TV Reviews : Teen Heroine Propels ‘Files of Shelby Woo’

According to press material, “The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo,” a new live-action series for young viewers, was originally created by Alan Goodman as “The Mystery Files of Shelby Wink.”

When Irene Ng, a Harvard University undergrad whose credits include “The Joy Luck Club,” netted the title role as the teenage sleuth--through blind casting, the release states--Goodman reconceived the show to better fit an Asian heroine, still a TV rarity.

In the likable result, Ng plays an overly curious high schooler, originally from China, whose gofer job at a coastal Florida police station affords her ample opportunity to get herself and her pals (Adam Busch and Preslaysa Edwards) in trouble as she eagerly pursues mystery-solving.

Shelby lives with her cool, wise grandfather (“The Karate Kid’s” Pat Morita), owner of a resort hotel.

In the series opener, “Fool’s Gold,” Shelby gets herself in hot water by getting the scoop on a rare-coin robbery. Viewers sleuth along with her via a computer screen that periodically pops up and “retrieves” pertinent information that can help solve the case.

* “The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo” premieres Sunday at 6 p.m. on Nickelodeon.