Just when you thought your television sets were safe from family sitcoms that had long ago run their course, be careful with that remote control: They're back. Seeking to rejuvenate its sinking ratings after Who Wants to be a Millionaire? tanked last year, ABC has turned to these sitcoms, hoping to recapture the ratings success of wholesome shows like Home Improvement. One product of this familial resurgence? Life with Bonnie, a new family sitcom that is both scripted and improvised.

Fortunately, Bob Saget and company are nowhere to be found in Bonnie (although the Olsen twins would have been a nice addition), which stars Bonnie Hunt as Bonnie Molloy, an overworked host of a morning talk show in Chicago. Living with her husband, Dr. Mark Molloy (Mark Derwin), Bonnie juggles work and raising the several children who live in her home.

Bonnie succeeds when it veers from the traditional generic components of the family sitcom -- it's use of improvised comedy. The segments that occur on Bonnie's morning talk show aren't scripted and usually are the most entertaining. Last Tuesday's episode featured David Duchovny playing local-weatherman-turned-movie-producer in one of the show's best scenes.

That's not to say Life with Bonnie succeeds as a whole. The scripted segments of the show are about as bland as cream of wheat, and there are really no likeable characters with the exception of the lead.

Still, you have to give Bonnie Hunt credit. At least she's trying to do something new with the tired family sitcom genre -- trying, but definitely not succeeding.

-Reviewed by Roger Mahon