‘Ed’ Keeps the Laughs Rolling Along

You may remember the situation in Stuckeyville.

Big-city lawyer Ed Stevens (Tom Cavanagh), who came home and bought the local bowling alley, is stuck on Carol Vessey (Julie Bowen), his high school pal who now teaches English. Carol is still stuck there in the safe surroundings of the Midwestern town where she grew up.

In the premiere of Season 2 tonight (8 p.m., NBC), an ex-flame enters Ed’s life, while a dastardly new principal takes over Carol’s school, promising to make her days more miserable than mundane.

Ed’s earnest but clumsy efforts to finally articulate his feelings for Carol, even as he wrestles with a renewed longing for Bonnie (Rena Sofer, in a return guest role), form the main story line. In court, meanwhile, Ed defends Warren (Justin Long), the trembling teenage version of himself, after a beer bash goes awry.

Some may think of this droll comedy-drama as ersatz “Northern Exposure,” but viewers who don’t need their humor spoon-fed with a laugh track appear to be in for another fun year. “Ed” helps form what might be the best slate on prime time with “The West Wing” and “Law & Order.”

Though tonight’s episode introduces a few wrinkles, what’s most reassuring is how little has changed in Stuckeyville. At the pie shop, you can still get all you can eat for six bucks. Ed still has to explain to everyone that he is not a “bowling alley lawyer” per se (“I’m a lawyer and I own a bowling alley--two separate things”). And Phil (Michael Ian Black), his scheming manager at Stuckey Bowl, is still up to no good.

It’s nice to be back here.