Who is this “everybody” that sitcom producers refer to so freely? They all love Raymond. They all hate Chris.

It appears, however, that “everybody” doesn’t necessarily know what they’re talking about, because Everybody Hates Chris is a very cute and clever small gem of a sitcom. Perhaps most unusual about the show is its very broad appeal, something UPN sitcoms have struggled to achieve in the past.

The show is narrated and produced by Chris Rock and inspired by his experiences growing up in a tough, working-class Brooklyn neighborhood. Tyler James Williams plays Rock at age 13. He is clearly talented – with a gift for comedic timing that far exceeds many of his child-star peers – and his acting style fits well with Rock’s slightly manic narration.

Rock decided to add “director” to his list of credits on the show, taking the helm for the episode that aired April 13. Young Chris gets picked on at the mostly-white high school his parents force him to attend, and he plots to get himself expelled so he can attend the school in his neighborhood.

Though it sometimes relies on overly-obvious gags or driving a joke too hard, most of the episode was well-paced, good-hearted and occasionally irreverent (much like the show itself).

When Chris thinks about life at the mostly-black high school he wants to attend, he imagines classes are like an episode of Soul Train, with a year’s supply of “Black Fro Sheen” given if he answers a question correctly. In one attempt to get kicked out of his present school, he tags a wall with “Chris Was Hear.” His teacher walks by and only lightly admonishes him to spell correctly next time.

The episode deals with touchy subjects like race and family relations without being heavy-handed, and the humor was enough to make the show watchable despite your usual television preference. It’s a nice return to sweet, nostalgic shows with just enough wickedness to ensure its longevity.

– Alex Apatoff