New on the tube

'Bram and Alice' Airs: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, CBS (Channel 5) Stars: Alfred Molina, Traylor Howard, Roger Bart, Katie Finneran, Michael Rispoli Nutshell: From the producers of "Frasier," a promising if undernourished sitcom aimed at the "Frasier" audience. Bram (Molina) is a womanizing, over-the-hill author still living off his fading reputation. Alice (Howard) is his 20-something illegitimate daughter who comes strolling into his life after all these years. He has a thing for younger women, she a thing for older men - and yes, the opening episode does mine that unseemly theme for laughs, although it isn't so terrible as other reviewers would have you believe. (TV Guide called the episode "icky" and "gamy"; aren't those "Simpsons" characters?) The real shortcoming is that other than Bram and Alice and Bram's nebbishy assistant with the gimmicky name of Paul Newman (Bart), the rest of the ensemble feels peripheral. The show is clearly modeled on "Frasier" - ritzy apartment, piano music, florid dialogue (sample line: "I am the one dollop of distinction in your otherwise errant existence!"). The difference is that "Frasier" relies on a company of regulars and recurring guests far larger than "Bram and Alice's" current talent pool. I expect CBS to be patient with this show, and I wouldn't bet against longtime "Frasier" producers Christopher Lloyd and Joe Keenan filling out the ensemble as the season goes along. To reach Aaron Barnhart, phone (816) 234-4790 or visit the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com. @ART CAPTION:Alfred Molina and Traylor Howard star in "Bram and Alice." @ART:Photo (color) @ART CREDIT:CBS