Sex, dialogue drive WB's brilliantly hormonal 'Dawson'

REVIEW
	Dawson's Creek The WB Tuesdays at 9 p.m.

"Dawson's Creek" is like a postcard. The city in the photograph seems beautiful, interesting and clean. The reality is most often dirtier, more boring and uglier, but those aren't the qualities you would look for in a post card.

The WB network's newest, and quite honestly, best show presents a picture-perfect version of reality. It's not fake so much as it has been doctored for aesthetic effect.

For instance, the fictional setting of "Dawson's Creek" is somewhere outside of Boston. The show is actually shot in scenic Wilmington, N.C.

The suburban protagonist is Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek), a film buff and Spielberg fan who is beginning to realize that there is more to life than movies.

This realization is setting in slowly, particularly in regard to sex. "If sex is so important, then how come Spielberg hasn't had a sex scene in one of his movies?" he asks.

While that might be an interesting point, it's a little unbelievable that Dawson is so prudish about the subject, his parents certainly aren't. In fact, Dawson has to knock every time he enters a room in his house, as the love life of his parents (John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes) is quite active and spontaneous.

His lifelong friend, Josephine "Joey" Potter (Katie Holmes), certainly isn't squeamish about sex and talks openly about it, especially in reference to Dawson's genitalia.

James Van Der Beek and Katie Holmes star in The WB's beautiful "Creek."

Joey comes from a troubled home life, though you couldn't tell that by looking at her. Stirring physical attraction between her and Dawson threaten to complicate their friendship.

The traditional love triangle plot is completed when the luminous Jennifer Lindley (Michelle Williams), moves into the community. Dawson becomes instantly smitten. Jennifer has much more sexual experience than does the virginal Dawson. He doesn't know just how much experience at first, but he finds out in a future episode.

Also in contrast to the introspective and coquettish Dawson is his other best friend Pacey (Joshua Jackson).

Pacey is so witty and outgoing that he hits on one of his teachers and is successful in his seduction, making this subplot the show's most daring and controversial aspect. Pacey is the hormonal comic relief, a sort of Jughead to Dawson's Archie.

What keeps this show from becoming an "Archie" comic book is the intelligent and eloquent dialogue provided by the show's producer, Kevin Williamson.

Williamson scripted "Scream" and "Scream 2," the blockbusters that revived the horror movie genre. "Dawson's Creek" is a welcome addition to these youth -angst melodramas, such as "Party of Five" and "Beverly Hills 90210."

But the same dialogue that raises the show above its predecessors seems out of place coming from 15-year-olds.

Williamson sees these characters as "typical" high school freshmen, which make the average high school experiences seem pretty atypical.

There weren't any fashion models who spoke like college graduates where I went to school, but maybe I should have gone to high school filmed in Wilmington, N.C.

Cynicism and bitterness aside, "Dawson's Creek" is an entertaining show and will probably be a big hit. Considering its time slot, the show has little to worry about from the competition.

"Frasier" (NBC) and "Home Improvement" (ABC) both target older audiences and are half-hour shows. The show's only real obstacle is that word might spread slowly since so few people watch the WB.

But the WB needn't worry. "Dawson's Creek" has beautiful people talking very openly about sex - a tried-and-true audience grabber.

"Dawson's" beautiful people: Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes, James Van Der Beek and Michelle Williams.

01-27-98