IDIDN'T EXPECT to like "Jake in Progress."

It's got a sort of silly, work-based premise that usually comes out as boring.

Its main character is somewhat of a playboy who can't commit, but keeps dating amazingly beautiful women.

And its star, John Stamos, was in one of the more annoying sitcoms in history, "Full House."

But something funny happened when I caught the first two episodes of "Jake," which this week moved into its regular Thursday night slot at 8 on ABC.

Stamos, always smooth and camera-friendly on "Full House," creates an interesting and somewhat sympathetic character as Jake Phillips.

This Jake is a celebrity publicist who, after dating beautiful women and luscious models his whole life, has finally figured out that he wants to start caring about someone.

That could come off as insipid and insulting, but Stamos plays it well.

Instead of stuck-up and self-centered, he makes Jake a decent guy down deep, who almost instinctively makes women fall for him.

The mix of confusion and caring that he brings to his search for the right woman helps get beyond the whole "ain't he something" air that could overwhelm a wisp of a show like this.

Also avoiding a case of the vapids is a rhythm the show found from the get-go.

Each episode mixes at least one romantic encounter of Jake's with a work emergency.

And when you're the main celebrity wrangler for a firm with the TV fun name, "Magnum P.R.," there are plenty of celebrity fires that need dousing.

One moment, one of the three gay home-makeover TV stars is confessing that he's straight, throwing off a whole campaign.

The next, a big-time boxer needs Jake to find him a sparring partner, without delay.

And so on, and so on.

Another reason the show moves quickly and cleverly to a conclusion in each episode is a very strong ensemble backing up Stamos and the action.

To start with, there's Wendie Malick (Nina from "Just Shoot Me") as Jake's boss, Naomi.