The tagline you'll never see: What "Seinfeld" curse?

The basics: Julia LouisDreyfus, who for good or bad career-wise will always be remembered as the feisty Elaine Benes from "Seinfeld," stars as single mom Christine Campbell in "The New Adventures of Old Christine." She's got an adorable son, runs her own gym and gets along just ducky with her ex. But that changes when she meets the ex-hubby's new, younger girlfriend, also named Christine (Emily Rutherfurd). Hence the awkward title: Louis-Dreyfus is the "old" Christine, and the adventures are about her complicated life juggling a job, a son and (perhaps) lingering feelings for her ex.

The lowdown: CBS displaces one sitcom about an attractive single woman for another, as "Christine" bumps Jenna Elfman's "Courting Alex" to Wednesday nights. "Christine" couldn't ask for a better time slot following "Two and a Half Men," CBS' best-performing comedy.

Why take a chance on Louis-Dreyfus after her last sitcom ("Watching Ellie") went down in flames so quickly on NBC? Easy — she's a proven star who helped carry one of the most successful sitcoms ever.

Reality check: The curse of "Seinfeld," which has stalled the TV careers of co-stars Michael Richards and Jason Alexander, is over for this "Seinfeld" star. Louis-Dreyfus shines in this smart sitcom, which works because of a clever script and some subtle social commentary. Yes, it features some standard sitcom cliches, such as a precocious child and plenty of jokes about sex, but Louis-Dreyfus is utterly charming. She's backed up by a likable supporting cast, including a hilariously understated performance by Hamish Linklater, who plays her younger brother. Let's hope this midseason replacement makes a big-enough splash to land a spot on next fall's lineup.