The Tease: 'Everybody Hates Chris'

In the first season of the sitcom based on comedian Chris Rock's childhood, his on-screen alter ego could never get a break. Poor Chris (Tyler James Williams). Being a teenager was hard enough, but when he had to move to a new neighborhood, that meant going to a new school and making new enemies.

It didn't help that Drew (Taquan Richmond), his younger brother by a year, was taller, better looking and able to charm the neighborhood girls, especially Keisha (Aree Davis), the girl Chris was crushing on. But like James Bond, with each new adventure comes a new woman.

As the second season opens, it's 1984 and Keisha's family is moving clear across the country to sunny Compton. Our hero turns his eyes to new girl Yvette (Cherrelle Noyd), even though Drew warns, "You don't want to mess with her. I heard she'd go out with anybody." Chris likes his chances.

Thanks to a healthy spritz of five-dollar Drakkar Noir, Chris secures his date with Yvette to see "Footloose," but soon realizes that with her bad attitude, she's not worth the effort. Now what's a hormone-driven teen to do?

Meanwhile, Whoopi Goldberg makes a guest appearance as the new neighbor Louise Clarkson, who is horrified by th rising crime in Bed-Stuy. She and Rochelle (Tichina Arnold) start out butting heads, and things get even more antagonistic when Rochelle is elected the neighboorhood's block watch captain after serving a tasty pie at the meeting.

It's great to see Ms. I-Ain't-Raisin'-No-Babies Rochelle meet her match. Goldberg will return for at least one more episode since she's also the grandmother of Chris' newest love interest, Tasha (Paige Hurd).

The season premiere is a promising beginning for the new season, with plenty of nostalgic moments, genuine observations and lovely '80s fashions. Although it's short on the usual family interaction, no doubt that will be remedied through the rest of the season.

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