I was all set to dismiss “Plain Jane” (8 p.m., CW) when I found myself slightly amused and minimally charmed. Given my low expectations for a CW summer replacement, I’ve got to give it a passing grade.

“Jane” is based on the premise of any number of cookie-cutter chick flicks about dowdy damsels too shy and insecure to express their love to the guy they’ve had a crush on for eons. By the end of these films, our “Janes” turn themselves into beauties and end up happily ever-aftering with the beau who sort of liked them in the first place. The fact that some of these “Janes” have been played by Drew Barrymore, Renee Zellweger and Jennifer Connelly makes their metamorphosis from duckling into swan pretty easy to understand.

CW’s “Jane” is hosted by fashion expert Louise Roe, who, like every expert on television for the past decade, sports a British accent. In every episode, a nice, shy fashion disaster with self-esteem issues sends Roe an Internet video and begs to be saved from lonely Saturday nights. Each “Jane” episode sports the usual quotient of makeover moments and visits to fancy Hollywood boutiques, hair dressers and makeup salons that no mere mortal could possibly afford.

Roe also takes a page from the Tony Robbins playbook, challenging her proteges to face the deep-set fears that keep them from finding from their inner Cinderella.

In one case, our “Jane” exhibits an irrational fear of snails, so Roe takes her to a French restaurant, and before you can say, “You-Escargot-Girl!” she’s a new woman.

As in the movies that inspired it, the big payoff on “Jane” is both predictable and a bit of a let down. “Jane” and her secret crush meet surrounded by so many candles and flowers that you’d swear an episode of “The Bachelor” had just broken out. And if you actually watch this with your brain engaged (not recommended), you’ll know that he knows that he’s being followed around by a bevy of cameras. What’s he going to say? I still just want to be friends?

While “Plain Jane” airs for an hour, each makeover fits into a 30-minute segment. Anything longer would be torture.

• Oil-spill woes loom large as cable’s favorite exterminator roots out critters on “Billy the Exterminator” (9 p.m., A&E).

• This season, “Countdown to Hard Knocks” (10 p.m., HBO) will follow the NY Jets pre-season training camp as they prepare to follow-up on their strong 2009 season.

Tonight’s other highlights

• The top six perform together again on “So You Think You Can Dance” (7 p.m., Fox). Last week the judges saved a contestant from elimination. As a result, two will get the hook tomorrow night.

• Phil’s Facebook find freaks him out on “Modern Family” (8 p.m., ABC).

• The guys cast a skeptical eye on an alien abduction case on “Psych” (8 p.m., USA).

• “Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman” (9 p.m., Science) examines the mysteries of dark matter.

• “Man Shops Globe” (9 p.m., Sundance) visits Sweden.

Cult choice

Christian Bale stars in “American Psycho” (7 p.m., IFC), the hyperviolent 2000 satire of consumerism and status based on Bret Easton Ellis’s controversial novel.