“Napoleon Dynamite,” the 2004 movie, hit a sweet spot of comedy that no previous movie had even aimed for, let alone achieved. Not everyone understood why it was funny, but for those who did, it […]
Fall 2011 served up so many good shows, and so few of them have been canceled, that it’s easy to overlook the midseason premieres. Yet the networks have found a few open slots. I have […]
Part of why it’s been a great TV season is that there are so many compelling questions that keep us watching from week to week. And these aren’t just a matter of “Oh well, I’ve […]
I’ve done “first episode impressions” of the noteworthy new shows this season, and many TV critics have done the same. We do this because it’s fun and quick-hitting more so than because it’s an accurate […]
Most shows are naturally constrained by their narrative — sort of like a choose-your-own-adventure book where every choice is locked in once it happens. But at the staff meetings for “Fringe” (8 p.m. Central Fridays on Fox), […]
Just when the theoretical water cooler was starting to get lonely, along comes “Terra Nova” (7 p.m. Central Mondays on Fox) to make it a popular gathering spot again. (Metaphorically, of course; the actual water cooler at […]
With Zooey Deschanel in the title role, I expect “New Girl” (8 p.m. Central Tuesdays starting Sept. 20 on Fox, but the first episode is already on Hulu) to be a notch above a standard sitcom. […]
TV review: Chris Carter takes the showrunning reins back from Morgan and Wong in the controversial final season.
TV review: New showrunners Glen Morgan and James Wong fascinatingly run wild as they take over from Chris Carter.
TV review: This is not “X-Files”-style fun. Chris Carter’s second show is dark stuff, visually and thematically, as we follow troubled psychic Frank Black.