The characters in "Jack & Bobby" are a lot like the people you see every day — you like a lot of them, love some of them, are less than crazy about others . . . and sometimes you just can't believe the decisions they make along the way.

To say that the characters that populate this show are flawed would be an understatement.

On the other hand, they sometimes act so nobly you just want to give them a big hug.

"Jack & Bobby" (8 p.m., Ch. 30) has already proven itself to be one of the few network series that's brave enough to deal with religion. We know that Grace (Christine Lahti) is not only an atheist but pretty openly antagonistic toward religion of any kind. But her younger son, Bobby (Logan Lerman) has not only been searching for a religion, he's found one — he wants to be baptized a member of the Episcopal Church.

(Regular viewers know that, before he enters politics en route to becoming president of the United States in 2041, Bobby will begin his adult life as a minister.)

Not only does Grace minimize Bobby's desires in tonight's episode — titled "A Child of God" — but his adopted father figure, Peter (John Slattery), wants nothing to do with church for reasons of his own.

Meanwhile, Jack's ex-girlfriend, Missy (Kerry Lynn Pratt), tells him she's pregnant, and he's the father. They're both devastated — and it's as good a cautionary tale for teens as you'll ever see on TV. Missy's father, Rev. Belknap (Ed Begley Jr.), has reactions that range from bad to worse. Which eventually leaves Missy with no one to turn to but Grace.

It would be easy to selectively edit this episode and make it appear anti-religion. Looking only to comments made by Grace, Jack and Peter and the behavior of Rev. Belknap, you could certainly make that case.

But that's juxtaposed with the sincere search of a 14-year-old boy. And the calm yet inspirational words and behavior of Bobby's minister (Mary Kay Place).

Without giving too much away, the episode ends with a juxtaposition of Bobby's baptism and Missy dealing with her pregnancy. And some of the same characters whose behavior you want to stand up and applaud turn around and do things that will leave your mouth hanging open in surprise. And not because you're pleasantly surprised.

There are going to be repercussions from what happens for a long time to come.

But isn't that the way it works in real life?

---

E-mail: pierce@desnews.com