‘Lost’ finds its niche as a sweet sitcom

Michael’s boss and best pal, Jordan, tells him about the trouble signs to watch out for in a romantic relationship. “The first sign is the silent car ride. While enjoyable,” Jordan begins, savoring a fond memory, “it is the first sign -- but you’ve still got time.”

That’s the kind of humor you can expect from “Lost at Home,” a wholesome, old-fashioned sitcom about a workaholic dad trying to reconnect with his family, which premieres tonight at 9:30 on ABC.

“Lost at Home” won’t make you laugh as much as, say, “The Bernie Mac Show,” but if the pilot is any guide, it’s amusing and at times touching. On the scale of family sitcoms, it seems closer in quality to “Everybody Loves Raymond” or “Still Standing” than “According to Jim” or “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Daughter.”

The pilot, written by creator Michael Jacobs and directed by Andy Cadiff, lays out the premise and introduces a likable cast.

Ad agency superstar Michael Davis (Mitch Rouse) has lost touch with his family, devoting his time instead to Jordan King (Gregory Hines), the office czar. Michael gets a wake-up call when his wife, Rachel (Connie Britton from “Spin City”), uses the “L” word -- telling him she has seen a lawyer and will seek a divorce unless he slows down to spend more time with her and the kids: Will (Stark Sands), the high school football star; Sara (Leah Pipes), the awkward 13-year-old; and Joshua (Gavin Fink), the obedient 7-year-old.

The cast also features a droll Aaron Hill as Tucker, the sensitive jock who becomes Sara’s closest friend. After football practice, when Michael asks Tucker to tell him about Sara, the lug replies: “I’d be happy to, sir, but in the future we would appreciate it if you would respect the sanctity of the locker room.”

Although, naturally, Michael at first finds himself way out of his element with the family, eventually he gets in touch with his inner Cosby.

Tonight’s sweetest scene comes when he shares breakfast with Joshua, showing him that it’s OK to ask for blueberry pancakes instead of putting up with plain oatmeal. “Lost at Home” won’t break any TV ground, but there is nothing wrong with celebrating life’s simple pleasures.