SERIES PREMIERE: Series creator Jason Katims is basing his newest TV series on a movie, which, in turn, was based on a book. In this case, it’s Nick Hornby’s novel, which was made into a movie starring Hugh Grant in 2002. But Katims has followed the same formula before, and emerged with NBC’s excellent Friday Night Lights series, as well as made a very impressive TV version of another film in the ongoing Parenthood. NBC is giving Katims’ newest series, About a Boy, a special post-Olympics showcase tonight just after prime time, and it deserves whatever extra attention NBC can bring to it. David Walton stars as Will, a guy who lives in the suburbs without roots, a job, or concerns – until an uptight vegan named Fiona (Minnie Driver) and her 11-year-old son Marcus (Benjamin Stockham) move in next door. It’s surprisingly tender and subtle for NBC – but not for Katims, who excels at this sort of thing. And there’s not only heart in this new comedy, but intelligence, too. For a full review, see Ed Bark’s Uncle Barky’s Bytes.

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