ABC made one of its worst decisions in the history of the network when it cancelled “Happy Endings” in May 2013. Although it followed the “friends hanging out” ensemble storyline that originated by “Friends” and was mimicked in many follow-ups, “Happy Endings” had its own magic due mostly in part to the phenomenal chemistry between the six members of the cast.

A little more than a year later, all of the members of the main cast have found new homes. Adam Pally fled to “The Mindy Project” while Damon Wayans Jr. returned to “New Girl.” Now Casey Wilson just saw her new project premiere on NBC.

“Marry Me,” created by David Caspe, who also created “Happy Endings” and is now married to Wilson, follows the life of Annie, played by Wilson, and Jake, played by Ken Marino, a delight, after a proposal six years in the making. Rounding out the main cast are Sarah Wright as Dennah, Annie’s single friend, John Gemberling as Gil and Tymberlee Hill as Kay, the couple’s neighbor.

The cast, particularly Wilson and Marino, have chemistry that, while not quite at the “Happy Endings” level, has the potential to get there over the course of the season. Gil is the most fleshed out of the secondary characters, as the topic of his divorce weighs heavily on every interaction he has with the other characters. It will be interesting to see how Dennah and Kay are defined. Right now they seem to be floating in the peripherals, waiting for a storyline that’s more than just botched botox and dating app hijinks.

Although the comparison to “Happy Endings” will probably help build the audience base — it is, after all, the main reason I was excited for this show in the first place — I think “Marry Me” is going to have to develop its own identity if it wants to survive. Right now Wilson is essentially playing the same character she was in “Happy Endings,” albeit a little further down the line in terms of relationship commitments. That’s not a bad thing, but I would like to see her become something new, and her scenes with Marino really bring out the best in their characters.

Overall “Marry Me” is an enjoyable experience. Caspe’s writing remains hilarious, and the cast seems built to last. Expect NBC to hold on to this one for a while.

Bottom Line: Casey Wilson has hopefully found her happy ending with “Marry Me.”

3.5/5