Kelsey Grammer\'s \'Girlfriends\' sassy, funny

With Kelsey Grammer as executive producer and the daughter of a Motown diva as the star, what more do you need?\n"Girlfriends," which airs Monday nights at 9:30 on UPN, is a new comedy centering on four African-American women and their day-to-day lives. The show is known for the celebrities attached to it like leading character Tracee Ellis Ross, daughter of Motown diva Diana Ross. But don't let the big names fool you. This show is character-driven.\nIn simplest form, the characters can be described as a man-hungry, celibate attorney, a conceited gold digger, a flighty student and an educated hood rat.\nJoan (Ross) is a successful 29-year-old attorney. Although she is where she wants to be in her professional life, she is nowhere near where she wants to be in her personal life.\nBut what helps separate the show from other "friends" shows is the unique way it incorporates Joan' s inner thoughts. During conversation, the show changes to a close-up cut-out of Joan's head, revealing what's going through her mind.\nHer best friend, Toni (Jill Marie Jones), is a real estate agent and a gold digger extraordinaire who loves to brag about her good looks and size double-D cups. Toni's idea of family consists of marrying someone rich and having a couple of kids to "secure her financial future."\nNext there's Joan's legal assistant, Mya (Golden Brooks). Mya and her sassy ghettoesque nature add flavor and humor to the show. She is a wife and mother and keeps the women honest and grounded. She is also from the "other side of the tracks," and because of this, she and Toni often tend to disagree. Then there is Lynn (Persia White), Joan's roommate. Although she is a career student, Lynn is the flighty one of the group. She's a philosophy major (for now) and believes in "free love." She is also the product of an interracial couple but was adopted and raised by a white family. Now she's trying to introduce her white side to her black side.\nOne more character helps add spice to the show. William (Reggie Hayes), who is the equivalent of a black "Frasier," is Joan's co-worker and friend. Last, but not least, there is Davis, a recurring character who owns the restaurant where the five hang out. Davis also uses his irresistible charm to flirt with Joan, which also adds sexual tension to the show.\nThe fact this show deals with such heated topics as color caste, social classes and interracial dating in a humorous manner also makes it different. "Girlfriends" is sure to remind you that through it all, you can always count on your girlfriends to have you laughing all night long.