speeches to them, and then give them a hug. He does have his work cut out for him.

“Kevin (Probably) Saves the World” covers much of the same ground as “Oh, God!” did -- the 1977 movie in which John Denver played the righteous Everyman and George Burns played God.

In this new ABC series, Kevin faces the same challenges -- including convincing others that he is in touch with the Lord Almighty via an invisible messenger who only he can see and hear. And there is his own skepticism to overcome too.

If some strange lady suddenly appeared to you following a meteor strike near the farmhouse you are staying in, and then she claimed she was God's messenger, would you believe her?

Many people would not, although I suppose some would. In any case, that is what happens to Kevin in the premiere episode of “Kevin (Probably) Saves the World.” And by the end of the show, he believes it -- more or less.

In the show's title, the awkward insertion of the word “Probably” seems intended to indicate that Kevin may or may not succeed at his mission of world-saving.

But it also hints that the odds actually favor him achieving this goal. Bringing about this result would also constitute a pretty neat trick if the show can pull it off.

On the other hand, if he succeeds in saving the world, the show itself would have to end because its central story would then be over.

Whatever happens, there is no sign in the series premiere that Kevin will even come close to saving the world anytime soon.

A show as farfetched as this one depends heavily (if not entirely) on the central character (and the actor who plays him) dealing with this new, strange predicament in just the right way.

With Ritter, ABC found someone who could do this -- which is one of the reasons this show is so attractive. As Kevin, Ritter applies just the right mixture of bewilderment, confusion, skepticism and acceptance to the role, and makes it believable.

And anyway, why quibble? This is a prime-time TV series about God, faith, redemption and righteousness. As such, it contains none of the vulgarity, violence and generally unhappy situations that characterize so much of TV today.

If that's not a miracle, I don't know what is.

“Kevin (Probably) Saves the World” premieres Tuesday night (October 3) at 10 Eastern on ABC.