First episode impressions: ‘Ben and Kate’ (TV review)
Nat Faxon, the Ben in “Ben and Kate” (7:30 p.m. Central Tuesdays, Fox) is a mix of Ed Helms from “The Office” and the more likable side of Adam Sandler. He’s a complete goofball, but — like […]
Television
First episode impressions: ‘Parks and Recreation’ Season 5 (TV review)
“Parks and Recreation” (8:30 p.m. Central Thursdays, NBC) started off its fifth season this week with an episode that was ambitious in terms of setting (Washington, D.C.) and casting (a few Senatorial cameos), but also stayed […]
First episode impressions: ‘The Mindy Project’ (TV review)
When “The Office” started to go south a few years ago, I hoped the show would shift its focus to underused secondary characters such as Mindy Kaling’s Kelly Kapoor. That never happened, and I gradually […]
First episode impressions: ‘Revolution’ (TV review)
At first glance, “Revolution” (9 p.m. Central Mondays, NBC, starts Monday) can be safely categorized with “Dark Angel,” “Lost,” “Terra Nova,” “Falling Skies” and “The Walking Dead” as a post-apocalyptic show (in the case of “Lost,” it […]
First episode impressions: ‘Parenthood’ Season 4 (TV review)
“Parenthood” (9 p.m. Central Tuesdays, NBC) starts Season 4 with a combination of a pitch-perfect life threshold yarn (Haddie goes off to college), a funny family-dynamic oddity (Crosby finds his son praying) and a believable issue […]
Fall TV 2012: 5 new shows and 5 returning shows to watch (Commentary)
Ah, fall TV. And, in a nice old-school twist, the Entertainment Weekly Fall TV Preview issue highlighted a single show on its cover rather than using a collage (the featured show: “Homeland,” which seems worthy, […]
‘Bunheads’ wins Summer TV gold medal (Commentary)
In the spirit of the Olympics, here are my medal picks for Summer TV 2012 (all times Central):
‘Harper’s Island’ (2009) shows slashers can work in TV miniseries format
One-season wonders (TV review): “Harper’s Island” is one of the first slasher mysteries to hit the small screen.
First episode impressions: ‘Awkward.’ Season 2 (TV review)
There’s a certain coldness to all the characters on “Awkward” (9:30 p.m. Central Thursdays on MTV), which had its Season 2 premiere last week. Even after watching them all of last season, they still seem like pointed […]
First episode impressions: ‘Futurama’ Season 7 (TV review)
“Futurama” (9 p.m. Central Wednesdays on Comedy Central) has been around long enough now that it’s starting to contradict its own backstories. Since most “Futurama” fans are also “Simpsons” fans, we’re accustomed to this. Notoriously — […]