The first thing for Pittsburgh viewers to know about ABC's "Romantically Challenged" is that it does not feel Pittsburgh-y.

The version of tonight's premiere (9:30 p.m., WTAE) made available for review contained no establishing shots of our fair city, and while that could change in the final cut that airs tonight, the only script reference to Pittsburgh came in the form of a fictitious museum (Pittsburgh Museum of Applied Arts). Anyone expecting efforts at realism like those made by the creators of the canceled "Three Rivers" will be disappointed in this premiere.

The second and more important thing to know is that "Romantically Challenged" feels like it was beamed in from the mid-'90s, a leftover hammock show that would have filled time on NBC's Thursday night schedule while viewers waited for "Friends" or "Seinfeld" to come on (think: "The Single Guy" or "Union Square").

"Romantically Challenged" is an ensemble comedy that's supposedly centered on divorced mom Rebecca (Alyssa Milano), but the show's focus often drifts to her two friends, workaholic Perry (Kyle Bornheimer) and his writer roommate Shawn (Josh Lawson).

Tonight Rebecca's sister, Lisa (Kelly Stables), attempts to incite gay panic in her straight male friends: Shawn feels like a kept man because he allows Perry to pay all their living expenses; Lisa compares their relationship to a "non-consensual prison romance."

"You know who else is an accommodating person?" Lisa says. "The smallest guy in prison."

"Dancing With the Stars" delivers millions of older viewers to "Romantically Challenged" and it's tough to imagine these folks will find much to laugh at in this comedy.

Relationship-minded Rebecca makes a futile effort to have a one-night stand despite Lisa's best efforts to thwart that.

"I was with Steven for so long," Rebecca says. "There were not a lot of one-night stands in junior high."

"Speak for yourself," Lisa chimes in.

Acclaimed TV comedy director James Burrows ("Cheers," "Will & Grace") is helming "Romantically Challenged" but the script he's given tonight is well beneath his talent. You have to hope scripts will improve in the future but the show is likely to be challenged in efforts to woo viewers back after they watch this weak debut.

TV columnist Rob Owen's Tuned In+ is featured exclusively on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.