TV Reviews : Young and Restless ‘Down the Shore’

It takes all types--as a law--to populate an ensemble sitcom, and the six young people who share a Jersey beach house together each weekend in the new series “Down the Shore” (premiering Sunday at 9:30 p.m. on Fox Channel 11) cover the spectrum of TV humanity, from gorgeous ice queen to virginal fat fellow.

The premiere, in fact, has just those two unlikely bedfellows getting together. While the others venture out for fireworks on the Fourth, blond bombshell Arden (Anna Gunn), drunk after being stood up by her workaholic lawyer lover, takes pity on the overweight and socially ungraced Eddie (Tom McGowan), deflowering him just in time to have the tryst discovered by the incredulous returning housemates.

This is played about as shallowly as it sounds, but not without a creditable share of pungent, knowing laughs amid the predictably naughty-minded gunk. Next week’s episode, in which stock lothario Aldo (Louis Mandylor) gets his comeuppance at the hands of a one-night-stand in a “Fatal Attraction” takeoff, is much funnier. You won’t respect yourself for having watched it come the fall, but consider it cotton candy for the summer season.

The show earns extra points for having as its theme song Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes’ Jersey classic “I Don’t Wanna Go Home,” which almost engenders enough instant good will to make up for a multitude of sitcom sins.