TV Reviews : ‘Lassie’: The Dog With a Difference Returns With Ego

She’s heroic, clever and kind--and yes, “she” is still really a “he.” It’s that canine wonder, that defender of the weak and champion of the good: tonight, MCA-TV’s new “Lassie” series begins on Channel 9 at 6:30 p.m.

Press releases promise a “ ‘90s flavor,” but the premiere episode proves you can go home again. From theme music to simple plot, the formula is as cozy and familiar as your old Davy Crockett cap.

Well, maybe Lassie has changed just a tad. She’s developed something of an ego over the years, it seems. She has full-color dreams of deeds of derring-do, like rescuing small animals from danger.

But the rest of the changes are superficial. The setting is now suburban rather than rural and the family is larger. Mom and Dad are played by real-life marrieds Dee Wallace Stone and Christopher Stone; their offspring are 10-year-old Will (Will Nipper) and 14-year-old Megan (Wendy Cox).

But Jon Provost, who was Timmy on the series from 1957 to 1964, is back. He’ll make frequent appearances as Uncle Steve. And an upcoming show will feature June Lockhart, who was Provost’s mom on the old series.

Tonight, Uncle Steve is all alone in the hills, seriously wounded by a careless hunter. Lassie will come to the rescue, of course, but first she must deal with a bum rap that lands her in the custody of the gung-ho dogcatcher. With Will’s help she makes a jailbreak and teaches the animal-control officer a lesson.

“I meet a lot of dogs in my business,” he says contritely, “but this one is different.”

Deja vu , anyone?