High school–set series may have a storied history, but for some reason when TV kids attend college, their shows usually flunk out.

Buffy’s post-secondary season was its worst, Saved by the Bell: The College Years wasn’t even ironically amusing, Veronica Mars was cancelled following its heroine’s freshman year (the show’s third season) and Degrassi’s decision to follow some grads to university was a creative bomb. Even Judd Apatow’s underappreciated post–Freaks and Geeks gem Undeclared was expelled before finishing out its first year.

But frat-row show Greek has already been renewed for a second season down south — on ABC Family, despite its keg-fuelled, scantily clad salaciousness —?and has broken the curse by being bright, funny and charming, if not particularly original. Though its characters quickly transcend stereotypes, the set-up comprises the same old fraternity/sorority tropes: Animal House’s snobs vs slobs and Legally Blonde’s fashionable good girls vs fashionable mean girls, with a little Revenge of the Nerds geek power and lots of Undeclared’s freshman follies.
Greek begins with uptight science major Rusty Cartwright (Jacob Zachar, a fantastic find) hoping to reinvent himself at Cyprus-Rhodes University as a party-hearty frat boy. So he pledges Kappa Tau, whose president, the charismatic cad Cappie (Scott Michael Foster), has watched Old School 900 times. (Hey, me too!) This irritates Rusty’s sorority-girl older sister Casey. That Casey is?played by Spencer Grammer, of the Kelsey Grammers, is an amusing factoid given the Greek system’s fixation on “legacies” whose parents were previous members, yet Grammer adds nuance and realism to her pretty blondness. Equally fine is her sexy arch-frenemy Rebecca Logan (Dilshad Vadsaria), a senator’s daughter who drunkenly sleeps with Casey’s richie-rich frat boyfriend, Evan Chambers (Jake McDorman), during rush week.
As you may imagine, Greek is replete with promiscuous sex, prank wars and beer pong. But it also takes time to develop its characters beyond rich jerks, charming slackers and nervous nerds —?everyone, even Rebecca, eventually becomes sympathetic and well rounded. Greek also blazes a fresh trail with Omega Chi legacy Calvin (Paul James), a black ex-jock who happens to be gay (as opposed to Revenge of the Nerds’ flaming stereotype Lamar).

Though the show celebrates the popular crowd, the producers raided geek culture for their supporting cast: bringing over Jessica Rose from YouTube serial LonelyGirl15 as she-dork Jenn K; pilfering Foster from MySpace soap Quarterlife; and landing Clark Duke, the ROFL-inducing co-star of awesome internet series Clark and Michael (with his BFF Michael Cera).

No matter how endearing Greek’s sorority sisters and frat boys may be, it’s Clark Duke’s preternaturally self-possessed southern Baptist nerd Dale Kettlewall who has proven the series’ saviour.

Generally, religious characters on TV are either intolerant dimwits or unrealistic saints but Rusty’s dorm-mate Dale has been more intelligently designed. Brought to vivid life by Duke’s all-in portrayal of a self-described “Christian hick with a bright future ahead of him,” Dale is perhaps TV’s most unabashedly religious character — just watch him gleefully lead his assistance group in a Wonder Twin–inspired “purity powers… activate!” cheer.

Even when he tries to turn gay Calvin straight — adding insult to injury by attempting the conversion in his Confederate flag-adorned dorm room — he still has genuinely kind (if blinkered) intentions. Duke adds just the right taste of joy: Dale is as genuinely excited about learning science as he is about discussing Jesus, winning the Chastity Cup or fronting his awesome Christian rock band.

While his fellow students struggle to find themselves, Dale couldn’t be more content in who he already is. And neither could Greek’s creators, who may have cast Duke as comic relief but found the perfect counterbalance to all the other sex-and-party-obsessed students.
GREEK AIRS FRIDAYS, 9PM ON CTV.