'Black Sash' may have chops, but 'The Pitts' keeps missing
By Josh Friedman, Times Staff Writer
http://www.calendarlive.com/tv/reviews/cl-et-friedman29mar29.story

With the baseball season opening Sunday, it seems only fitting for
the networks to be trotting out a couple of pinch-hitters that night.

The martial arts drama "Black Sash" makes its debut on the WB at 9
p.m., and the family sitcom "The Pitts" premieres on Fox at 9:30.
Neither show is a cinch to join its network's permanent prime-time
lineup, but based on the merits of the two pilots, "Black Sash"
looks like the more promising, less painful to watch prospect.

A breezy blend of choreographed combat, fortune-cookie truisms and
social advocacy, "Black Sash" plays like "Kung Fu" meets "The
Guardian." The premiere lays out the show's unoriginal premise and
also introduces us to its likable cast, headed by Russell Wong
("Romeo Must Die") and Mako ("Pearl Harbor").

Five years ago, undercover narcotics cop Tom Chang (Wong) was framed
and wrongly imprisoned in Hong Kong, costing him his career, his
marriage and the right to see his daughter. Intent on restoring his
life and relationship with his estranged daughter (guest star
Valerie Tian), Chang returns home to San Francisco to take over a
martial arts school from his mentor, Master Li (Mako), and meets a
group of teenage students who need his guidance.

Chang finds his hands full as angry Tory Stratton (Missy Peregrym)
plots to find her father's killer, brooding Trip Brady (Corey
Sevier) tries to defend himself against his abusive father (guest
star Richard Tyson) and shy Allie Bennett (Sarah Carter) attempts to
make a move on oblivious hipster Bryan Lanier (Ray J).

Creator-executive producer Robert Mark Kamen (author of the "Karate
Kid" movies) wrote the episode, which was directed by James Marshall.

As with "Kung Fu," the dialogue can be enjoyed as camp, intended or
not.