GRADE-A BEEFS Rock's childhood traumas (as dramatized by Williams, left) make for great TV

Everybody Hates Chris Photograh by Justin Stephens

Everybody Hates Chris

THE PLOT Comedian/movie star/Oscar host/EW funniest person in America Chris Rock shows what life was like before becoming Mr. Big Famous Guy, narrating this sitcom based on his life as a 13-year-old growing up in Brooklyn, circa 1982.... Hold on a second — 13? In 1982? Last we checked, Rock was 40. Is there some fuzzy math going on here? ''Of course,'' says Rock. ''It's loosely based on my life. I'm not George Washington. Things don't have to be historically accurate.'' But why not just make it 1978? ''The '70s are so played out,'' he says. ''Then you just end up with Afros and whatever.'' Whatever the year, young Chris (played by Tyler James Williams) has to contend with a penny-pinching father, ''ghetto snob'' mother, younger — yet taller — brother, and tattling sister. He's also the only black student at Corleone Junior High, suffering at the hand of school bully Joey Caruso, who at one point pelts him with D batteries. ''You know how big a D battery is?'' asks Williams. ''Those things are huge! To get that launched at you — they kind of hurt.''

WHY WE LOVE IT First off, even though it's set in 1982, the show resists the temptation to become a one-note-joke period piece. ''If you didn't know it was set in the '80s, you wouldn't really be able to tell,'' says executive producer Ali LeRoi, Rock's longtime writing partner. ''And I think that having more of a timeless quality to it makes it play better than, 'Hey, remember when we all wore Gumby haircuts!? Look at this — parachute pants!''' And unlike other dysfunctional-family comedies that think being loud equals laughs, Chris is money when it comes to delivering the funny. ''It's not just about being shocking,'' says LeRoi. ''If we can't find a funny way to approach that sort of material, then we'll leave it off the table.''

Williams (who is best known for sweepin' the clouds away on Sesame Street) is pitch-perfect as the poor young teen. ''It's not the happiest neighborhood in the world,'' Williams says of the difference between his previous and current shows. ''You don't have Big Bird walking down the street saying 'Hello.' Instead, you got guys saying 'Give me your money!'''

WHAT IT'S UP AGAINST Alias (ABC), Survivor (CBS), The O.C. (Fox), Joey (NBC), Smallville (The WB)

WHAT'S NEXT In one upcoming episode, Chris gets hung out to dry at the Laundromat by his little sister, and in another, Chris' mom acquires a book of food stamps she's too embarrassed to use. And then there's the Halloween installment, in which Chris goes to a party dressed as...Prince? ''I had on the high-heel boots, the broaches, the frilly shirt, and the mustache and wig,'' says Williams. ''Everyone on set was laughing — everybody.'' (Wonder why.) One thing not to expect: an Adam Sandler cameo as the zany substitute teacher. Rock's not interested in hitting up his famous friends for guest spots. ''I don't really like guest stars,'' he says. ''I hate when you have a celebrity on, and some horrible scene is written for them to walk in and get applause, and it has nothing to do with the episode.'' You mean like every single episode of Will & Grace over the past three seasons? ''Yeah, I don't play that. I'm in the comedy business, not the guest-star business.''

—Dalton Ross