Let's make one thing perfectly clear right off the top — there are no monkeys in the new CBS series "Love Monkey" (premiering Tuesday, 8 p.m., Ch. 2).

This is not some story about a big ape who falls in love with a much-smaller woman. You'll have to go to a movie theater near you to see that story.

"Love Monkey" is a thoroughly charming new TV series about a thoroughly charming guy (played by the thoroughly charming Tom Cavanagh of "Ed") who's looking for love in the big, bad jungle — New York City.

Cavanagh stars as Tom Ferrell, a thirtysomething guy who's still hanging out with his pals (Jason Priestly, Larenz Tate and Christopher Wiehl) and playing the field. He sort of yearning to find love and settle down, but he's not sure how to do that. And he's not sure that's what he really wants.

But, as his platonic female friend Bran (Judy Greer) tells him, he's in danger of ending up as "one lonely monkey" if he doesn't change his ways.

The TV show is based on the novel by Kyle Smith, but there's been one big change — in the book, Tom worked for a tabloid newspaper; in the TV show, he's a music executive. (It's certainly an understandable change. Gee, I'd be bored with a show about a guy who works at a newspaper.)

Changing the premise to the music scene also allows for a slew of real-life music stars to make appearances. Teddy Geiger, whose debut CD is scheduled for release in March (by Sony, which — coincidentally? — is producing the show) guest stars in the first couple of episodes as a promising young talent Tom is trying to sign. And look for appearances by Leann Rimes, Paul Shaffer, Ben Folds, Aimee Mann, James Blunt and Robbers on High Street.

Music is a big part of who Tom is — he has a tendency to quote song lyrics, and he seemingly knows the words to every song since rock 'n' roll began.

But "Love Monkey" is not about music, it's about the lives of these people. I hesitate to call the characters offbeat, if only because they're more like real people than most characters on prime-time TV shows.

"Love Monkey" marks both a major departure and a major homecoming for CBS.

It's not a blood-and-guts crime procedural, which is a huge change from what fills up so much of the network's prime-time schedule. It is a slower-paced, quirky comedy with drama (or is that drama with comedy?) that recalls CBS's "Northern Exposure." It's as much (or more) about the characters than it is about the plot.

And none of those plots involve gruesome murders.

Hurrah for that!

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E-mail: pierce@desnews.com