I loved the 1999 ABC series Cupid, starring Jeremy Piven and Paula Marshall. It was a delightful modern version of the Love Boat-style romantic anthology show, with a strong enough cast of ongoing characters to avoid some of the Incredible Hulk new-town-each-week ennui that makes me avoid most Fugitive knock-offs on general principle.

Someone at ABC must have loved it, too. Because although the original show was on the wrong network at the wrong time, today’s ABC — which seems like a better fit for such a show, what with the success of Grey’s Anatomy and its ilk — has revived Cupid and is giving it another go.

Well, not revived. Jeremy Piven is busy chewing scenery on Entourage these days. So instead we get Bobby Cannavale in the Piven role, as Trevor, a bachelor matchmaker who may or may not be Cupid, the god of love, banished to Earth by an angry Zeus. And Sarah Paulson of Studio 60 infamy is Claire, the psychologist who is Trevor’s keeper and antagonist. (New York subs for Chicago this time around, too, which is a shame, because I’m awfully tired of shows set in New York and L.A.)

It’s a clever conceit. Not only is there a light fantasy element to the whole is-he-a-god thing, but Claire and Trevor can endlessly joust about whether love is all hormoney and chemical (Trevor’s side) or all about finding an appropriate mate using cool logic rather than emotion (Claire’s take). That the reality of love is firmly in between makes their tug of war so much fun.

For those who remember the original, well, yeah, this one’s probably not as good, at least in terms of the cast. That’s mostly because Piven as Trevor was one of the best pairings of actor to role in TV history. But Cannavale’s take on the god of love is not an attempt to ape Piven, and he’s pretty good. So is Paulsen, who doesn’t push my buttons like Paula Marshall does — I don’t care if she’s a showkiller, she’s just so purty! — but executes the melting-ice-queen bit with a lot of flair.

What I’m not clear on is why, after all this, ABC chose to not promote Cupid, which premiered this week to disappointing ratings. It’s a great match for its shows with strong female audiences, and I think guys would like it too. There’s no way to know whether the new Cupid will get better or worse after its pilot episode, but the format is just so solid, and the producers are talented. (Original Cupid creator Rob Thomas, late of Veronica Mars, is back aboard.)

Is Cupid cutting-edge drama? Not on your life. Like its predecessor, it’s a light, funny romantic comedy with a touch of drama. That’s fine. These days, I think we could all use a little more comfortable romantic comedy in our lives. It’s comfort food, served up on a platter by the god of love.

Cupid airs Tuesdays at 10 on ABC, and is available to stream on ABC’s web site.