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Years ago, Americans fell in love with Kevin Arnold on "The Wonder Years." The tender coming-of-age story captured the innocence of youth and the early 1960s. It was a time of change and growth, narrated by an adult Kevin to provide the experience necessary to understand many of life's moments.

Fox's new sitcom "Oliver Beene" tries to recapture that wondrous feel.

Like "The Wonder Years," "Oliver Beene" revolves around a pre-adolescent boy whose geeky demeanor and insecurities fuel the storylines. "Oliver" also is narrated by an adult Oliver and is set in the early 1960s. But that is where the comparison ends.

Like most copies, "Oliver Beene" lacks the warmth and crispness that made "The Wonder Years" a classic.

"Oliver" tries to inject modern attitudes into a different era. Instead of the innocence and decorum that infused the early 1960s, "Oliver's" characters are quick with crass jokes and obsessed with sex. Instead of copying the Arnold family, the Beenes actually look to "Malcolm in the Middle" for inspiration.

Eleven-year-old Oliver (Grant Rosenmeyer) stumbles his way through life, wishing that his family could be more like the typical middle class. His family lives in an un-airconditioned apartment in Queens, N.Y., where Dad believes that the steamy terrace is a summer paradise. Dad (Grant Shaud) is a dentist who is more concerned with making money than being with his family. His goal of joining the local beach club is fueled by his attempt to expand his client list rather than provide his family with fun memories.

Mom (Wendy Makkena) is willing to do anything to impress others. She listens to recordings on how to improve one's speech and laugh so that she will fit in at the beach club. She worries that her swimsuit is out of date and that her hair may not be flashy enough. Oliver's older brother Ted (Andrew Lawrence) considers himself a hunk who should be irresistible to girls. He is willing to do anything to get a girl, even "learning" about the fairer sex by having an affair with an older woman.

Even Oliver's friends are not immune to modern conventions. Michael (Taylor Emerson) is already a closet homosexual at the age of 11. He reveals his sexual inclinations by his love of dance and Judy Garland musicals, not to mention that he dresses his miniature dog. Joyce (Daveigh Chase) is the intellectual of the group, although she regularly attends therapy.

Although "Oliver Beene" claims to be set in 1962, the only hints of that time period are the hairstyles and clothing. Beyond that, the show forgoes adapting any political or social motifs to the storylines.

Unlike Kevin Arnold, Oliver doesn't fret about the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, or how his family will be affected by social developments. Oliver worries about how to impress the beautiful Bonnie, the girl who consistently witnesses his most embarrassing moments.

In addition to narration by the adult Oliver (David Cross), "Oliver Beene" uses flashbacks and dream sequences to enhance and reveal the characters' motivations. These devices are cleverly used to enhance what would otherwise be boring stories.

Rosenmeyer is adorable as a boy struggling to deal with what is probably the most awkward time for boys. And it is rather surprising to see Lawrence, who has grown considerably since he starred in the sitcom "Brotherly Love" with his two older brothers, Joey and Matthew.

Beyond the performance of the young actors and the 1960s setting, there is not much to distinguish "Oliver Beene" from other second-rate family sitcoms.

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