With a less capable actor in the title role, UPN's "Kevin Hill," premiering tonight at 9 on WNPA, might be less than the sum of its familiar parts. But starring the charming and magnetic Taye Diggs, "Kevin Hill" defies expectations.

	Monty Brinton, CBS Taye Diggs stars in "Kevin Hill" as a lawyer whose life is turned upside down when he takes custody of his cousin's 10-month-old daughter. Click photo for larger image. "Kevin Hill" When: 9 tonight on UPN. Starring: Taye Diggs

So often television succeeds because of the writing above all else. "Kevin Hill" is well-written, but tonight's pilot episode would not soar if not for the charismatic Diggs.

Primarily a film actor and known especially for his role in "How Stella Got Her Groove Back," Diggs stars as Kevin Hill, a 28-year-old lawyer living in Manhattan, winning cases by day, casing bars and nightclubs for beautiful women by night.

But the player has to change his ways after his cousin dies and leaves his 10-month-old daughter in Hill's care.

"Oh, hell, no," he says upon realizing the responsibility that's been thrust upon him. Though he's not wild about his insta-daddy status, Hill never actually tries to completely escape his duties.

He does hire a gay nanny, George (Patrick Breen), who also serves as Hill's conscience and teacher.

"You can't bluff, fold and call all at the same time," George tells Hill when the playboy tries to maintain his old lifestyle after baby Sarah enters his orbit.

At work, rather than see his rising star stalled by his new daddy duties, Hill quits. He finds a job at a smaller firm run entirely by women, including single mom boss Jessie (Michael Michele), offbeat tigress Nicolette (Christina Hendricks) and a former one-night-stand, Veronica (Kate Levering).

To the show's credit, all of these characters are drawn with a surprising amount of detail for a premiere episode. And "Kevin Hill" acknowledges its antecedents in a line of dialogue from George: "Three cavemen and a baby," he says upon first encountering Hill and two friends trying to care for Sarah. "How cute. How '80s."

Series creator Jorge Reyes ("Resurrection Boulevard") has crafted a show that makes good use of popular music in addition to all its other positive attributes.

One cautionary note: Given the show's less-than-original premise, how will Reyes keep it fresh? The answer remains to be seen, but in its initial hour at least, "Kevin Hill" is worth watching. Case closed.