NBC plays it safe with its newest sitcom “Leap of Faith” (7:30 p.m., NBC), its latest attempt to plug the programming Bermuda Triangle between “Friends” and “Will & Grace.”

Like so many other NBC Thursday-night comedies, “Faith” concerns four slightly confused, sexually active 30-something New Yorkers who get together frequently to joke about their confusion and brag and complain about sex.

Sarah Paulson (“Jack & Jill”) stars in the title role as Faith Wardwell, an advertising executive on the verge of matrimony. Any viewer who has seen a TV show before will notice that her fiance, David (Bradley White), is Mr. Wrong. He’s already talking about kids and picking out possible homes in the suburbs. You know she considers him a control freak when she calls him “dad.”

Lisa Edelstein (“Felicity”) plays Faith’s best friend and co-worker, Patty, a single, free-spirit given to casual, meaningless affairs. Within the first 20 minutes of the first episode, she sleeps with the “Coffee Guy” who delivers Java to the office. Scared by marriage and perhaps inspired by Patty’s wanton ways, Faith has a fling with a young actor (Brad Rowe, “Wasteland”). Rather than see this as a one-time thing, Faith freaks out at her bridal shower and calls off the wedding, surprising her no-nonsense married friend and neighbor, Cynthia (Regina King) and mortifying her starchy socialite mother (Jill Clayburgh).

While this “Runaway Bride” routine is as old as comedy itself, Faith’s flight from marriage occurs without a single laugh. Created by “Sex and the City” writer and producer Jenny Bicks, “Faith” has all of cable comedy’s smarmy self-indulgence without any of the edge, wit and filthy-mouthed characters that have made “Sex” the most over-praised series of our time.

While the writing on “Sex” focuses on specifics (clinical sexual acts, designer labels and real Manhattan locales), “Faith” takes place in a theme park Manhattan imagined by a Hollywood committee. Faith’s male pal Andy (Ken Marino) is supposed to be an “edgy” downtown writer (for the very midtown magazine “Rolling Stone”). How do we know this? In episode two, he tells us he prefers vintage T-shirts to Brooks Brothers ties. What a rebel.

While the promotional trailers for “Faith” show Faith riding the real subway, the New York locations on “Faith” are as fake as the New York locations on “Union Square,” “Veronica’s Closet,” “Caroline in the City” or any number of dreadful Thursday-night sitcoms we’ve had to endure. Add “Leap” to the heap.

 Sixteen new contestants arrive on a remote Pacific Island locale on “Survivor: Marquesas” (7 p.m., CBS), the fourth installment of the “reality” TV game. This time, they will have to take out time from bickering, preening and manipulating to forage for their own food and water.

Tonight’s other highlights

 Joey comes clean about his growing affections for Rachel on “Friends” (7 p.m., NBC).

 A pickup game of hockey turns deadly on “CSI” (8 p.m., CBS).

 While making a movie about Karen, Jack meets her estranged mother (Suzanne Pleshette) on “Will & Grace” (8 p.m., NBC).

 Britain’s navy sinks the Spanish Armada on “Elizabeth” (8 p.m., History, part 3 of 4).

 Gage (Beau Bridges) clashes with Quinn (David Benzali) during his first day on the job on “The Agency” (9 p.m., CBS).

 Corday prevents Greene from seeing their infant daughter on “ER” (9 p.m., NBC).

 Scheduled on “Primetime” (9 p.m., ABC): Women in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban; an interview with Cher.

Series notes

“Smackdown,” “Millionaire” and “Just Shoot Me” are new. … On back-to-back episodes of “Family Guy” (Fox), Peter tries to avoid his doctor’s bills (7 p.m.), struck by lightning on the golf course (7:30 p.m.) … Wrestling on “WWF Smackdown” (7 p.m., UPN) … On back-to-back episodes of “Charmed” (WB), Paige revisits her youth (7 p.m.). While serving jury duty on a murder trial, Phoebe’s clairvoyance contradicts evidence against the defendant (8 p.m.).

 Bobby unleashes a deadly weapon on “King of the Hill (8 p.m., Fox) … Finch and Kevin move next door to Maya on “Just Shoot Me” (8:30 p.m., NBC) … Fry loses his head over Amy on “Futurama” (8:30 p.m., Fox).

Late night

 Ice Cube chats on “Late Show with David Letterman” (10:35 p.m., CBS) … Jay Leno hosts Chris Tucker and Rachel Griffiths on “The Tonight Show” (10:35 p.m., NBC).