By pure accident is how I stumbled on to Reaper. I don’t remember why, but for some reason, the TV was rockin’ the CW channel. At eight or so, this gem of a show started and I was instantly enthralled in it. Why can’t all TV be this fucking good?! A little synopsis:

Sam (played by Bret Harrison; second from left in photo) has it easy for the first 20 years of his life. His parents allow him to slide through everything with the least possible effort. As a direct result, Sam skipped college, works a dead-end job at the local Work Bench home improvement store, and spends the remainder of his time playing video games. Curious as he was about the reasoning for his parents lack of motivation, he doesn’t find out until his 21st birthday. The ungodly reason his parents let him slide? They sold his soul to the devil before he was even born.

His parents, guilt-ridden, attempt to explain the circumstances that led them to forfeit his soul, Sam can’t quite grasp what is happening to him. When Satan himself (played awesomely by Ray Wise; far right in the photo) drops by to personally explain that Sam must now track down evil souls that have escaped and return them to Hell, Sam refuses his bizarre fate. After getting a small taste of Satan’s temper, however, Sam figures out that breaking a deal with the devil has nasty consequences. Despite this, Sam is fascinated by the devil’s charm and his flattering insistence that Sam is full of untapped potential.

Armed with a constantly changing (and hilarious) series of vessels — starting with a Dirt Devil mini-vacuum — to collect the escapees, Sam finds that his new job is dangerous and frightening, even though he’s assisted by his goofball friends Bert “Sock” Wysocki (Tyler Labine; second from right in photo) and Ben (Rick Gonzalez; not pictured), along with Sock’s ex-girlfriend-turned-paralegal, Josie (Valarie Rae Miller; not pictured). Sock has been Sam’s closest friend and slacker role model for many years and was immediately the first Sam turned to with the news of his new gig with the devil.

Sam knows he’ll have to go to great lengths to hide his new identity from the person who matters most in his world: his smart and pretty co-worker Andi (Missy Peregrym; far left in picture). Trapped by his lack of self-confidence, Sam has loved Andi from afar, despite Sock’s constant urging that he ask her out. Now she’s stuck in a safe job and a safe friendship with Sam.

Though his life has suddenly turned weird and scary, Sam is surprised to find that he somehow feels good about his newfound “mission” — removing evil-doers from the world and sending them back where they belong. Back when nothing was expected of him, Sam never had to push himself to achieve. Now, with his friends and his trusty vessel-of-the-week at his side, Sam is ready to face his destiny as the Reaper.

This show has my kind of comedy: dry but quick-witted and clever humor intermixed with interesting and captivating stories. This might have just become my favorite show, but I’ll need to watch next week to be sure. And I will be tuning in next week. If you haven’t heard of this show, check it out on the CW, Tuesdays 9/8 CST.