Jessie

Fish-out-of-the-water sitcom about rural Texas teen Jessie (Debby Ryan) who moves to Manhattan to take a job as an au pair.

Another one from It's a Laugh Prodcutions, which also supplied The Disney Channel with both Zack and Cody shows. Now, "The Suite Life on Deck" was not was exactly appointment television, but it looks like an Alan Ayckbourn comedy compared to "Jessie." Ryan was perfectly fine as backup to the Sprouse twins, but lacks the charisma necessary to carry a show. The direction lacks sharpness, the writing is rote and the cast shows little comic timing. With a few episodes under its belt, "Jessie" will find its sea legs, but no matter how you slice it, this show doesn't have a lot going for it. I doubt this is ever going to be more than a mildly pleasant time waster.

I watch this show with my kids (2 and 11) and they love it! The music is catchy and the characters are pretty funny. They are always in some kind of crazy mess only rich people can get into and their means of cleaning it up are entertaining as well. The only objection I have to this show is I don't like how Zuri is portrayed as being so ghetto. Wasn't she raised by her adoptive parents? Wouldn't she sound like the rest of the family? All that neck action and "mmmm-hmmmms" upset me. My kids are biracial and I don't need any help exposing them to these stereotypes. Most African Americans don't speak and behave in such a manner and I'm sure this particular young girl wouldn't being that she isn't around anyone who speaks or acts in that fashion. Otherwise the show is cute. Just thought I would throw that out there. Disney, if you see this review, please consider revising Zuri's attitude to reflect the life she lives on the show. I mean, China doesn't even act like that on Ant Farm so I really can't see where you are going with that character... Thanks.

All the shows and movies that are created today get no credit. If it doesn't have drugs sex and rock in roll in it then your not interested. If you simply don't like it then its automatically bad for you and for everyone else. Well i don't want anyone speaking for me. When it comes down to not like the characters for the way they are in the movies and TV shows everyone gets them confused with the actual actor. Im sorry don't remember them all having the ability to become more than one person at a time. Only through their acting is this done. I do believe that they are all laughing all the way to the bank whether or not you like them or not. Since when did we all become producers of movies and TV. This constant basting the characters and the shows is the reason they don't last as long as they should. One one gives anything a good try anymore. You don't finish watching or watch movie just cause your curious. A lot of people don't finish watching a TV series because they it doesn't meet your standards of how people or children should act. YOU CANT PLEASE EVERYONE. EVERYONE KEEPS IT UP ALL WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ARE REALILTY SHOWS THAT NOW ONE WANTS TO WATCH. THE ONLY THING WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO IS WATCH OLD MOVIES AND SHOWS AND WONDER WHY THEY Don't MAKE THEM ANYMORE.

I still watch it because it's funny, but that's about it. It has no main problem and the scripts barely ever make sense. Most of the jokes gross me out. You can see that the producers don't have much experience and let's not mention the acting that is so poor, it's what I find funny.

I don't want to be rude, because every show/movie has its own beauty, but JESSIE could have done a lot better. I find they could have been more original like the whole "Nannie for the adoptive kids, because there parents are always away making a movie" sounds familiar when you think about it: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

And most of the jokes aren't that funny when you've heard them in other shows.

But above all, it's perfect if your bored and you have nothing else to watch.

I'm not doing myself any favors by admitting I'm a Disney fanatic, am I? I wouldn't think so. But suffice it to say I'm a real Disney fanatic. I'll watch anything they put on the Disney Channel here in America, no matter what it is. I've sat through fun shows like "Shake it Up!" and real junk like "Pair of Kings" and I really do appreciate the programming they've been enlisting since "Hannah Montana" mercifully bowed out of the channel.

We're seeing a lot less shows about kids trying to become fame freaks and much more family oriented shows. Which I'm all for. "Good Luck Charlie" gets heavy play on the channel and that's a family show if I've ever seen one.

"Jessie" is a new addiction because, simply put, I loved "Charles in Charge." They're basically the same premise when you think about it. A college student comes to live with an upper class family filled with mischievous children and takes care of them, handling their nonsense with patience and good humor. "Jessie" has a more varied cast this time as title character Jessie takes care of a family filled with adopted children. This is a good excuse to feature a very diverse cast of characters so all the bases are covered.

"Jessie" two episodes in is fairly addictive mainly because the show is so darn cute it's hard to find flaws with it. As with most Disney shows the mom and dad are basically MIA, appearing every so often while the young cast basically comes and goes as they please. Jessie follows after making sure they don't inflict any harm on themselves and that's the basic premise.

Okay, and there's Debby Ryan who went from gawky cute in "The Suite Life on Deck," to damn good looking on "Jessie." The rest of the characters are all pretty basic archetypes. My favorite so far is Skai Jackson who plays the baby of the family Zuri. While she's there to mainly spout one liners and look adorable, she pulls it off very well quite often.

Ryan as Jessie is likable. She's basically a branch off of Bailey Picket from her previous show as a small town Southern gal who is mysteriously very street wise. I like to think of "Jessie" as a modern "Charles in Charge" with a twist of "Mary Poppins" and I appreciate the simple stories and limitless character arcs it gives the audience. There's no end to the possibilities of sub-plots with the kids.

One is an adopted Indian boy, one is an adopted African girl, one is an adopted Brooklyn kid, and the oldest is the biological daughter of the celebrity couple featured. There has yet to be a lot of talk about the adoption process and whatnot, and I hope it stays that way. Last thing we need is a PSA about the benefits of adoption on a family show.

Nevertheless I remain a tried and true Disney fanatic and I'll be watching "Jessie" with most interest. Mainly for Debby Ryan.