IT'S HIGH TIME FOR `WEEDS' TO RETURN.

Byline: David Kronke Television Critic

Perhaps more than any series, Showtime's ``Weeds'' differentiates its ``A'' plot lines from its ``B'' and ``C'' story lines.

In conventional series, the ``A'' story line is the main one in any given episode, with subsequent stories allocated lesser priority in the proceedings.

In ``Weeds,'' however, ``A'' story lines are those that are genuinely engaging, involving Mary-Louise Parker, starring as Nancy, a widow forced into selling marijuana to make ends meet for her family.

Every other story line rates a ``C,'' at best, focusing on horribly cliched members of a bored suburban community.

Parker is ``Weeds''' only secret weapon. Her brilliantly wry take on Nancy, whose perfectly calibrated pauses in line readings and expressively wide-eyed responses to the madness that envelopes her, elevates the series well beyond the humdrum suburban parody it only barely aspires to be.

When the first seaso ended, Nancy got cozy with Peter (Martin Donovan), whom she belatedly discovered was a Drug Enforcement Agency operative, a real buzz-kill for her chosen profession. But, if Nancy has learned anything, it's that when life gives you lemons (or pot seeds), make lemonade (or pot plants). Nancy and Peter's flirtatious dance promises wonderful drama and comedy in season two.

Not so much for the rest of the cast. Her pal Celia (Elizabeth Perkins) represents the cliched blowsy, bitter housewife (should any further information about her be needed, she pratfalls in an exercise class and steps into dog excrement while trying to polish her image).

Another pal, Doug (Kevin Nealon), a local City Council member, is a cliched incompetent. Her brother-in-law Andy (Justin Kirk) is a cliched over-sexed ne'er-do-well who attends rabbinical school not only to avoid serving in Iraq but to hit on a sexy admissions officer. Their dialogue is as lame as their plotting.

So, subplots involving supporting players are forced and uninspired: Andy schools Nancy's tween son in sexuality; Celia challenges Doug for his City Council seat while facing domestic scandal; and Doug (whose lackadaisical campaign slogan is, ``Change just brings problems'') persists in getting really, really stoned.

Many more subplots insinuate themselves through ``Weeds' '' story line.

But none are as honest as the day laborer who, appraising Nancy, tells her, ``I like your eyeballs.''

``Thank you,'' she responds, nonplussed, adding, ``They're real.'' If only, through the second season's first five episodes, everything were as real as Parker's innate appeal.

David Kronke, [phone]

[e-mail]

WEEDS - Two and one half stars

What: Second-season premiere of the comedy about a pot-dealing suburban mom.

Where: Showtime.

When: 10 and 10:30 tonight; 10 p.m. Wednesday; 9 and 9:30 p.m. Friday; 9 and 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

In a nutshell: Mary-Louise Parker brings her A game to C-plus material.

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Mary-Louise Parker is the marijuana-dealing suburban mom in Showtime's ``Weeds,'' returning for its second season.