Cast Revs Up the Chances of ‘Fired Up’

NBC is giving another new comedy a chance to flourish in the fertile Thursday night half-hour that follows its strutting peacock “Seinfeld.”

“Caroline in the City,” “Suddenly Susan” and, most recently, “Naked Truth” have thrived there, making up in Nielsens what they lack in wit. And checking in tonight is the latest beneficiary of this time-slot gift, the moderately promising, highly revved-up “Fired Up,” a sitcom hoping to wring a few more laughs from the seemingly wrung-out comedy premise of clashing opposites. The success is mixed.

The amiable combatants are Gwen Leonard (Sharon Lawrence), a high-powered, neurotic, narcissistic public relations executive, and her former assistant, the sane, very grounded Terry Reynolds (Leah Remini). Losing their jobs to corporate downsizing, they reunite out of necessity to form their own company, this time as equal partners, a concept the bossy Gwen seems not entirely familiar with. She suggests that they finalize their partnership over dinner: “Make me that sandwich I love!”

Although it’s a stretch believing that the flighty Gwen could hold down even a menial job, to say nothing of being a corporate dynamo, she is pleasingly farcical in the capable hands of Lawrence, whose former TV workplace was ABC’s “NYPD Blue.” And Remini works nicely as the counter-punching Terry. It’s likely that their skirmishes will drive “Fired Up,” given that Gwen and Terry not only work together but also share a SoHo loft with Terry’s brother, Danny (Mark Feuerstein). And of course, there’s the obligatory neighborhood bar operated by Guy (Jonathan Banks).

“Fired Up” is initially no high achiever. Yet its cast is probably strong enough, energy high enough and writing just snappy enough to attract a sizable audience. Especially following “Seinfeld.”

* “Fired Up” airs tonight at 9:30 on NBC.