‘Four Kings,’ 8:30 p.m., NBC

Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

“Will & Grace” is retiring after eight seasons. For much of that time, that amusingly bitchy comedy has been a mainstay of NBC’s Thursday-night lineup.

So why not, NBC execs must have reasoned, put the new sitcom “Four Kings,” by “Will & Grace” creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, on the Thursday schedule, right after “W&G”?

Once again, “Four Kings” proves that pedigree isn’t everything. The vast wasteland that is TV is littered with underdeveloped projects by big-name creators.

Kohan and Mutchnick have proven that they could write about gay men and the women who love them. But that isn’t the way that “Four Kings” rolls.

“Four Kings” is the story of four childhood friends who end up living together in the apartment that one of them inherits from his aunt. Their names aren’t important, as they’re basically stereotypes: the smart one, the dumb one, the sweet one and the jealous, short one (played by the criminally wasted Seth Green).

The series is basically about the concerns of the immature young male, and plows little new ground. It’s the weak link in NBC’s new attempt to rebuild its Thursday night comedy block. It makes “Will & Grace” seem like Noel Coward (appropriate, that).

“Four Kings” should be given a royal flush. (Dale McGarrigle, BDN)