A love-in for "Everybody Hates Chris"

Tour always presents us with one pilot, one ray of hope, that makes it all worthwhile. And for that service, critics repay said show's producers, writers and stars by filling all the seats in the room, bombarding panelists with questions, and laughing to the verge of losing bladder control.

Then we pray that subsequent episodes don't swirl into a toilet bowl.

Tyler Williams stars as Chris in "Everybody Hates Chris."

This year's object of affection was Chris Rock's UPN comedy "Everybody Hates Chris," a charming tale based on a childhood filled with family love and playground beatings.

I'm telling you, if viewers like "Everybody Hates Chris" half as much as the people in the room liked the session, Rock and UPN have it made. Except for the fact that it's up against the Thursday night lineups on NBC, CBS and Fox.

This may be the only show in which an actress like Tichina Arnold ("Martin") can say, "Television needs this show right now, because I think this show is refreshing. It's heartfelt" -- and we curmudgeons actually agree with her. "Joey's" folks could never get away with that.

"Everybody Hates Chris," which premieres Sept. 22 at 8 p.m., is equal parts '80s homage, family comedy and warm nostalgia. We should say, aside from classmates slinging ugly racial epithets at little Chris before a mob chases him to the bus ... yeah, there's warmth there.

Rock said that stuff really did happen. The only difference, as he tells it, is that the TV character fights back with his words. In reality he just took the punches, which isn't as funny.

It was reported that Rock developed the pilot with Fox. The network ultimately passed on it, fearing that the comedian would withdraw his involvement after the show was picked up.

Rock responded to that notion by saying, "I've been working a while. I don't think I've ever walked out on anything; I don't think there's any evidence of that.

"My name's Rock, not Chappelle," he added. "Are you confusing me with another skinny black man? What have I walked out on?"

Then things really got going.

On his upbringing: "I grew up in a very loving two-parent household, in the middle of one of the worst ghettos in New York City, Bedford-Stuyvesant," he told us.

"I had so much love in my household. It was really weird -- I didn't know I lived in the ghetto until I was like, 19. I came to L.A. with Eddie Murphy and stayed in hotels and all that stuff. And I got back, and I saw what my neighborhood looked like, and I started getting scared."

On what other titles were considered: "'Let's Shoot Chris in the Head.' Couldn't get that one by the censors ...'Mad About Chris Rock.' 'Rockfeld.'"

On how he cast Tyler James Williams as his younger self: "How did it go? OK, I was at Michael Jackson's house, right? I'm leaving, and I'm in the driveway and this kid runs out yelling, 'WAIT! DON'T LEAVE ME!'"

The real answer: "Tyler was the funniest kid we could find. He's the funniest kid in the country, really. Trust me. There are a lot of unfunny kids out there that need to work on their comedy."

Someone asked the boy if he had ever been in Michael Jackson's house.

"No ... and I don't plan to."

That brings us to Williams. Before "Everybody Hates Chris," the most famous name he had worked with was Big Bird on "Sesame Street." Yet somehow, Williams managed to get Rock's mannerisms and comedic timing down without even trying.

"I like Chris Rock," the 12-year-old said. "But it wasn't until the audition process that I really started to think of how good of an actor he was."

Rock nodded solemnly, pulled out his wallet, and handed his younger self a $20 bill. Williams pocketed it without missing a beat.

And that was when Tour hit its apex. It can only go downhill from here.