When the opening scene of a sitcom relies on a fart joke, any high expectations you have that this is going to be a good show vanish into thin air. I already had weak expectations of CBS new comedy “Bob Hearts Abishola“. It stars former “Mike & Molly” star Billy Gardell who is basically playing the same character he played in his former show. Sure Mike Biggs was a Chicago police officer and this guy lives in Detroit and owns a sock company but in all other respects this is still Mike Biggs. He retains his Chicago accent that makes him sound like he could be on an SNL sketch sitting at a bar talking about rooting for “Da Bears”.

This “new” character Bob (we don’t learn his last name) is being wheeled into the hospital having a heart attack. He is accompanied by his overbearing mother played by former SNL alum Christine Ebersole, his brother Douglas played by Matt Jones, and his sister Christina played by Maribeth Monroe. Jones has been recently seen in “Mom” as Christy’s ex-husband. Monroe recently appeared in several episodes of “The Good Place“.

After Bob has stint surgery, he recovers and is cared for by a nurse named Abishola who is from Nigeria. She is played by Folake Olowofoyeku. That actress actually grew up in Nigeria so her accent is authentic. Her resume lists mostly bit parts. Bob gets an immediate attraction for her and then offers to give her a pair of his superior socks that his company sells. After leaving the hospital, he tracks her down and gives her the gift. The rest of the episode introduces her parents, her son about 10 years old, and gives you further insight into Bob’s overbearing mother and wacky brother and sister.

Unlike “Mike & Molly”, there really is no chemistry between Bob and Abishola. There is a sort of a cuteness factor about the entire scenario but it just doesn’t have much appeal. The story of their relationship really doesn’t get very far in a half-hour pilot. Perhaps after a couple of episodes the relationship will become more interesting. It’s kind of too soon to tell.

For now I’m giving this one a very weak rating of “Could Be Watchable” but I probably will not stick with it more than another one or two episodes unless it really shows me something special.