I first discovered Jesse when I flicked the telly on some time between 1 and 1.30, hoping to find some vacuous American sitcom over which to enjoy a ham sandwich and a cup of tea. Cybill, I knew, was a possibility, as was Suddenly Susan. But this was just amazing. Jesse is, quite simply, Friends Lite. I came to this conclusion within five minutes, and was not surprised to find out at the end that it came from the same people (Kaufman, Crane, and the other one).

It has six characters; three blokes and three girls. They are in their late twenties. Four are in relationships with each other (which doesn’t strictly correspond, but it does if you count Ross and Rachel). One has a kid. Most are gormless.

And yet – it’s so watchable. It’s hard to imagine creating something on the basis of stripping the emotion and profundity out of Friends, but somehow they have. Perhaps the most important difference is that whereas in Friends all six characters have their quirks but in other ways are surprisingly urbane, in Jesse there are just the two well-adjusted ones (both female), and the other four, who are unashamedly kooky. The other difference is that while in Friends the second focus (after the appartment) is a café, in Jesse it’s a hospital.

It’s not great art. But you’ll enjoy it.