Davis does good job in ‘Commander’

Way back in 1988, when Geena Davis and Adam Baldwin co-starred in “Beetle Juice,” you knew that one of them would go on to play the president. OK, maybe not. Amazingly, it’s Davis who gets to portray the “Commander in Chief” (9 p.m., ABC) week after week. And she does a pretty good job.

The show opens in Paris, where Vice President Mackenzie Allen (Davis) is attending to ceremonial duties. Secret Service agents converge on her, informing her that the president has suffered an incapacitating stroke. Seconds later, the president’s chief of staff, Jim Gardner (Harry Lennix), insists that she resign. A political independent, Allen was chosen as window dressing, a sop to women voters. The president’s party insists that she leave office so conservative Speaker of the House Nathan Templeton (Donald Sutherland, looking like he’s channeled the spirit of Raymond Massey) can continue the president’s agenda.

Conflicted about her situation, Allen mulls resignation and even draws up a speech. Then Templeton’s overt sexism and unbridled condescension prove too much to take. After the president suffers a fatal relapse, she takes the oath of office.

Unlike “The West Wing,” which exults in the nitty-gritty of policy, “Commander” focuses on domestic dysfunction. Allen’s husband, Rod (Kyle Secor), finds himself demoted from being his wife’s chief of staff to the awkward position of being the first male “first lady.” Allen’s twin teens adjust very differently to their new public roles. Her oversexed and conservative daughter, Rebecca (Caitlin Wachs), overtly sides with the Templeton wing of the (presumably) Republican party. She tells her brother, Horace (Matt Lanter), “You can be John-John, and I’ll be Patti Davis!” Look for trouble ahead.

While “Commander” avoids the overt wonkery of “West Wing,” it also fails to give its audience much credit for knowing history or current events. In the premiere episode, Allen deals with a human-rights crisis in Nigeria without any mention of that nation’s vast oil wealth and the bargaining position that resource provides. While chiding Allen, Templeton asks her how Muslim nations might react to a female U.S. president. But didn’t Islamic Pakistan already have a female head of state? In fact, Pakistan’s female leader Benazir Bhutto took office in 1988 the same year “Beetle Juice” hit the big screen.

The first of the new crop of dramas to blatantly imitate “Desperate Housewives,” “Sex, Love & Secrets” (9 p.m., UPN), all but drowns in gimmicks. With its ludicrously gorgeous cast and intrusive mope-rock soundtrack, you might confuse this with a WB show circa “Dawson’s Creek.”

Other highlights

Lorelai’s attitude infuriates Suki on “Gilmore Girls” (8 p.m., WB).

“The Amazing Race: Family Edition” (9 p.m., CBS) kicks off a new globetrotting season with a domestic angle.

The groundbreaking 1980 series “Cosmos” (9 p.m., Science) returns to prime time. The late Carl Sagan hosts.

The second apology is harder to approach on “My Name is Earl” (9 p.m., NBC).

An immigrant’s mysterious ailment inspires a race against time on “House” (9 p.m., Fox).

“Bob Dylan: No Direction Home” concludes on “American Masters” (9 p.m. KSPS). He’s invisible now. He’s got no secrets to conceal.

A pregnant rape victim ponders a desperate act on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (10 p.m., NBC).

Heather Locklear guest-stars as a black-widow killer on the season premiere of “Boston Legal” (10 p.m., ABC).

Series notes

Mark Harmon stars on “NCIS” (8 p.m., CBS) … Caroline Rhea hosts “The Biggest Loser” (8 p.m., NBC) … Murder on Embassy Row on “Bones” (8 p.m., Fox) … A new story about an old mix tape on “According to Jim” (8 p.m., ABC) … Tyra Banks hosts “America’s Next Top Model” (8 p.m., UPN).

A legend with a hook on “Supernatural” (9 p.m., WB) … Sensitivity training on “The Office” (9:30 p.m., NBC).

Late night

Johnny Knoxville and Drew Rosenhaus appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno hosts Jennifer Garner, Bill Paxton and Stephen Stills on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … George Lopez and Scott Caan appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (12:05 a.m., ABC).