These days, every network seems to be developing a comedy niche. NBC has its single-camera, deadpan workplace comedies like The Office and 30 Rock; CBS has its laugh-tracked, massively appealing Monday night lineup led by Two and a Half Men; Fox has its Sunday night animation block. ABC, though, has been largely left out of the game, gambling with shows like Cavemen and canceling other series that were wonderfully strange but little-watched (The Knights of Prosperity).

The network did score one bona fide comedy hit with Samantha Who? last Fall, though, and it's possible they have another in Miss Guided, which premieres tonight. The show stars Judy Greer (known best to me as Kitty from Arrested Development) as Becky Freely, a high school guidance counselor who returns to her alma mater for work. Sure, she may have lost the orthodontics and the terrible hair, but Becky is still a high schooler at heart — right down to the sophomoric way she talks to her crush (a Spanish teacher who's just "one language lab ahead" of his students) and cowers in the face of her high school rival, who — of course — has also gotten a job back home.

The show's had a bit of behind-the-scenes turmoil (Office writer Caroline Williams created the show; Rob Thomas of Veronica Mars was brought in to run it; he left just a short time later; now a producer from That '70s Show is in charge, which makes sense because Ashton Kutcher is one of the executive producers). But what's come out of it is a pretty funny sitcom, if you're into goofy, over-the-top, occasionally absurd humor in the style of Arrested Development or even Family Guy, so read more.

Greer completely sells her back-to-high-school role, and even though it's not always clear why Becky is doing some things (say, dancing in her office to show a student how to ask a girl out), I'm willing to go along for the ride. The flashbacks to Becky's high school days are also a highlight; one involving The Sound of Music made me laugh till I cried.

Miss Guided should get a boost from its special premiere tonight at 10:30 p.m. after Dancing with the Stars, but I'm afraid ABC is already planning to burn it off: Two episodes will air each Thursday from 8 to 9 p.m. until they're all gone. It would be great if the show takes off, though; I could see it as a good companion for Samantha Who? — or for my beloved Knights, if only they were still around. Check out a couple of clips from tonight's premiere, and let me know: Will you give the show a try?

Photo copyright 2008 ABC, Inc.