First episode impressions: ‘Alcatraz’ (TV review)
“Alcatraz” (8 p.m. Central Mondays on Fox) demonstrates that a show can be too high-concept, and also that how you present a show in your previews can influence how people view it.
Fox
First episode impressions: ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ (TV review)
“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 […]
Midseason TV preview: The momentum continues? (Commentary)
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 […]
What happened to ‘The Walking Dead’s’ Sophia? (and 6 other burning TV questions) (Commentary)
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 […]
The new fall shows — not too shabby so far (TV commentary)
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 […]
First episode impressions: ‘Fringe’ Season 4 (TV review)
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), […]
First episode impressions: ‘Terra Nova’ (TV review)
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 […]
First episode impressions: ‘New Girl’ (TV review)
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. […]
The top 10 episodes of ‘Millennium’ Season 3 (1998-99)
TV review: Chris Carter takes the showrunning reins back from Morgan and Wong in the controversial final season.
The top 10 episodes of ‘Millennium’ Season 2 (1997-98)
TV review: New showrunners Glen Morgan and James Wong fascinatingly run wild as they take over from Chris Carter.