The Good Place 10 p.m., NBC
Boom. Kristen Bell’s character gets killed by a tractor-trailer in the first minutes of this new comedy, which premieres Monday night and then moves to its regular timeslot on Thursday at 8:30 p.m.
But the series is about the afterlife, in the manner of Albert Brooks’s 1991 movie “Defending Your Life,” so that’s as it should be. She is quickly delivered to heaven, which is a super-civilized, quaint place where everyone is set up with their soulmate.
The twist: She doesn’t belong in heaven — it was some kind of error. In fact, she is a selfish and petty person. So she hides the truth from the cheerful architect of her community, who is played by Ted Danson. And she secretly tries to change, to be a better person, to deserve her cushy place in paradise.
That’s the premise, which is a bit rickety-tickety, and not necessarily filled with potential. And there’s no ensemble magic or great wit afoot, as the rules of heaven are laid out in the premiere.
But I’m nonetheless hoping “The Good Place” will grow into something better, something that relies a little less heavily on Bell and her sometimes irritating shtick.
My hope comes from the fact that “The Good Place” is from Michael Schur, whose resume includes “Parks and Recreation,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” and “The Office.” He has a good ear for the lingo, pacing, and group psychology of ensembles, and perhaps he can refine the show and bring in some stronger supporting players — if “The Good Place” isn’t quickly sent to the TV afterlife, that is.
Matthew Gilbert can be reached at gilbert@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewGilbert.