‘Grace’ Could Use ‘Wonder’ Magic

Imagine “The Wonder Years” reconfigured for two irrepressible girls and you have the familiar premise for “State of Grace,” a sweet yet unsatisfying Fox Family series that is equal parts drama and comedy.

Set in 1965, the low-key premiere pairs the modest, unassuming Hannah Rayburn (Alia Shawkat) with free-spirited, adventurous Grace McKee (Mae Whitman), 12-year-olds from very different backgrounds who meet at a Catholic girls school in North Carolina.

Pushy and wealthy, Grace invites herself to Hannah’s house, where she meets her new friend’s protective Jewish parents (Dinah Manoff and Michael Mantell).

In spite of her unusual bluntness (“I always wanted to be tortured for my faith,” Grace declares in improbable fashion at the Rayburn’s dinner table), this rich kid is quickly embraced by the family, which promptly turns Hannah green with envy.

Meanwhile, the show’s wry voice-overs are provided by narrator Frances McDormand, who is fondly looking back at her childhood with a measure of humor, sentiment and perspective as the adult Hannah.

The opener has some endearing moments underscored by soft, nostalgic tunes, and there are certainly pleasant performances, most notably by Shawkat and Mantell, but that wasn’t quite enough to hook me.

Tonight’s second episode features Faye Grant, who’s a bit over the top as Grace’s glamorous, chain-smoking mother, a veritable life of the party.

Perhaps young girls and their mothers will relate to this coming-of-age series, but we’ll stick to repeats of the “Wonder Years” with Kevin, Winnie and the gang which have aged, um, gracefully.

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“State of Grace” can be seen tonight at 9 and 9:30 on Fox Family. The network has rated these episodes TV-PG (may be unsuitable for young children).

Surf Report

SPECIALS

Harvard professor Nancy Etcoff examines the definition of beauty in “Survival of the Prettiest” (9 p.m. Discovery Channel), a program based on her book of the same name.

“Empires of Industry” (9 p.m. nightly through Thursday, History Channel) goes behind the scenes of America’s biggest businesses. It opens with an effervescent look at “The Cola Wars.”

SPORTS

Opening-round Wimbledon coverage begins today at 8 a.m. on TNT, with Pete Sampras and Venus Williams set to defend their singles titles.

The Dodgers open a three-game series against the Giants in San Francisco (7 p.m. KTLA).