Ready or Not

 ((Sun. (24), 5-5:30 p.m., Showtime))

By DOMINIC GRIFFIN

Taped on location in Scarborough, Ontario, by Insight Production Company Ltd. in association with Global Television Network. Exec producer, John Brunton, Alyse Rosenberg; producer, John Brunton; director, Stacey Stewart Curtis; writer , Nicole Holofcener; story, Alyse Rosenberg.
 
Cast: Laura Bertram, Lani Ballard, Gerry Mendicino, Diana Reis, Don Griffin, Fab Filippo, Noah Plener, Benjamin Plener, Jesse Nilsson, Don Carrier, Doug Ozier, Jeffrey Felsher, Laura Levin, Jordan Toussaint.
 

In the first episode of its second season, Showtime's "Ready or Not" manages in a humorous, sensitive and entertaining manner to show two young girls on the verge of adolescence who have to deal with all the problems that come with puberty. While oversimplifying the situation at times, show succeeds in getting its message across.

Amanda and Busy (played extremely well by Laura Bertram and Lani Ballard, respectively) are 11-year-old best friends who, in this episode, have crushes on older guys. Amanda is thrilled about the changes she's going through, while Busy seems to resist.

Amanda has a crush on a rock star by the name of Bonzi (Jeffrey Felsher), which quickly fades, while Busy has a more real infatuation with their karate teacher, Neil (Don Carrier).

After Amanda and Busy find out that Neil is gay, Busy questions her own sexuality and what it means if she is attracted to a gay man. They confront Neil , who explains that his alternative lifestyle is no different from being born black, white, tall, small. It's done in a sensitive and intelligent way.

The many feelings and emotions that are part of growing up are an important and interesting subject and not addressed often enough on TV, but this show only goes halfway: Do males not experiencegrowing pains?

Series stems from an award-winning short story by Alyse Rosenberg. Writer Nicole Holofcener does an admirable job with the teleplay and director Stacey Stewart Curtis gets the most out of actors, especially the leads.

Camera, Maris Jansons; editor, Richard Wells; sound, Erv Copestake; art director, Judy Shiner; music, Asher Ettinger, Tony Kosinec.