TV Review : ‘Boys’ an Amiable Outing for 2 Sitcom Vets

CBS opens its fall season Sunday with the premiere of an amiable comedy series starring Hal Linden and Suzanne Pleshette as a couple in advanced middle-age whose lives are turned topsy-turvy when their adult sons move back home.

Although its premise is formulaic--unexpected move-ins that produce lifestyle clashes are a sitcom cliche--”The Boys Are Back” is executed with some skill, benefiting from patches of amusing writing that exploit the considerable craft of its two name stars.

Having finally emptied their house of offspring by sending their youngest son off to college, Fred and Jackie Hansen envision a self-indulgent life free of parental worries and responsibilities. Fred even dreams of hitting the high seas with his boat.

But the solitude is short-lived when their two other sons barge in. First comes out-of-work Mike (George Newbern), moving back with his wife and three young kids until he can find another job. Then comes Rick (Kevin Crowley), a policeman who needs a place to stay after his wife has kicked him out.

“The Boys Are Back” is at its worst when Mike’s noisy kids are around, at its best when the two older brothers interact with each other and their parents. Rick: “Mom, have you seen my handcuffs?” Jackie: “They’re in your sock drawer.”

Although nothing to build an evening around, it’s a pleasing start for a comedy that, unlike the preponderance of its rookie counterparts, at least has the potential to grow.

* “The Boys Are Back” premieres at 8 p.m. Sunday, then will be seen Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS (Channels 2 and 8).