TV again returns to the Wonder Years of the 1960s, this time for NBC's new American Dreams (8 p.m. today, Channels 5, 22).

        Philadelphia's Pryor family in 1963 is grappling with the social and political upheaval of a presidential assassination, the civil rights movement and Vatican II changes.

        In these days, rebelling against Mom and Dad (Gail O'Grady, NYPD Blue; Tom Verica, Providence) means JJ (Will Estes, 7th Heaven) quits the football team and Meg (Brittany Snow, Guiding Light) sneaks out to dance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand.

        Although NBC has heavily promoted American Dreams, a period drama seems risky. Some of it doesn't ring true — the altar boy dressing in his robes at home, a high school football season extending into late November, or the mother awaking to feminism in 1963.

        As much as I want to like American Dreams, I'm not really sure where the story goes after Meg fulfills her dream of dancing on American Bandstand tonight.

        But this show has one hug asset — captivating Ms. Snow, 16, who could be fall TV's break-out star.

— John Kiesewetter

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