The sitcom is based on the 2011 film starring Cameron Diaz (also one of the sitcom's producers) as a gold-digging teacher from hell. [...] the news prompts her to get a job as a teacher in order to meet rich, single dads so she can continue the lifestyle to which she's become accustomed. At every turn, Meredith's plan to land a hunky meal ticket is short-circuited by her inner warmth and concern for the underdog - particularly a friend's stepdaughter, Lily (Sara Rodier), too smart to be treated with respect by the school "mean girls." In addition to Rodier as a kind of flesh-and-blood Lisa Simpson, Grace Kaufman does a superb job as Bronwen, the daughter of a wealthy real estate mogul who wants to date Meredith but only if his daughter approves. David Wiegand is The San Francisco Chronicle's executive features editor and TV critic.