Lies Are No Slam-Dunk on ‘Bernie’

In real life, Bernie Mac is doing just fine. His show recently won a Peabody Award and was renewed for a second season.

But on tonight’s episode of “The Bernie Mac Show” (9 p.m. Fox), he’s got problems, as usual. That’s what makes this tart, subversive sitcom so much fun.

Tonight’s trouble begins when Bernie enlists the help of his 8-year-old nephew, Jordan (Jeremy Suarez), in deceiving his wife, Wanda (Kellita Smith). The kid fakes an asthma attack so he and his uncle can skulk out to an L.A. Clippers basketball game.

In a cameo after the game, Billy Crystal gloats about his superior seats. At courtside, “I had two rebounds and an assist,” Crystal says.

Back at home, Bernie’s real headaches start as the deception spins out of control.

Jordan sheds any qualms about lying when he learns he can get his way by doing more of it, turning into what Bernie calls an “evil genius.” Bernie can’t expose Jordan because the kid uses the original lie as leverage. The makeshift dad laments, “This ain’t nothing but some blaxploitation.”

But Bernie and Jordan aren’t the only ones bending the truth.

Wanda misses a school play featuring her 5-year-old niece, Bryanna (Dee Dee Davis), because her eyebrow-waxing appointment runs long. “You wouldn’t want your Aunt Wanda walking around with a uni-brow,” she says when busted.

Meanwhile, the eldest niece, 13-year-old Vanessa (Camille Winbush), defies Bernie by sneaking into an R-rated movie.

Little Bryanna is the household’s honest exception. Or is she?

In its imperfection, this is one of the most believable families on TV.

There’s only one thing implausible about tonight’s episode: As if the Clippers would be playing a game in May.