It's 'Summerland' time

There are certainly similarities between the new WB series "Summerland" and the current movie release "Raising Helen" — both are about single women who suddenly find themselves unexpectedly playing the role of mother when they take in their orphaned nieces and nephews.

But while the Kate Hudson movie is a comedy (well, it's supposed to be a comedy), the Lori Loughlin TV series definitely isn't. Not unless you find underage drinking, preteen suicide and various emotional traumas humorous.

Which is not to say that "Summerland" is a downer. It's an intriguing drama in the WB tradition — which is to say focused on young, hip characters.

The big surprise is that Loughlin is so darn good. (Who would've thought from her years in "Full House"? Or her co-starring role on the mercifully short-lived Tony Danza sitcom "Hudson Street"?)

Loughlin stars as Ava, a thirtysomething fashion designer whose biggest problem is her jerk of a boss. But, after striking out on her own early in tonight's two-hour premiere (7 p.m., Ch. 30), her life seems set. A bit flaky, but set.

Until her 16-year-old nephew, Bradin (Jesse McCartney of "All My Children"), crying uncontrollably, calls to say his parents have been killed in an accident. And, much to Ava's surprise, she's been named guardian of Bradin, 12-year-old Nikki (Kay Panabaker) and 8-year-old Derrick (Nick Benson). She takes the Kansas farm kids to live with her in a California beachhouse.

Loughlin herself came up with the idea for the show, which was developed by producer/writers Stephen Tolkin and Remi Aubuchon.

"My original thought was based on this friend of mine who travels and goes to Europe and goes to all these cocktail parties and meets all these fabulous people and can basically handle herself in any situation — except when you put her in a room with children," Loughlin said. "She does not know what she's doing. . . . I thought it would be interesting to play a character that really had this fabulous life, who had her act together but then was handed these children and just didn't know what to do with them."

She does have help, however. Ava is at the center of the most unusual of families. Her beachhouse also houses her three best friends — Johnny (Shawn Christian), Ava's hunky ex-boyfriend; Jay (Ryan Kwanten), a hunky surfer (thus lots of barechested guys — this is the WB, after all); and Susanna (Merrin Dungey), who's also her business partner.