‘Carey’ Has High Jinks Down Pat

For those who keep pushing for television to seek higher standards, there is undoubtedly justice in the fact that NBC’s “The West Wing” has been trouncing ABC’s “The Drew Carey Show” in their Wednesday night ratings matchup so far this season.

After all, the characters on “The West Wing” are smart, tireless, self-sacrificing, public-spirited citizens, striving to make the world a better place. The “Drew Carey” crowd is a bunch of plodding, underachieving working stiffs, striving for little more than the time to enjoy that next beer. They’re as far removed from the political world of the Bartlett administration as you can get.

But if what you’re looking for on TV is some good-natured, well-conceived high jinks to brighten the day, “The Drew Carey Show” remains a sure bet to deliver.

In tonight’s episode (9 p.m. ABC), Drew’s pal Lewis (Ryan Stiles) visits a dentist (Charles Fleischer) whose office is on a boat. Guess what? Administering a Novocain shot can be a bear when you’re rocking on waves.

Suffice to say, Lewis doesn’t need a mask when it comes time to attend Drew’s Halloween party.

As for Drew, the festive occasion provides only more grief in his Charlie Brown-like existence. Already this season he has had to dance his way out of a mental hospital and endure the breakup of two marriages. Now he gets the boss of his dreams (Henry Winkler), only to lose him and the chance at a big promotion.

This being looneyville, of course, it doesn’t end there. Let’s just say that Drew’s ventriloquism lessons pay off--so that even if his dreams fall short, he at least gets to drag down his nemesis Mimi (Kathy Kinney) with him.

It sounds a lot like politics after all.