‘Providence’ Displays Inner Strength

Some shows enjoy the good fortune of finding favor with viewers and critics alike.

Others take their licks and lumps from grumpy TV columnists while appealing to a substantial segment of the audience that ignores the criticism and gravitates toward the show’s characters on some personal level.

“Providence” (8 p.m. NBC), the sugary family drama about a pretty plastic surgeon in Rhode Island, falls into the latter category.

Its stories are generally soft, fluffy and forgettable, but there’s no denying that women are drawn to the romantic trials and tribulations of Dr. Sydney Hansen (Melina Kanakaredes) and her relatives. And to its credit, the show’s writers have always expressed a warm, humane treatment of animals, which is to be admired.

Consider this: Of the seven shows that opposed “Providence” last fall, only two (Fox’s “Police Videos” and WB’s “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”) have held their ground, and neither comes close to the weekly average of 11.6 million viewers attracted to “Providence.”

In tonight’s season finale, Syd’s romance with a married congressman could be spoiled by his estranged wife, while Syd’s father (Mike Farrell, that reliable old pro) is shot.