Disney Channel's latest bid for tween TV domination is "Phil of the Future," a live-action comedy with similar rhythms to shows that have come before, especially "Lizzie McGuire" and "Even Stevens."

This time the story centers on Phil Diffy (Ricky Ullman), a 15-year-old from the future. Irritatingly, the first of four episodes airing tonight, beginning at 7, offers nothing in the way of set-up except for a brief explainer by way of the Krofft-like opening credits.

Evidently Phil and his family lived in the year 2121 and during a vacation back in time they somehow got stuck in our present. Press notes advise that "while waiting to return home, the Diffys struggle to keep their secret" but there's no struggling with their uniqueness in tonight's first episode. (Future episodes will air Fridays at 7.) What do you want to bet Disney is holding back their arrival-in-the-present story for the inevitable feature film?

Phil uses a gadget called the "insta-morph" to make himself look like a boy his neighbor friend Keely (Alyson Michalka) is dating to prove the boy is cheating on her. At the same time, Phil's sister, Pim (Amy Bruckner), schemes to break up her friend and the girl's annoyingly cloying boyfriend.

There are tears, laughs, platitudes about friendship and a tendency to punctuate every line of dialogue with sound effects or a tinkle of music. Kids will eat it up, parents won't be horrified.

'Fatherhood'

Nick at Nite's first animated series is based on the Bill Cosby book of the same name, and for everyone who likes to complain that there's nothing for families to watch together, "Fatherhood" (9 p.m. Sunday; regular time period will be 9 p.m. Tuesdays starting June 29) should come as a welcome throwback.

Created and executive produced by Cosby and Charles Kipps ("Little Bill," "The Cosby Mysteries"), who wrote Sunday's premiere, "Fatherhood" comes off as sort of an animated version of "The Cosby Show," depicting gentle but meaningful life lessons in ways both funny and completely free from the coarseness that pervades so much of prime time.

Dr. Arthur Bindlebeep (voice of Blair Underwood) and his wife, Norma (Sabrina LeBeauf, "The Cosby Show"), are busy raising three children but still take time for a morning walk together. In the premiere, the whole family visits Arthur's parents, the fastidious Louise (Ruby Dee) and the spry Lester (Lou Rawls). Teenage Angie (Giovonnie Samuels) is bored, scheming Roy (Marc John Jeffries) tries to get some cash from his grandparents, but little Katherine (Jamai Fisher) is too unspoiled to want anything but their love.

With gentle humor and a fair bit of love, the children and their parents learn a little, grow a little, laugh a little and love a little. It's not groundbreaking, it's definitely not cutting-edge, but "Fatherhood" is a welcome respite, the perfect Father's Day gift to TV viewers.